JSA & Mental Health (Insomnia +)

Fire_Fox

Couldn't find another thread covering this topic, apologies if a repeat.

I have a nine year history of stress/ depression/ SAD/ insomnia, including a period on Incapacity Benefit. Have been back at work for four years, but was signed off for three months late last year due to my partner cheating. As of the end of the month I will be unemployed as my contract is ending. I am well enough to work at present, but not sure I could cope with full time employment.

I am not currently medicated for stress, tho am on the highest dose of a combined anti-depressant/ sleeping tablet. Due to my sleep problems and medication I struggle with mornings, very badly in the winter. Am I allowed to say I can't work mornings on JSA? I am willing to do evenings and weekends, maybe even nights is that enough?

TBH I am scared of ending up not coping as I am still pretty wobbly. There are only so many times you can be on long term sick before you are unemployable, and I really want to be able to work! Thanks.

dmg24

As someone who faces the same barriers, your request sounds perfectly reasonable. However, if you see an advisor that does not have an understanding of your condition, they may just see it that you like lie-ins! If you come across this attitude, I would ask your GP to write a note to explain how your condition affects you. You are still willing to work full time, so I can't see how they could sanction you for this reason.

As your condition does affect how many hours you can work, have you looked at claiming the disability element of WTC?

passatrider

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Couldn't find another thread covering this topic, apologies if a repeat.

I have a nine year history of stress/ depression/ SAD/ insomnia, including a period on Incapacity Benefit. Have been back at work for four years, but was signed off for three months late last year due to my partner cheating. As of the end of the month I will be unemployed as my contract is ending. I am well enough to work at present, but not sure I could cope with full time employment.

I am not currently medicated for stress, tho am on the highest dose of a combined anti-depressant/ sleeping tablet. Due to my sleep problems and medication I struggle with mornings, very badly in the winter. Am I allowed to say I can't work mornings on JSA? I am willing to do evenings and weekends, maybe even nights is that enough?

TBH I am scared of ending up not coping as I am still pretty wobbly. There are only so many times you can be on long term sick before you are unemployable, and I really want to be able to work! Thanks.

I have been in a similar situation to you with mental health problems over the past few years.
When I went for my JSA claim/interview I explained my situation to them and they were very understanding to be honest. You must however be honest and upfront with them at the outset so at least they know your situation. I told them I could not work nights but was able to do shift work/weekends/evenings and that was fine.
I will point out to you though do NOT say you are just looking for part-time work as your claim will be rejected; JSA is only payable if you are seeking FULL TIME work. However, there is nothing stopping you from applying for part-time work so long as you are available for and seeking full time work.

Hope that helps!

passatrider

dmg24 wrote: »

As someone who faces the same barriers, your request sounds perfectly reasonable. However, if you see an advisor that does not have an understanding of your condition, they may just see it that you like lie-ins! If you come across this attitude, I would ask your GP to write a note to explain how your condition affects you. You are still willing to work full time, so I can't see how they could sanction you for this reason.

As your condition does affect how many hours you can work, have you looked at claiming the disability element of WTC?

Great advice there too!;)

Uncertain

I would agree that you need to get your GP to confirm this. I would have thought it would be better to get this ASAP, rather than have to respond to a problem.

Are you well enough to work full time hours, say noon to 8.00pm or is part time more realistic?

If it is the latter, for good medical reasons, then you may be eligible for ESA where I think you can still work 16 hours per week?

I agree it is a difficult balance to strike.

DVardysShadow

Fire_Fox wrote: »

... I am not currently medicated for stress, tho am on the highest dose of a combined anti-depressant/ sleeping tablet. Due to my sleep problems and medication I struggle with mornings, very badly in the winter. Am I allowed to say I can't work mornings on JSA? I am willing to do evenings and weekends, maybe even nights is that enough?

TBH I am scared of ending up not coping as I am still pretty wobbly. There are only so many times you can be on long term sick before you are unemployable, and I really want to be able to work! Thanks.

I would suggest you express a strong preference for full time work afternoons, evenings and weekends, rather than a straight refusal for mornings.

Do try and get some exercise - plenty of walking in daylight if you can - I think with the gloomy days lately, you are probably going to start feeling depleted.

gargantuan_2

It depends on the type of work you want to put on your Job Seekers Agreement that you are looking for. For instance, it would be highly unlikely that if you were looking for office work, that an advisor would let you restrict your hours so that mornings were not covered, as most office jobs involve early (8-9am) starts. However, you may get away with it if you were looking into working in a bar or similar as it's quite possible to work evenings.

Apolonation

The crux of this is that JSA has no provision for recongising a persons inability to work or work certain times due to health. You would need to be claiming a health related benefit e.g. ESA for that to be the case.

I hope things work out for you. Maybe you can speak to your doctor about some counciling ? Take care

robredz

If they think you may be unfit to seek work, JC+ may advise you to claim ESA instead, you would have to get your doctor to sign you as unfit for work to claim this however. Good luck

Fire_Fox

DVardysShadow wrote: »

I would suggest you express a strong preference for full time work afternoons, evenings and weekends, rather than a straight refusal for mornings.

Do try and get some exercise - plenty of walking in daylight if you can - I think with the gloomy days lately, you are probably going to start feeling depleted.

Thanks to everyone, it really helps that you haven't judged me as trying to cheat the system.

I am a qualified fitness instructor tho have not trained regularly for some time partly due to my health, partly the weather, partly stress at work, partly motivation, partly financial ... excuses excuses.

I am qualified in physical activity, pharmacy and smoking cessation, experienced in retail and bar work. So there are jobs that I could work shifts and I would definitely be able to get a doctor's letter, in fact he would probably sign me off but I don't want that as it's not solving a problem.

I have been working 16 hours per week, plus some overtime as I felt able to. I do not think that I am unwell enough to be on any disability benefits or ESA, and hope I should feel a bit better as the weather improves. I think I could work up to 30 hours per week but it seems best I don't mention that.

CHARDONNAY_3

Alot of good advice has already been given but just wanted to let you know I understand where you are coming from with your health issues.

I left a stressful call centre job last Oct, after been signed off on the sick with anxiety & panic attacks for a couple of months.

I am now in receipt of JSA (like you I chose not to claim ESA as I don't feel that being out of work is the best solution)

I told the advisor I wasnt prepared to work in a call centre again, which she accepted but that was the limit of her understanding.

I apply for both full & part time positions, altho Im not sure how well I'd cope with a 40 hr wk.

In the meantime I volunteer in a school & study 1 day a wk at college. I find that being busy doing something I enjoy keeps me motivated & has really built my confidence back up.

I've also taken up yoga & started having lots of long soaks in the bath which help me relax & I try to get some fresh air every day, even if it's really cold.

Best of luck