Universal credit - technically not fit to work but fit work

w06

Frustrated and then reassured all in one morning. Bit of a farce of text-relay not working, not sure whether their end or mine but gave up eventually as didn't seem able to get my message across (just needed to book an appointment), UC wouldn't allow my carer (registered with them) to arrange the appt on my behalf unless I answered their questions - he's at work I'm at home, wouldn't allow my neighbour to arrange appt because she's not my carer even though I was here too...

Ended up getting myself to a job centre to ask them to make the phone call for me, thankfully very kind and understanding lady did that for me, and I've an appt tomorrow.

It doesn't bode well when the bank and post office can handle text relay but not the DWP. Hopefully everything else can be done in person or via the online system

w06

Outcome for now is I'm job hunting and treated as fit to work. The lady I met with assured me my job coach would work with me to find things I can do, rather than expect me to do jobs I physically can't.

If it becomes impossible I'll go down the fit note and assessment route.

Couple of jobs that look a possibility already so fingers crossed it will all be irrelevant soon.

Discovered the folk who really need my skills are indeed.co.uk, their text mining and parsing function is appalling!

teddysmum

w06 wrote: »

The lady I met with assured me my job coach would work with me to find things I can do, rather than expect me to do jobs I physically can't.

They did offer my totally blind brother-in-law a job shelf stacking in a supermarket (he could no longer work as a probation officer ) and he was very tempted to turn up for the interview. (This was some years ago, so the system has probably changed)

w06

we'll know it hasn't if they suggest I apply for call centre work.

Danday

teddysmum wrote: »

They did offer my totally blind brother-in-law a job shelf stacking in a supermarket (he could no longer work as a probation officer ) and he was very tempted to turn up for the interview. (This was some years ago, so the system has probably changed)

And a friend that owned a manufacturing company making pot figurines advertised at the job centre for a fork lift truck driver/warehouse packer - they sent him a guy with one arm and one eye and he did not have the requisite licence to drive anything.

No wonder they stopped advising jobs.

w06

It gets more confusing each time DWP contact me.

Received a letter this morning regarding my ESA claim (which should now be closed), telling me I'm not entitled to any payment - but for the first time telling me I'm in the support group, and so they must have done a work capability assessment on paper at some point over the winter. Hopefully having been put in the support group will passport me to the UC support group equivalent and mean financially i'll be in a much better position whilst I find a job.

That would also perhaps explain why the commitments I had to agree to yesterday consisted solely of interacting with the online system.

I've my first appointment with my job coach this afternoon and so I'll try to clarify that.

Will report back, hope it's ok to update like this, I think it's important that folk in the process can see how confusing but ultimately ok it is

w06

yup in the 'support group' and voluntary job hunting only.

strange system

Now just need to figure how to sell myself on these applications!

w06

Took a while longer than I'd have liked but I have a job, start in a few weeks. Suspect will still be on Universal Credit for a while, but hopefully be able to make it earn enough to be financially independent within 6 months or so.

Alice_Holt

w06 wrote: »

Took a while longer than I'd have liked but I have a job, start in a few weeks. Suspect will still be on Universal Credit for a while, but hopefully be able to make it earn enough to be financially independent within 6 months or so.

Brilliant.

All the best.

pmduk

Well done, onwards and upwards! Proof that a positive attitude can achieve things.