Unusual problem signing on

Strawberrydog

cit_k wrote: »

I think I would be changing doctors, you cant put in a claim for IB anymore, it was replaced with ESA for new claimaints quite some time ago...

And any doctor should know from experience with other patients that it would be virtually impossible to get IB (or ESA) under the circumstances you have described.

I'm not after IB or ESA. I just want to sign on without but without the feeling of dread dominating me, which is why I'm asking if there's any way that I could do it by post.

I was hoping someone with actual experience working in the job centre could tell me one way or the other.

dmg24

Strawberrydog wrote: »

I'm not after IB or ESA. I just want to sign on without but without the feeling of dread dominating me, which is why I'm asking if there's any way that I could do it by post.

I was hoping someone with actual experience working in the job centre could tell me one way or the other.

The simple answer is no, you cannot. Why do you dread it so much? You are only there for five minutes!

SingleSue

Going anywhere which is busy, going on a bus, going up somewhere high and even originally going to the job centre for my work focused interviews, will send me into a panic attack.

What I did though was not give in to it, I persevered, I deep breathed and got through it as best I could until I could finally attend without that horrible feeling...I saw it as a challenge rather than a problem and rather than give in to it, wanted to beat it.

I still find it uncomfortable in busy places and can the panic rising but I don't actively avoid it because of that panic...it would just make it ten times worse and before you know it, I would be back being too scared to leave the house for any reason and just getting to the door of my car was a major expedition (as I was in 2005 when I had my breakdown).

OP - You cannot let yourself give into it, it will not be easy but it will be worth it in the end. If you do give in, you may find yourself having problems in other areas too as it snowballs.

Kimitatsu

Strawberrydog wrote: »

I have been to the doctor and he suggested trying to get on incapacity benefit. I don't want to do that because I don't like being labelled as incapacitated, and it makes more of an issue out of it than necessary. Also it would be like saying that I can't work when I can. I told him this and he then suggested that if the job centre could allow me to sign on by post that would solve the problem. I didn't give it much thought until recently because I didn't think it was at all possible to do that, but now I'm wondering if it is. I don't mind going back to the doctor and getting some sort of note from him saying that the environment in the job centre triggers my panic, but only if there's a chance that it will make a difference.

And I really appreciate the supportive posts from everyone else. Cheers, it's helping a lot.

How did you see your doctor yesterday? It was a bank holiday.

If you have not seen them recently then you need to go back and discuss it again. If the ONLY issue you have is with the job centre and not any other area, then as has been suggested you need specific therapy for that situation.

Signing on by post is only an option if you have a specific medical condition (in which case you should be claiming ESA and getting tailored help there) or if you have a long distance to travel. If you are available for any type of work then JSA is the correct benefit.

What would you do if you were asked to attend an interview in the job centre? Go back to your GP and find a solution to your issue.

Gleek

Have to say if you're so anxious going to the Jobcenter (and I understand, I'm not belittling you, I have some anxiety issues myself), how would you cope at an interview or in a job dealing with the public/other colleagues/bosses etc?

cit_k

real1314 wrote: »

Jobcentres don't have "secret loopholes"; All of the regulations are published.

However by keeping your "method" secret, you keep it from any scrutiny or testing and therefore it should not be viewed as having any proven worth.

There are loopholes tucked away in commissioners decisions/case law etc though, they are published, but they are not widely known.

For example, there is a way to get out of a medical assessment organised by the dwp, that is not well known at all, one person has managed to do it that I know of from case law.

Its not a way I would recommend to anyone though, thats for sure.