Left Job, no income, in debt don't know what to do

bonehead903028402

I've been working in the same job part time for coming up 2 years now.

I've always had sleep problems which has led me to take quite a few absences to the point where I was getting pulled into the office every couple months to be told to improve my attendance, I was told that if I took one more day off I could lose my job.

Over Christmas the situation got really bad and I ended up taking a few days off phoned into work I could tell in past meetings that my manager thought I was just making up my reasons for being absent.
Anyway after taking a few days off for my usual reason I got the flu by this point after being told I could be fired if I took one day I felt for sure after taking over a week I would be definitley out of a job. I let the situation build up and just stopped phoning into work.

I got a letter saying I was put down as unauthorised absence and to get in contact or hand in my notice or I'd be fired. So I got in contact and after a stern warning and being put on sickness review where my attendance would be checked weekly I returned to work ( during this meeting my manager never really asked why I was off and when I tried to explain I was just told I should have called I said I thought I had been fired and she said that I could not just be fired without going through all the procedures)

Anyway I went back to work for a few weeks but have still been suffering with sleep problems( I don't sleep at night at all so am going to work after being awake for 20 hours or longer) in the end this got on top of me and I went to the doctors to get sleeping pills which I've tried in the past. They made me really dizzy and drowsy the next day so that I actually felt worse than having had no sleep.
Anyway long story short I ended up taking more days off and sleeping in a few days so not calling in on time.

I was due to go back last thursday but on wednesday received a letter saying that I was down as an unautorised absence again and that I should hand in my notice if I was not returning.

Ive been feeling really down recently because of this situation and with having no sleep and feel really embarrassed about taking to many days off and feel as though Im being spoken about at work. So I sent in my resignation.

Now I really don't know what to do as because I resigned I wont be entitled to jobseekers allowance and I have quite alot of debt to pay including 2 credit cards and a loan.

I live with my partner who makes an okay amount of money but as he has debts too we were already struggling to pay the rent on both our wages let alone on just his.

So I'm really worried about what to do I know this is my own fault but really have no idea what to do so would like to ask some advice.

Sorry for the very long post

Firefox1975

Get another job and turn up for work on time.

perhaps get a job that works during the night or late shift when you appear more active.

contact your creditors and inform them of your situation. Potentially - and this is extreme but possible - they could force you into bankrupcy and trashing your credit file if you fail to keep up repayments.

contact CAB for professional advice.

Emmzi

Well, you aren't going to be able to do anything much until you get to the bottom of the sleep problems so first stop is back to the doctor.

If they can confirm your reasons for leaving work are genuine, I would talk to the jobcentre about probably ESA (or would you be ok to work nights?)

Then, if your debts are unmanageable, a debt counselling organisation like Payplan.

pixiechick_2

Firefox, you're advice is very unhelpful.

I suffer from insomnia so I know what a toll it can take on your life.

There's an online forum for people with sleep problems https://www.sleepio.com

You'll get lots of helpful advice there from people who understand. There's also a course which I'm doing at the moment, which gives some very good tips.

Good luck x

bonehead903028402

thanks pixiechick glad someone can give some constructive advice

Raksha

Is it just not being able to sleep, or is this a symptom of something deeper like depression?

getmore4less

get the sleep problem sorted,

You need to find out why you can't sleep.

Firefox1975

pixiechick wrote: »

Firefox, you're advice is very unhelpful.

what exactly ws unhelpful about my advice? was it incorrect? or was it my tone of reply that was unhelpful?

"Now I really don't know what to do as because I resigned I wont be entitled to jobseekers allowance and I have quite alot of debt to pay including 2 credit cards and a loan.

I live with my partner who makes an okay amount of money but as he has debts too we were already struggling to pay the rent on both our wages let alone on just his.

So I'm really worried about what to do I know this is my own fault but really have no idea what to do so would like to ask some advice."

I beleive the question posed was regarding what to do about the OPs financial situation and not their medical problems?

with the greatest of respect to the other replies they seem to be weighted in favour of sorting out the sleep issue, which is good, but does not help teh OPs current financial position.

having a sleep disorder will not allow the mortgage or loan repayments to go on hold. Be aware of the bigger picture. Whilst comforting and consoling is no doubt useful it does not answer the problem.

pixiechick_2

Perhaps it was more how you said it rather than what you said.

Obviously, until the OP's sleep problems are sorted than she will face the same difficulties should she get another job.

Having insomnia doesn't mean that you're more active at night! It means that you have problems sleeping. Getting a decent night's sleep would mean that you can be more active and alert during the day.

It's not always possible to get a job working nights. In my profession it would be impossible!

Wyndham

But also, if there is an underlying cause that means the OP keeps missing work, then the employer needs to respond to that. If the OP can't actually work then they need to sort that out. Sorting out the sleep problems may be part of that, I don't know. But as an employer I'd be a bit annoyed at this point - especially with unauthorised absence (translation, the member of staff can't even be bothered to phone in). Jobs are not charity.

Harsh? Maybe. But I'm afraid that's life.

pixiechick_2

I think the OP realises that she hasn't handled this well, perhaps as a result of not getting enough sleep?

I can understand that an employer might be totally fed up with it as I've been an employer too in the past.

What the OP needs is help a) to sort out the sleep problems/underlying caused for the sleep problems and b) help in sorting put the debts.

OP - it's highly likely that you wouldn't be eligible for JSA anyway if your partner works.