ESA or Jobseelers allowance

keithrgj

I have been made redundant through ill health retirement after working for 15 years.

At this moment i am job seekers allowance but i need advice on other benefits. The problem is that i have very bad knees and can only walk for about 30 minutes.

I am actively seeking employment as i do not want my disability to be a negative factor. The benefits adviser i see is the chap who handles disability issues and to be fair, has not been a problem.

The problem is i have to see another adviser this Thursday, my last encounter did not go to well as i took great exception to being labeled a work shy scrounger. all because i refused to sign the universal jobs match

She has stated that she will do a direction for thirty jobs a day and compel me to attend the job centre every day.

lets leave the politics out of this for the moment

i can only walk for 30 minutes a day, i am covered under the equalities act ref disability discrimination in that i have protected characteristics

sensible comments please as this benefit adviser will have no experience on disability issues and is it applicable i apply for ESA instead of job seekers allowance

HB58

In order to qualify for ESA, if walking is your only problem, you need to be limited to walking no more than abut 50 meters. I am afraid that 30 minutes would score you zero points and see you back on JSA.

keithrgj

thanks for the reply

its this job seekers agreement i can see being the problem by draconian directions on unqualified staff

appealing is all well and good, but that takes time

if a sanction is applied, do they stop your benefit with immediate effect or can you still receive your entitlement while under appeal

HB58

If sanctioned, your beneft is stopped straight away and only reinstated if your appeal is sucessful.

Would your GP give you a 'fitnote' stipulating your limitations (the whole point of the new notes is that the GP can say what your limitations are, rather than signing you off totally)?

keithrgj

this is what annoys me

i am actively seeking work, but have a disability which i ignore

i am then going to have some jobsworth try and sanction me for which i have to appeal with no redress against the adviser who did the sanction, all for the sake of performance targets etc

may i ask how long it takes to do an appeal and is housing benefit and council tax benefit subject to the sanction also

HB58

I am afraid that I am not familiar with JSA appeals - those for ESA can take around 12 months but I don't now if JSA is the same. I am sure someone who can help will soon be along

keithrgj

i appreciate your help in this as i have never claimed benefit before

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

Look at the Descriptors to see if you have a case in ESA.
go to welfare rights CAB etc.
I belong to Benefits and Work which for a small fee to keep it independent means I can download guides to help me fill in the dreadful forms, you can also see how often the government messes about with the legislation meaning descriptors are added too and taken away.

keithrgj

just carrying on from this

i have just signed on and i was told to remove my degree and diploma from my CV

I WAS ALSO TOLD NOT TO TELL AN EMPLOYER AT AN INTERVIEW THAT I WAS ILL HEALTH RETIRED FROM MY LAST JOB

AS FAR I I CAN SEE AN EMPLOYER WILL TREAT THAT AS GROSS MISCONDUCT FURTHER DOWN THE LINE IF HE EMPLOYED YOU

official complaint gone in so lets see the BS response

Mojisola

keithrgj wrote: »

i am actively seeking work, but have a disability which i ignore

i am then going to have some jobsworth try and sanction me for which i have to appeal with no redress against the adviser who did the sanction, all for the sake of performance targets etc

I think you're going against your own best interests by doing this.

One of the things we hate about filling in IB (and now ESA) forms is that you have to be very upfront about the way your life is restricted by your disability. We try to lead as normal a life as possible within the parameters set by poor health and generally feel we're managing well.

By the time you've spent hours looking at all your inadequacies, you can feel like rubbish but, if you don't tell the authorities all the ways your life is affected, they won't know. If you want to be treated fairly, you have to very clear about the restrictions on daily living.

iluvmarmite

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver wrote: »

Look at the Descriptors to see if you have a case in ESA.
go to welfare rights CAB etc.
I belong to Benefits and Work which for a small fee to keep it independent means I can download guides to help me fill in the dreadful forms, you can also see how often the government messes about with the legislation meaning descriptors are added too and taken away.

£20 is hardly a small fee when you are on benefitd