I finally found work! where do I stand on benefits?

burtons

AnxiousMum wrote: »

Congrats on your work placement - from what you say they seem like a nice company and I hope you settle in and enjoy it

They are going to be nice to you when they haven't got to pay someone a full wage to do the job. If the person is no good they will then phone the jobcentre and tell them to send someone else.

healy

EltonJohnFan wrote: »

Thank you very much!

Yes, I'm really keen to work you see and don't want to be stuck on ESA when I can be out there contributing to society, enjoying what I do, putting my problems behind me and hopefully not being reminded of them either thank you very much. I know exactly what I want out of life, now, don't you worry about that I seem to get the feeling that you're somehow subtly painting me in a negative light but not to worry, I've came across people like that before and they'll never beat me down, don't like bullies either. I refuse to claim ESA when I can work and as my condition has stabilised I'm more than happy to take up the offer of a Work Trial, what's so bad about that!? You know, I'm really glad I was checking out the links that were very kindly provided here earlier as I was shocked to see this response.

I do not think it is correct to call tcr a bully as they have helped many people on here and have given some extremely helpful information. Also they do have a point as your posts have been inconsistent so I am surprised you have been shocked by the response. They even wished you good luck which a bully would not do.

RazWaz

EltonJohnFan wrote: »

Hi there! I just had to check back before bed, really hope someone can help me out here

It's so reassuring to know I can't lose my Disability Living Allowance because I really need this to lead a more normal life and though my new work-trial isn't all that far from my home? I'm definitely reliant on taxis to get me back an forth because I can't get there alone in my wheelchair, lots of roads to cross and the streets are very busy with other commuters in the mornings. This is actually a Work Trial placement where I'm working for 2 weeks as agreed with the owner of this business but I can't remember any money actually being discussed, does that mean I'm working for nothing? I don't mind, just getting out of the house and having something to keep me occupied after all these months of pulling my hair out (unlike in my avatar) has got to count for something!

Someone else has mentioned Tax Credits to me but I was told you have to be over 25 to get them if you don't have kids and well, I don't have kids and I'm not over 25 so maybe that option isn't there for me. I really don't know where I stand in regards to benefits and this trial and my worry is people think I'm greedy or a scrounger when I only want to keep myself right and not be "worse off" for trying to better myself and take advantage of all the help and support that's given to me as I do feel I need it. I'm so grateful to have this chance and I just want to have the reassurance that I won't have problems further down the line for taking it. The DEA didn't have a lot of time to explain what would happen next to me as after the meeting with the business owner she had to leave quite quickly and return to the Jobcentre to deal with other clients. I don't know much about this "Work Choice" programme she mentioned either, maybe someone could shed a little light on it? thanks again :T

You wont be able to get tax credits as you wont have a wage, you'll still be getting you JSA/ESA though. If you do get a wage in the future though you don't need to be 25 as you are on DLA. I'm on it also and as long as I work 16 hours I get working tax credits aged 20.

tcr_3

A bully ? I'm positively restrained considering half the crap that's spouted on this board.

I was a bit sharp last night, right enough, forgive me for that. I should have congratulated you fulsomely on your work trial and praised you to the rafters for giving it a go.

Instead I put into words what everyone else is thinking. And that's whether you're mentally & physically up to what you're about to undertake. Sorry if that seems abusive, it's not meant that way at all. It's just you get a "feel" for a person by what they say here, how they put themselves over. And I'm just worried this work trial will be too much for you right now, that you maybe need a period of stability before you consider such a thing.

But hey ho. Hope you enjoy it anyway. And if it leads to something better all's good.

EltonJohnFan

TCR,

Thank you for your honesty. Can I just say how sorry I am to you and offer you a heartfelt apology please? I'm sure you'll understand what I mean in saying this because sometimes I find it hard to explain things properly and for that reason, I'm occasionally misunderstood or misinterpret which can be so frustrating but I do expect it now. I like this forum and I'm especially grateful for all the help and support that people such as yourself have given me, can we put this behind us now? I have to be totally honest with you and say that in looking back on my postings? I can see how there might have been some confusion in them as I'm not the best person to explain things fully and clearly, do try my hardest though.

