Could Someone Pls Help Me Urgently :(

hope4debtfree

hello,

I've been suffering from depression, paranoia and anxiety for a very long time now. I suffer from other health problems too. I had been feeling better for approx 11-12months and I plucked up the courage to look for work. With the help of mental health charities, I have found a good job late last year and have been working great.

Now even though I told my employer about most of my general health issues, I never told them of the mental health issues I have had due to my paranoia of what others will think or stigmatise as that would drive me insane. But now I'm feeling unwell once again as I'm having many problems sleeping, even with my medication. I'm now at a stage where I really can't hack it in my job and feel very paranoid and snappy at even the smallest office joke and feel like everyone is laughing at me behind my back. It's like my whole world is turning upside down once again..in fact I feel that weak and lethargic, that when i go to work, I almost fall asleep.... I don't know what to do??? if I take any further time off, I most likely will be sacked for poor attendance and if I simply don't go back to work, I may not get help from my local benefits department.

Can anyone advice regarding taking time off work and what happens in the event I don't feel well enough to go back?

Will i not ever be able to claim any help or benefits? What help and advice is available to me? Rights?

Thank You
PS: Posted in Employment, Jobseeking & Training section too

sweetietot

I know it's really hard, but try to talk to your manager about how you are feeling, they may be able to ease some of your worries.

Good luck and I hope you start to feel better soon

hope4debtfree

thanks for the warm words sweetietot. my manager is not so understanding as I've had a problem with her recently. This is why I want advice before I take any further steps.

nannytone_2

have you been to see your GP?

hope4debtfree

i regularly see my gp and psychiatrist, but he/she can't give me advice regarding benefits...all they can give is a sick/fit note. I'm more concerned as to what would happen if i was off-sick for long term...would my employer say "we're not paying", because i didn't tell them i had a long-term health problem?

nannytone_2

but the GP can give you a sick note.
at the very least that would give you a bit of breathing space.

if you are sacked because you are 'ill' you will be able to apply for ESA ( i assume that you wont have enough contributions, so would be based on your household income)

you really need to tell your employers about your problems, as they have to be given the chance to make and reasonable changes to accomodate you

Uncertain

hope4debtfree wrote: »

i regularly see my gp and psychiatrist, but he/she can't give me advice regarding benefits...all they can give is a sick/fit note. I'm more concerned as to what would happen if i was off-sick for long term...would my employer say "we're not paying", because i didn't tell them i had a long-term health problem?

I've posted a reply on the Employment board but to answer this additional question......

It depends on your employer's sickness policies so nobody here can give you a definitive answer.

I assume you are still getting company sick pay? Depending on your firm you may have a hard and fast right to this for a certain length of time (perhaps 3 months full pay then three months half pay - it could be more but may well be less) but equally it may be "discretionary". This is becoming more common and gives you no guarantee. When sick pay runs out you will continue to get SSP until you have been off for 26 weeks (assuming you are still employed). After that you will have to claim ESA. For 13 weeks this will be paid at an "assessment" rate then you will have to attend a "medical". If you pass the medical you will be placed in one of two groups and you will get rather more money.

Most firms will allow you to take any holiday you have accrued (and it continues to accrue whilst you are off sick whether or not you are getting paid) but again this is at the firms discretion. They will however have to let you take it at some point (or pay you for it) as you cannot lose your statutory holiday entitlement (28 days per year) by being off sick.

Regardless of all this at some pont the firm will look to terminate your employment. As I explained in my other post they may offer some small settlement but equally, providing they follow proper procedure, they can do it quite legally without.

fishybusiness

if I take any further time off, I most likely will be sacked for poor attendance

Do you mean sick time, as signed off by the Doctor?

Reading your first post, I can't work out if you want to take time off, to ease the stress you are feeling, or that you feel you need help dealing with the stress, and don't want to take time off because of the possible consequences.

hope4debtfree

Hi and thank you for your warm and very helpful comments.

No i'm not getting sick pay as i have only been off for less than a week each time.

I've just posted this on the other forum:-

Just to clarify, i wasn't trying to avoid giving any information, but was trying to start the topic off as simple as possible.

FYI, I have taken time off twice so far - 1st time was due to stomach and headaches and 2nd time was due to back pain as i had asked for a chair when i started the job last year and eventually my back gave in.

I do have a lot of health issues, but most of them are either short term or don't have a huge effect on performance at work. But as you can understand, if you didn't sleep well, it's very likely that your not going to work well. I tend to have very disturbed sleep throughout the night and may only have 2-4hrs of actual sleep. By morning i have watery eyes and severe headaches. My job doesn't help as it's boring and i almost fall asleep on the computer.

I plan to goto GP and i'm also going to see my jobcentre adviser.

hbgirl

i think it would be a good idea to get in touch with a mental health charity, perhaps mind or the one that helped you find the job. they will have loads of practical advice and support

newy16

speak to your HR dept and discuss you sick leave etc, you can sometimes claim extra help with money if you have been signed off sick
If you lose your job due to ill health you will be able to apply for ESA

it does seem scary but this is what i had to do, i even fought my employer for a settlement as i took free legal advise

happy to help if you wish to send me a pm