ESA has been discontinued, don't know what will happen

seven-day-weekend

My husband had a terrible breakdown in 1990, he had to give up his job (teaching), and was severely ill for nearly two years.

He did however, eventually return to part-time teaching, and although he still had terrible days (and still does), he found that because he was part-time, on the whole he was able to manage his condition and stayed in work (albeit with some times off sick) for another fifteen years until he took early retirement in 2004.

However, I also have a friend whose depression is so bad I can't see that she will ever work, bar a miracle.

Only you know what you can cope with, but don't use the fact that you might have to have time off as a reason for not trying, you may, as others have said, be better off in work.

This is meant with your welfare in mind, I know what it is like, I have seen my husband struggle and many times wished I could wave a wand and have this awful illness disappear.

As regards your ESA, all you can do is appeal.

FBaby

The issue is one of control. You want to be in control of what you can do, whereas the DWP are telling you that THEY are in control.

The problem with depression and anxiety is that it can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. You will get better and know how well you can cope if you take the plunge and give it a go. You have been ill for a long time and clearly haven't got well enough during that time to go back to employment just trying to get better without working, so maybe giving it a try IS the way to get yourself better because you will realise that you can do it, hence increasing your self-esteem, which will be the kick for you to feel you have better control of your depression and anxiety.

If it turns out that it is too much and you just can't do it, then at least you will have something to show the DPW that you are truly unable to sustain work.

That's the big problem with anxiety and mild depression for many people. The only way to get better is to confront it, but depression and anxiety makes you want to do exactly the opposite, hence the vicious circle, hence why people find it harder and harder to get out of it the longer they let it control them.

Give it a try OP and see how it goes. There have been a number of threads on here from people in exactly your situation who have decided that to give it a go since they had no choice any longer and have made a real success of it, and stated that looking back, being denied ESA what the best thing that could have happened to them.

ohreally

woodbine wrote: »

you sound like irratable duncan smith and his "work sets you free" statement

Was this not Theodor Eikie?

weavedribbon

I have to say i tend to agree with those posters who suggest at least trying some sort of work could actually be helpful? I don't mean this to sound patronising or as if i just don't understand but from my own experience of quite severe mental health problems (including anxiety and depression), managing to do some work at least gives me a sense of purpose and something to be proud of myself for.

I used to work fulltime and have a better paid job with more responsibility. As a result of being unwell I now work a part time minimum wage job. However, because of making these changes I find I am able to get into work the huge majority of the time, even when it's the last thing in the world I feel like. I have some reasonable adjustments in place (eg not working long shifts, being able to reasonably request not to do something if it could make me very anxious) and on bad days i just remind myself i can let myself just flop/give into the depression in 5/6 hours time. Or that I've got "tomorrow" to wallow. That helps me get into work and often by the end of a shift I'm feeling a bit better as I'm already up and out.

I'm not pretending to know how you feel as everyone experiences things differently but I know for me the sense of purpose and self worth working gives me helps me to fight back some of the depressive, low self esteem thoughts. Also if you receive DLA it increases your eligibility for other benefits meaning for me working part time at minimum wage i'm no worse off then i was before. i receive working tax credits (and free nhs healthcare through them) and some housing benefit/council tax support as because of my DLA my weekly living amount i'm seen to "need" is higher. i'm obviously hardly rolling in it but i am getting by more ok then i thought i'd be when i had to reduce my hours and get a less pressured job.

i really hope things work out for you, whatever you choose to do. do you have regular contact with your gp or any mental health professionals? they may well be able to talk to you about what they think would be helpful and support you in an appeal if they feel that's the best way forward.

jacques_chirac

woodbine wrote: »

you sound like irratable duncan smith and his "work sets you free" statement

No, I sound like someone that has had depression for many years, and knows the value of a routine and doing activities that give you a sense of achievement.

On the information given, the OP would not get 15 points on the WCA. Yes, they can appeal, but my suggestion is that it would be more constructive to look at what they can do as opposed to what they *might* not be able to do. It will not be easy to find work having been on benefits for so long, but that difficulty is only going to be prolonged by appealing the decision.

OP, have you looked at CBT, or are you receiving any kind of therapeutic input?

gramochroi

Thanks again all for your responses. I'm obviously not explaining myself very well. I want so much to go back to work. I am not a quitter. At eight years of age, I was helping my parents run the family home. At ten years, I ran the home and went to school for two weeks whilst both my parents were in hospital. That same year I was offered a scholarship through university which I could not accept as my parents needed me to contribute to the family income. I worked at 15 and have never been in a job for longer than a year without being promoted.

I had a breakdown and have been unemployed for almost ten years. I (again) want to work but need some support to enable me to rejoin the workforce. I saw the work focus group as being a great chance to achieve my objectives. I don't think I will ever get back to where I was professionally but that doesn't mean I can't do something to give me some routine, etc. I just sometimes go down and can't get back up until my mind allows me to do so.

Being on JSA I see as a huge pressure, I am so stressed and worried I can't think straight for hours at a time this weekend.

And, yes, I was offered CBT at one stage, but I was severely depressed at the time and could not undertake the hour each way journey to get to the meetings.

Parva

The simple fact is that you either appeal the decision regarding ESA or you sign on for JSA.

FBaby

Go back to your GP and ask to be referrred back for CBT. Accept that you have to sign on for JSA, but explain that although you are determined to make it work and find a job, having been out of the workforce for 10 years and your anxiety issues, you could do with any support available and ask them what you could sign up for for help.

Focus on what you can do rather than what you can't. Concentrate on what is the worse that could happen. You get a job, you try to make it work, it doesn't, you are signed off, you apply for ESA again under new circumstances. You can do it, step by step, and you will be so grateful when you don't let your anxieties rule your life any longer.

Adereterial

OP, there is support on JSA too. You should ask to be seen by the Disability Employment Advisor who will go through all your options whilst on JSA.

justaquestion

I understand all the good intentioned advice given to the OP.

But,

Are there really many employers out there who will give a person with a long term illness a chance, or for that matter someone who does not have a well written full CV?

Its all good and well telling people to get a job, but where are the jobs when most employers have the pick of the cream with loads of people with degrees too willing to step into the job.

Are there any schemes where jobplus or any other group can actually place a person with mental illness with an employer on a try out basis to see how it works out.

its all good and well Ian Duncan Smith coming out with its good to work (which I fully agree with) but where are the employers who are willing to give the long term ill a chance?

Justin