I should let you know that I'm still in a very fragile place right now, just as I was before. I'm trying my hardest to not let things get on top of me and the stability, peace, love and patience of having my family around me is really helping me at this moment in time. I continue to live with my parents for my own safety, but feel I'm taking on too much too soon and my mother especially isn't all that keen on me doing this Work Trial because she says the time isn't right and it wouldn't make me "lazy" if I wasn't to do it. I'm sure you can understand that I'm like my father and have a very strong ethic, I want to work, probably pushing myself too hard from time to time but that's just me. My GP has repeatedly told me and my parents that I'm not to look for work for any reason and has very kindly provided me with sick notes for the DWP. I was due to send these away with my ESA claim pack but my local Jobcentre told me not to bother doing this and to remain on JSA for now as my DEA had arranged a Work Trial for me. I've told my DEA, several times now that I wish to end my claim for JSA... hopefully this is only a temporary situation though. I've been told by health professionals that I must claim ESA and I can't understand why my DEA is so keen for me to do this Work Trial as I'm sure there will be other ones out there for me, when I'm in a better place both psychically and mentally. She says I can't sigh off JSA now as the Work Trial has been arranged and that I MUST attend or will be in BIG trouble. She says if I don't attend then I will cause a lot of problems for myself, ruin my chances of ever finding work and that I will get no money and I don't want to put myself in that situation.

I told her that I have to visit hospital on the day my Work Trial starts and I also have to attend a meeting with my GP and nurse at the local surgery in the afternoon. She said I should think about rearranging these for another time as my Work Trial is VERY important and there are no excuses for not attending. I can't tell you how much pressure this is putting on me right now and I'm worrying myself sick, very anxious and have been up all night as I couldn't sleep from thinking about it. I have tried to claim ESA twice now and when I handed in my forms at the Jobcentre I was told I didn't need to do this as I'm on JSA and my mother said to just said it away in the pre-paid envelope instead. I'm being told so much conflicting information that I could quite literally just give up and shut myself away again. I don't want to do anything silly but the pressure is really getting to me and I can't tell me parents how I'm feeling because they think I'm alright now. I was alright but this has set me back, much more than I thought it would. It's like I'm being really forced into something when I'm just not ready for it. My DEA said to do the Work Trial and then see how I feel after that but my nurse said I'm not to do this Work Trial and must claim ESA instead. What do I do? I'm having counselling and things and yet different people are telling me different things.

I understand this is a very long post so please forgive me for that. My nurse said she'll speak with my GP on Monday morning and that I should call back the Employment and Support Allowance team (and my DEA) but she only works part time ,Thursday and Friday. I'm frightened that I get in big trouble with the Jobcentre but I was told by my nurse that I MUST and ask to go onto ESA as a matter of urgency. I just don't feel up for doing anything right now and the more stress and worries I get the further into this hole I sink. I find it easy to type out how I'm feeling and so that's probably why this post is so long. I was told that I should by my nurse to seriously consider if this work placement is right for me and that the last thing she wants is for me to go back to the dark place I was in. I've already had to leave my own home and move back in with my parents and I don't know what will happen next if things continue as they are. I did want to do this Work Trial initially because my work ethic is so strong but now, especially after reading through what you had to say, I know it's not the right time.

Two4Tuesday

From their posts, the OP appears to be very emotionally unstable. Or a troll. I'm not sure which.

EltonJohnFan

Two4Tuesday wrote: »

From their posts, the OP appears to be very emotionally unstable. Or a troll. I'm not sure which.

I'm not a troll. I do have mental health problems but I'm not a troll. That's a horrible thing to say, sorry, but it is.

tcr_3

Well, we're not health professionals EJF, at least I'm not anyway. Plus we're virtual acquaintances in this world, we don't know you at all really apart from those glimpses you allow us through your own little online window.

I think you're best to take the advice of those who know you in the real world. So that's Mum, Dad, your doctor & nurses. And if most of them are nudging you towards ESA, well, you need to listen to that & try to understand why they're thinking that way.

You won't get into trouble with the Job Centre if you come off JSA & go onto ESA instead. So don't fret about that or what the DEA thinks. They can't force you into a work trial if you're not fit to attend.

Bottom line is your health. That's got to come first, EJF. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be for you, wanting to work and being unable to do so because you're unwell. Your time will come, when it'll all just click into place and you'll finally be happy in yourself. But I need to be honest, hun, I don't think that time is right now.

healy

Two4Tuesday wrote: »

From their posts, the OP appears to be very emotionally unstable. Or a troll. I'm not sure which.

I see your point, I find it all very hard to believe.