UPDATED: Got a Work Focused Interview this week - it was a positive experience :-D

Mics_chick

I understand that it is the government trying to get me in a job or at least on a course but will they really try to help me retrain for something or is it just shoving me at any old crap job?

Mics_chick

I'm on Incapacity Benefit and have been for about 3 years.

I was diagnosed with PND 2 weeks after my 2nd child was born in January 2005. I was on maternity leave until almost the end of that year and then my employers kept my job open for almost another year until it was obvious that I still felt too ill to return to work. I've been on IB since I was officially "let go".

I have finally begun to feel better over the last 6/9 months and I have reduced my anti-depressants.

I even went to see a training course advisor at my local community education centre but I was really confused as there were so many options...

At the beginning of this year I was taken off IB for about 2/3 months until I won my appeal and I had to temporarily claim JSA instead.

I've never had to claim JSA before even though I've been made redundant twice before coz I was able to find another job with 3/4 weeks of losing the previous one.

I actually found the phone call I made to claim JSA very upsetting (traumatic even) coz I was being forced to say I was ready for work when it was the last thing I felt ready for

I do feel ready to think about my future now but I don't want to go back to my previous career in IT coz I found it hugely stressful and I felt it contributed to my PND as I felt very mentally fragile during the pregnancy too.

I know what I would like to do but don't know if I will be listened to and helped in that direction...?

Kate78

Hi Mics_Chick,

Depends how long you have been claiming JSA, once it is over 26 weeks you become eligible for extra help, courses and advice.

If you have ideas of what you would like to do next, make sure you share these with the adviser so that they can match you up with the opportunities out there. They are supposed to help you overcome barriers to employment, not just shove you in any old job.

It is good that you are trying to stay positive, it sounds like you have had a miserable time.

When is the interview?

Mics_chick

It's on Friday Kate

PS I'm not on JSA but IB (incapacity benefit)

Kate78

Ah ok, I just re-read your OP and you were on JSA for a couple of months and they sorted out your appeal and you're back on IB, is that right?

Well in that case they should be more sympathetic I would have thought. Sure they want to get people into work, but if it's just going to make you sick again and you're not ready (yet!) then they should be helping you take the steps you need to reach your goal.

All the best for Friday

Mics_chick

Kate78 wrote: »

Ah ok, I just re-read your OP and you were on JSA for a couple of months and they sorted out your appeal and you're back on IB, is that right?

This is correct Kate

Mics_chick

I was a bit daft but not for the opposite reason - there was nowt to be scared of

I've now got to see her regularly about every 4-6 weeks and complete positive actions towards my retraining which she gave me some useful info about

Gingerbiscuit_2

Mics_chick wrote: »

I was a bit daft but not for the opposite reason - there was nowt to be scared of

I've now got to see her regularly about every 4-6 weeks and complete positive actions towards my retraining which she gave me some useful info about

Are you nearly well enough to go back to work then? It is good if you are getting support if you are nearly at that stage.

Mics_chick

Gingerbiscuit wrote: »

Are you nearly well enough to go back to work then? It is good if you are getting support if you are nearly at that stage.

I don't feel that I'm ready for work yet - in fact the thought still feels me with terror
But on the other hand I feel that my recovery has not really progressed for quite a while and that I need to be more proactive about it now.
I have gradually cut down my anti-depressants from 225mg per day to 75mg (under my GP's supervision) but that was my decision not his.
By retraining for a different career is the next step - I think it will help me get used to interacting with more people again without the pressure of a job coz I have been quite reclusive since having PND.