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Benefit, Health & Work Advice (practical and moral)

Brief outline:
I have been ill for a few years in and out of hospital, physically im not ill! Apart from a terrible eye sight disorder callled Keratoconus which isnt causing that many problems. Anyway i feel im getting there now, had help and support from many areas of the Health service who have all been amazing. I want to try work again, but im in a tricky situation where i need moral advice, life advice and what can i do if it all goes wrong.

I get benefits that sum a total of £677 a month i dont pay rent or council tax. That gives me enough cash to make my life stress free. The thing my consultant is concerned about is stress! Any form of stress could send me willowig back down to what i was BUT IT MIGHT NOT ...!

Im feeling ready to do something now and start paying back what ive had i understand i may take a slight pay cut! Or earn only a few pounds extra per month when ive paid the rent and council tax.

If it all goes plain sailing then it worked ! Im on the ladder to success.

IF IT ALL FAILS...i dont have the benefit support or the rent paid on my house and ill go crashing down.

So is there any way i can do trials ... or is it just the big step... or what help is there when im wanting to do something now. I have found my prefect job and im convinced should i want it they will give it to me.

Current Income £677 per month rent paid council tax paid
NEW JOB £1072 MINUS RENT AND COUNCIL TAX & TAX = £548

its tricky ... id be left with less what do you do
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Comments

  • Jowo_2
    Jowo_2 Posts: 8,308 Forumite
    ik2120 wrote: »
    Current Income £677 per month rent paid council tax paid
    NEW JOB £1072 MINUS RENT AND COUNCIL TAX & TAX = £548

    its tricky ... id be left with less what do you do

    Have you checked the Entitled To (turn2us) online benefit checker to see if you are entitled to any tax credits or LHA/housing benefit?

    How old are you, do you live alone and have any dependents?
  • RAS
    RAS Posts: 36,206 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    have you gone to www.turn2us.org.uk? Checked whether you might get what ESA?
    If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing
  • 21 live alone no dependants and i get Income Support i have had a look and there is nothing
  • Oldernotwiser
    Oldernotwiser Posts: 37,425 Forumite
    edited 19 January 2011 at 6:23PM
    Have you looked at doing some voluntary work? This would ease you back into the workplace without being too stressful and would give you new skills and an up to date reference.

    Alternatively, what about returning to education as this is also often less stressful than work?

    At your age, if you have been ill for a few years, you won't have much in the way of qualifications or experience and you'll find job hunting easier with at least one of them.
  • Have you looked at doing some voluntary work? This would ease you back into the workplace without being too stressful and would give you new skills and an up to date reference.

    Alternatively, what about returning to education as this is also often less stressful than work?

    At your age, if you have been ill for a few years, you won't have much in the way of qualifications or experience and you'll find job hunting easier with at least one of them.

    Some voluntary work for now sounds great ! But im not sure where i stand benefit wise ... if i can do it or how i do it. I spoke to my doctor today and he said if i want to do something i have his full support or if i dont want to i dont need to. But i do want to "a wise man makes a mistake once, a fool makes it again" I dont want to be the fool and be bogged down by the past illness all my life.

    Does anyone know about voluntary work and affecting Income Support, the GP said he will write me anything i like for the DWP
  • Jowo_2
    Jowo_2 Posts: 8,308 Forumite
    edited 19 January 2011 at 6:32PM
    Income support that pays £156 per week to a single person without any dependents?! Doesn't sound right to me as a single person under 25 get around £52 per week. What other benefits do you receive with it?

    How about part-time work? You can model the impact of this on your benefits on the Turn2us website.
  • Jowo wrote: »
    Income support that pays £156 per week to a single person without any dependents?! Doesn't sound right to me. What other benefits do you receive with it?

    How about part-time work? You can model the impact of this on your benefits on the Turn2us website.

    Income Support is the prime living part but i get other things due to my eye sight.
  • Jowo_2
    Jowo_2 Posts: 8,308 Forumite
    ik2120 wrote: »
    Income Support is the prime living part but i get other things due to my eye sight.

    Vagueness won't help forum members to help you. If it's DLA you receive, this isn't means tested and you will continue to receive it if you take up employment.
  • baza52
    baza52 Posts: 3,029 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    ik2120 wrote: »
    Income Support is the prime living part but i get other things due to my eye sight.

    Why do you get money for your eyesight when you say "terrible eye sight disorder callled Keratoconus which isnt causing that many problems" ?
  • Indie_Kid
    Indie_Kid Posts: 23,099 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Because you receive DLA, you can claim WTC if you work for at least 16 hours per week.
    Sealed pot challenge #232. Gold stars from Sue-UU - :staradmin :staradmin £75.29 banked
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