decision time work or benefits

loopy_lass

right, ive telephoned benefits & housing who all say we cant asses things until you start work, im saying im not starting work unless i know i can pay my rent etx. So, cheeky as i am, telephoned the company and explained the situation, they said come for an interview, we hold successful candidates on file for a year, if you want a job when offered fine, if you dont, we will keep offering for upto a year..

So. ive decided, come may, im not having M.E. or depression or agraphobia anymore, im having my life back & im jolly well going to work.......

Hurumph!

loops

jobbingmusician

WD loops - that sounds like a good positive response. Hope things work out - let us know how they go!

I think taking on a voluntary job for a while sounds like a really good idea, to make sure you can manage it, with your ME. But these employers sound like they've got the right idea, so the interview will hopefully be a very positive experience.

Scarlett1

loopy have you been told about the new scheme that pays you £40 per week that helps you back into work, its only for a year but it will help.

dont feel pressured back into work, I now know of 2 single parents that have lost their houses due to this great incentive to get you to work, and with the state of the tax credit system at the moment would you be able to cope if anything happened and you had to survive on just the child benefit and your weekly wage.

on the plus side though if you did go out to work and decided you couldnt manage it you have 4 weeks to be fast tracked back on benefits.

xxx

loopy_lass

At least i do have a letter from my consultant about my ME & agraphobia so IF i really cant manage work, i surely wont have to live on fresh air as i imagine people do have remissions & relapses.

Scarey place to be though when you think you could loose your home... BY WORKING

thanks for all your replies....

going to post application form this week...

loops

Mrs_B_12

Good luck! :beer:

loopy_lass

just an update, i applied and have been paper sifted, got an interview on wed!!!

loops

Astaroth

Congratulations and best of luck for the interview.

I would certainly say 99% of people are much better off working than being on the dole even if the benefits arent always financial

hjb123

Thats great news Loopy_lass. As a fellow ME/CFS person I can understand what you are going through and what you have gone through! Its a hard decision to say yes I am well enough for work again when the time comes as you wont want to have a relapse. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Astaroth - I completely agree that people should be better of working than being on the dole - benefits are there for the people who arent working or are struggling and shouldnt be seen as an easy option or alternative to work

Fleago

loopy, if your IS is paid because of incapacity for work , you will probably come under the 104 week linking rule (used to be 52 weeks), which means that if you have to give up your work within two years because of your health you should go back on the IS at the rate you were on. It might be worth you checking with the Jobcentre whether you would fall into this category?

Also, you could phone your local authority and see if they have a welfare rights team who can do an in work benefits calculation for you; they should be able to do various calculations based on different scenarios of hours worked/hourly rates etc.

Good luck

Fleago

loopy_lass

thanks everyone, im on IS due to being a single parent, which ends this may. I think i will be entitled to go back to IS if i do relapse as im unfit for work through ill health.. i am just going to bite the bullet, and go for it. I know i will be tired for the first month or so, but is that M.E? or is it because ive been on IS at home for 3 yrs.

Can only try... I know i am ready, i have been doing graded exercise for the past year, and am doing ok, i now have around 4 bad (tired) days a month whereas 8 months ago it was more like 4 good days a month. Progress me thinks.

The job isnt strenuous, its monitoring CCTV in an secure unit, so i beleive i will manage....

loops