Who will employ me?

ankspon

My previous job ended with me taking ill health retirement,i have ankylosing spondylitis and have worked 6 years with this condition,unfortunately it's got the better of me.
I am in the process of applying for ESA but it seems hardly anyone gets it without being made to look for work,i read about someone with a brain tumour who was declared fit for work,
If this happens to me who will employ me,i can barely walk,i take morphine daily for pain relief and am constantly exhausted,if you we're an employer would you give me a job?

Jomo

I don't employ people so I can't answer that question but I am sure you will be ok with your claim.

If you cannot physically walk then I don't see how they can deny you.

Horace

Have you applied for Disability Living Allowance?

Also if you apply for a job then you can ask the employer to make reasonable adjustment to accommodate your condition - to access this service you contact Access to Work via the Jobcentre and they come out and do a workplace assessment.

I think that if you are on ESA they will make you look for work which is why I have asked about you claiming Disability Living Allowance.

ankspon

Hi Horace,i do get DLA,but if a man with a brain tumour gets told he's fit for work what chance do we have,i have retired from work as i cannot physically do it anymore,so if i get told i'm fit for work,why did i have to retire from a job i loved.I think the ESA rules and regs need to change

Tarja

davidhwdn wrote: »

My previous job ended with me taking ill health retirement,i have ankylosing spondylitis and have worked 6 years with this condition,unfortunately it's got the better of me.
I am in the process of applying for ESA but it seems hardly anyone gets it without being made to look for work,i read about someone with a brain tumour who was declared fit for work,
If this happens to me who will employ me,i can barely walk,i take morphine daily for pain relief and am constantly exhausted,if you we're an employer would you give me a job?

Sorry to hear that you are unable to continue work due to the pain it involves. I know about AS as it runs in my family. Is your Ankylosing Spondylitis currently in a flare? Have you talked to a doctor about getting Anti TNF drugs. They have newly been approved on the NHS and the results can stall progression of the disease and restore some movement. There are several cases where movement of the neck has been returned in cases where the disease burnt out with complete ankyslosing.

There are employers who understand the condition. It does tend to be the larger employers, car industry, supermarkets, Civil Service etc.

What kind of work would be your ideal? Assuming the pain gets controlled etc?

Definitely have a look into Anti TNF. Hastle your doctor and get referred. It is an expensive treatment, time consuming and not without a few side effects. But it is the latest breakthrough, and the sooner you get it the better

ankspon

Hi tarja,unfortunately i have had 2 lots of anti-tnf,infliximab and humera,neither have worked and my consultant said if they haven't worked nothing will,i have severe flare ups but inbetween i have constant pain,thanks anyway.By the way my employer was the NHS.

Louise22

davidhwdn wrote: »

Hi tarja,unfortunately i have had 2 lots of anti-tnf,infliximab and humera,neither have worked and my consultant said if they haven't worked nothing will,i have severe flare ups but inbetween i have constant pain,thanks anyway.By the way my employer was the NHS.

I am sorry to hear this - what an awful position to be in. Im guessing you would give anything to be free of pain and be able to work! I get the impression that sometimes the benefits people think people with long term problems prefer to be in discomfort rather than work!

venus_in_furs

My mum has AS. She suffers chronic pain and sometimes just cannot walk. She had a job in Tesco's but was basically in tears everyday with the long hours and the pain. Tesco's were not very accommodating of her illness, she got warnings for being off ill and basically they made her feel like a liability and a nuisance. She even got a hard time for doc/hospital appointments. Eventually they found some silly reason to push her out and got rid of her. She has been declared fit to work but if they got to see her at home they would not agree. After work she would come home and literally lie down and not be able to get back up. I have to help look after her and its horrible seeing her in so much pain.

She was in despair as she knew that no one would want to employ her because of her physical state but also she had been declared fit to work! Eventually through people she knows she got a small part time job in the local post office, where she can work when she feels well enough. They are very good about her condition and making allowances without making her feel like a charity case. I don't think she could manage any more than part time as i think it would kill her! Her condition has gotten a lot worse recently. She is currently trying to look into new treatments.

I think the condition and similar ones obviously are not considered 'serious' enough by most. But i suppose they do not realise how badly it can affect a persons quality of life.