Employment Support Allowance Advice

Bubbles911

Hi

I am not really used to benefits and not sure how this whole employment support allowance works.

Basically I was a passanger in a car crash in 2000 when I was 21 and I was left with really bad damage to my back (which has been made worse after another car accident with me as a passanger and a bad fall) and was left with brain damage which means my brain does not send the right signal to my bowel, I constantly have either diorrhea or constipation but the pain is the worst. I have had some very embarrassing situations because of this and I was never out of pain. I have been told another fall/accident and I will end up in a wheelchair.

Basically due to the constant pain my life became just work and I was so drained all of the time and I became depressed. Sometimes I was spending 2 hours on the toilet at work in tears and all I could do was sleep when I got home and the pain was just relentless. I couldnt see my life/the pain getting any better and planned my suicide for 9 months in September I tried and failed.

I was getting help from Crisis at first and they told me to apply for ESA which I did and I had my medical last friday and am waiting for the results but should have way over the 15 needed for the support group. I have now received a letter asking me to go to a pathways to work interview and I am finding it really distressing. I am scared that I am going to be forced into a job and what that would do to me, I am 30 and have worked nearly all my adult life and I dont want to spend my life on benefits but I know I am not in a emotional or physical state that would allow me to work at this moment in time. I have read on here that basically if they think there is 1 job in the world you are suitable for they will put you in the employment section and I am scared of what going back to work will do to me. I just dont feel anywhere near that stage yet and am really scared. I thought they would not ask to see me until they had the results of my medical and its really freaking me out.

Does anyone know if it is standard for them to see you about pathways to work before your medical results?

chelleybelley

hi sorry to hear about ur troubles...but yes its pretty much the norm to send you to pathways before the results of your medical

healy

Yes it often happens that the work focused interviews take place before the results from the medical and even before a medical takes place.

Molly41

Try not to worry about this interview. I attended the first one and she took one look at me and suspended them for six months..I then found i had been placed in the support group. You do have to attend the first one though but she was a an understanding and practical woman who could obviously see that i was in no fit state to even contemplate work. Hopefully that will the same for you too.

Bubbles911

Thank you very much for your replies everyone. I feel reassured now, I was just scared what being forced into a job would do to me at the present time. I dont think I could cope, plus with constant hospital appointments it would be hard to fit it in. Once the pain is sorted I cant wait to get back to work.

Bubbles911

Hi just posting again to say thanks for the advice. Just got back from my pathways to work interview and it went fine. The guy was lolvely and said he wasnt there to force me into work but to make sure when I was ready I got all of the help I needed. I feel much more positive now and am hoping that in a couple of months I may be up to trying to go back as I really want to work. thanks again.