Think I'm going to feel had over...

the_devil_made_me_do_it

To cut a potentially long story short: I started a degree Oct 2007, unfortunatly due to illness & other issues which caused me to defer.

I went on to complete the exams the next summer & started the 2nd yr last Oct. Once again due to illness & other family issues I had to defer.

The uni were happy for me to return to the 2nd yr Oct 2010 on the grounds I got a letter from the GP stating that I was well enough to return to studies.

However, I haven't recovered from this relapse & was unable to return to Uni this year. Obviously I had to see the GP to discuss this & it was agreed that returning to study wasn't an option, so the GP wrote to the Uni stating this & the nature of my problems. The Uni responded & said that if I was well Oct 2011, then I could return on condition I handed in a letter from the GP.

I recently got called for a medical which is next week & I'm concerned that they will say I'm fit for work at the worst or send me to a work group. My gripe is if the GP has stated I'm not fit to return to Uni how can I be fit for work?

After all, Uni is less stressfull than a job & Uni offers a great deal of support. Also, if I can't attend uni then I can make arrangements to carry on with distance learning. There are many more options available to me at Uni which lack in the work place.

I'm concerned that I now have missed going back to uni this year & in all honesty I don't feel well enough to do either a job or study.

Any positive advice would be welcome.

MrsManda

*hugs* I'm in a similar situation so sympathise.
Your doctor has said you are not well enough to go back to university but this is does not necessarily mean that you cannot do any form of work. The situation of studying at university, and being employed are completely different.

The medical for ESA is to see if you are able to do any form of work, (therefore should be claiming JSA), whether you may be able do some work in the near future given extra support (Be put in ESA WRAG) or whether you are too ill to be considered to able to do any work at all for the time being (ESA Support group).

I don't know what your health issues are so cannot comment directly but I wouldn't worry too much about the medical. You've got your doctor backing you up, just tell the truth and answer the questions as well as you can.

Just re-read your post and your mentioning of the work group made me wonder if you were confused about the Work Related Activity Group which most people who claim ESA are put in. This doesn't mean you'll be made to go out and do lots of things, it just means that you'll get an advisor who will talk to you to see if there is anything they can do to help you be able to work.

WhiteHorse

Work and full-time study are usually considered interchangeable. Thus, if you are declared medically unfit for full-time study (which is presumably entirely sedentary), you should be unfit for full-time work.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Initially I started my degree & was still allowed to claim IB due to the fact I only needed to attend Uni less than 10 hrs per week & I had a lot of support available to me whilst I was there.

Whereas in an employment situation, there would little or no support & the whole situation is more demanding.

At Uni I didn't need to concentrate in the lectures as I have a dictaphone which I switched on before the lecture started. I also had a support worker who assisted me in time management ect.

I am stressed and anxious about the medical, but also feel quite agreived at the same time. I may aswell have gone to Uni if I'm going to be forced into taking a job.

dmg24

WhiteHorse wrote: »

Work and full-time study are usually considered interchangeable. Thus, if you are declared medically unfit for full-time study (which is presumably entirely sedentary), you should be unfit for full-time work.

No, they are not, hence why those on IB (and in some cases, ESA) are allowed to do full time study.

OP, I know it is stressful waiting for the medical, but just be honest and tell them everything that is wrong, and hopefully you will get the right result. If not, you can go to appeal. However I would not expect to be put in the Support Group, that is primarily for people who will never be fit for work.

BLT_2

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

Initially I started my degree & was still allowed to claim IB due to the fact I only needed to attend Uni less than 10 hrs per week & I had a lot of support available to me whilst I was there.

Whereas in an employment situation, there would little or no support & the whole situation is more demanding.

At Uni I didn't need to concentrate in the lectures as I have a dictaphone which I switched on before the lecture started. I also had a support worker who assisted me in time management ect.

I am stressed and anxious about the medical, but also feel quite agreived at the same time. I may aswell have gone to Uni if I'm going to be forced into taking a job.

Words fail me. You feel aggrieved because you may be told you are well enough to undertake full time employment and would rather go to university instead.

I would rather spend my days at University, but I have to work for a living. Furthermore I fail to see why a valuable University place should be wasted on someone who doesn't concentrate in lectures.

I have no idea what your illness is but you are not going to get much sympathy advertising the fact that you are aggrieved that you may be told you are fit for work.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Thanks for the positive advice and opinion BLT.

You obviously are missing the point, but I guess you can be forgiven for your ignorance.

BLT_2

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

Thanks for the positive advice and opinion BLT.

You obviously are missing the point, but I guess you can be forgiven for your ignorance.

Oops my fault, I forgot, you are only allowed to make sympathetic oohs and aahs on these boards and agree with posters. That way you can show what a caring person you are.

If the OP is well enough to study for a full time degree, she or he is well enough to undertake employment. I have undertaken university studies while working and I know which I found more stressful

the_devil_made_me_do_it

That's my point BLT, I'm not well enough to return to University. If I was I would've re-started the 2nd year with the view to then going on to graduating after the 3rd year.

With a degree, I'd potentially be a more productive member of society able to contribute more taxes.

I always had a job or 2 since leaving school. Unfortunatly, I took ill a few years ago & had to leave the job I had. It was difficult to leave as I had done well & climbed the ladder, but my illness gave me no choice.

Then I decided to try and get a degree to further myself with a view to getting back into employment as my CV now looks quite bare. I had high hopes that a degree would open more doors & a wider choice of employment opportunities.

I didn't go to Uni to party and mess about. I went with the aim of trying my best to improve my quality of life & increase my self esteem and confidence.

BLT, before you pass judgement stop & think what type of person your passing judgement on. You appear to live your life based upon stereotypes and media/political propaganda.

Oldernotwiser

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

That's my point BLT, I'm not well enough to return to University. If I was I would've re-started the 2nd year with the view to then going on to graduating after the 3rd year.

If you're not well enough to be at university, there's no point saying

"I am stressed and anxious about the medical, but also feel quite agreived at the same time. I may aswell have gone to Uni if I'm going to be forced into taking a job." which is the comment that has annoyed people.

Many jobs are far less stressful than degree level study so you may be able to do something like this, even if you're not well enough to return to university yet.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

"I am stressed and anxious about the medical, but also feel quite agreived at the same time. I may aswell have gone to Uni if I'm going to be forced into taking a job." which is the comment that has annoyed people.

I guess I could've phrased it better, however, anything I said could've annoyed people.

The study wasn't particularly the issue, it was the deterioration in my health that was the main problem. The ability to get to & from Uni became an issue & my reliabilty became less and less. I did manage to complete the pieces of summative work with decent marks & I had a good support network in place.

I have genuine mental health problems which affect my life daily. I never know how I'm going to be throughout the day.

Anyway, apologies for not making myself clear.