My DMP Journey...

in_need_of_direction

Have you considered applying for dla mobility component? You can get it while working and, I think, it's tax free. Also, if you had no income from work you may be eligible for housing benefits. Just go, enjoy catching up and remember there are always options. You're doing good.

Monkeyballs

Hi INoD,

DLA mobility? LOL, I've never even heard of it but I'll check it out

Thanks,

MB of G x

Witless

There's also a scheme called 'Access to Work' that a lot of people don't know about / aren't told about.


2. What you'll get

There is no set amount for an Access to Work grant. How much you get depends on your circumstances.


The money can pay for things like:

• fares to work if you can’t use public transport

https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work/overview

A girl I worked with had her taxi fares paid: without that support she couldn't have worked: well, she could, but it wouldn't have been financially practical IYSWIM.

Monkeyballs

Hey Witless,

Thanks I'll have a look into that too

Getting into work used to be a problem but not from today as the office has moved much closer so I can walk there.

It's rare that I need to get a taxi really, I can't walk, stand or sit for long without discomfort and pain and my job entails me either sitting or standing for long periods of time (it's an office job with a lot of conference calls and video meetings where I need to be in the same spot).

Ideally I'll be able to do more work from home as I can then do bits when it suits me but it won't be the "core" duties as me huffing and puffing down the phone as I talk isn't great LOL

I'm rambling now I know... But one further ramble is that I've been going to the Physio dept. at hospital for months now and more recently just to use the gym "supervised" I say supervised but really we're just left to get on with it... I have now started to contact local gym's to ask if they'd be willing to show mercy and let me use their facilities at a discounted rate since all I can really do is half an hour on the treadmill and static bike combined

Cheers,

MB of G x

nextyeartina

Good luck with work


Tina xxx

Monkeyballs

Ok....

Interesting afternoon.

I went into work and was effectively told that there was little point to me coming in if I can't maintain focus to do the job (which is reasonable enough) but my boss is going to speak to the dept. manager to see if there is anything at all (very slow tea boy for example) which I could be doing...

Since then, I have been to my GP and the MRI results are in! I have a healed fracture which looks like it has sustained some damage and re-healed and a dessicated disc which while not pressing or trapping any nerves could explain why anything weight bearing is causing me problems next stop is a specialist referral which are notorious for taking a long time... Oh well, some news is better than none I guess here's to hopefully not having a degenerative disease :beer:

So I've been signed off again with instructions to do whatever I want so long as it's not likely to damage my back but most importantly is to keep taking the pain pills!

I also called Step Change to ask advice as to what would happen if I do wind up losing my job over this and they told me to not worry as there is always the option of a DRO if it comes to the worst which isn't something I'm keen to do but if I lose my income then may be the only way forward... At least in the meantime I've still learned my lessons about debt!

Hmmm... Monkeyballs triumphant return seems decidedly like a raspberry LOL still, I'm still too pretty to be too unhappy

Ciao!

MB of G xxx

in_need_of_direction

At least you now know what's wrong. It's the first real step towards fixing things.

Monkeyballs

Yup, if I'm honest I am feeling a little down as a part of me was hoping the scan would show nothing and I'd just magically wake up one day feeling great!

Still, I guess this is the next best thing

I've decided this evening that I need to do something constructive with my time off work. I've sort of got into a bit (well, a lot) of a rut and have been finding myself just wasting away... Not physically, sweets stop me from doing that LOL but trying to have a conversation at work today was a bit of a struggle as I was getting my words muddled and I think my brain is just switching off I'll figure something out...

Tomorrow is a new start, I know what's wrong and need to better myself!

G'night

MB of G x

in_need_of_direction

Try filling in an application for dla, that will be a challenge

getting_my_life_straight

Just wanted to add, I have mobility problems and was missing time off work. Finally got a diagnosis and my work got occupational health involved and then I had a health and safety assessment. Out of it got a new chair, had my desk altered height wise, now know what my limits are at work (more importantly so does my line manager) I also had my lighting altered (I have got lupus and cannot sit under UV lights) Access to work is a good place to start and remember that they have to make every reasonable adaption to help you to stay in work. I cannot stress how helpfull occ health was to me. Good luck