Caught in the 'disabled and professional' trap - please help me get back to work!

beanielou

bails~This has been a big blip in the benefit system for a long long time.
Gordon Browns office have been aware of this since before he came PM.
They dont seem to understand that there is a big differerence between doing a couple of hours of volunteering / permitted work & having to do 16 hours:mad: :mad:

qwertyuiop12345

You may already know that employment support allowance will come in at the end of october to replace IB for new claimants. People currently on IB will be able to request to join the new schemes when they start. One of the main changes is that most people on the new benefit will have a work related activity arranged for them to do. It might be worth you looking into this as you might find that you could do some sort of part time work as your work related activity and therefore be able to do more hours and slowly build up your stamina.

Otherwise I think you'll have to stick to volunteering. I used to do volunteer teaching for a weekend maths club arranged by a government organisation. Hopefully if you look around your area you might be able to find some volunteer work which makes you feel like all your skills are being used.

Good luck!

bails

Hey Beanie, nice to see you, thanks for posting here. I know you know how it is, thanks for the solidarity x
Thanks for that info Qwerty, I was aware of the ESA but didn't know about the work related activity so will definitely find out more about that.:T

Thanks again for your support everyone, it's given me just the boost I needed to keep fighting. Any other ideas out there I'd love to hear them x

Mojisola

Do be careful with your health. Recovering from ME is not always a steady, uphill route - you are more likely to fluctuate with improvements alternating with relapses. Be cautious about putting yourself into a position where you come off all your benefits only to find yourself too ill again to work all your hours.

Could you find voluntary work within education? Helping adults with reading difficulties can be very satisfying work.

bails

Thankyou Mojisola. I fully intend to be very careful with my health as it recovers, and yes it's very fluctuating! This is exactly why I don't want to put myself in a position I can't sustain longterm. The voluntary work I do is at one of my local schools and I'm working on a specialised position within the team where I can fulfil my potential and offer something valuable to the school and pupils.
Thanks for your post, your concern is much appreciated x

Wales4ever

I too am dying to get back to work, i/m due to have a knee replacement and hopefully I will be able to do some type of work if i make a recovery. i have always been a manual worker. Would consider trying anything new but worried that I'm better staying home doing nothing. Im 55...anybody can help.

bails

Sorry to hear you're in a similar position Wales4ever. My dad had a hip replacement recently and he is absolutely fine and able to do everything again. It depends how you feel but for me staying at home is too painful an option.

Just to update on my situation: I had an interview with Working Links recently and their official advice was NOT to go back to work :rolleyes: So I'm going to continue with my voluntary work and courses and once I reach and can sustain about 22 hours a week (16 hours teaching plus prep and marking time) then I'll go back into paid work. It's not what I was hoping but it's a plan and the only one open to me.

beanielou

Sorry to hear that bails but hey ho its a plan of sorts.

slummymummyof3

You sound just like the sort of person I would love to come and help in my class! I hope everything works out well for you and you have a full and speedy recovery. It is very sad to hear your story and how passionate you are about the teaching profession when so many who are in it seem to feel so dispondent.

Wales4ever

Thanks Bails...whats working Links? got to get back to work if my new knee allows me...frightened though, don't want to stay on benefits forever..totally degrading from where i come from...everybody labelled as a scrounger if you don't work......mad!!