Signed off work with depression & anxiety indefinitely

DanS1

Just need some advice as to whether it's feasible for me to be signed off work indefinitely. Was made redundant from my retail job in February. It was sad but in a way I was relieved as I'd been doing it for 11 years and especially in the last few years my anxiety levels when dealing with the public have been getting higher and higher. So I thought I wouldn't get another job in retail and try something different. Since then, it's just been a turbulent mess. I was applying for permanent jobs but not hearing anything back. Got a temporary position in a warehouse through an agency which I was an embarrassing disaster at - I was really nervous and couldn't even get the power pallet truck to move properly, so that lasted all of 2 days. Then I got another temp position in an office doing data entry, which I've always thought I'd be better suited to - which in a way I am in terms of being competent at the work but there's 50-60 people in there which makes me really anxious. Everyone says I'm too quiet which annoys me.I've been there for 10 weeks but this week haven't been in at all. I've been given a sick note for depression and anxiety for 2 weeks by the doctor where he's advised me to change jobs if I can. Only thing is I don't know what Job to change to - I just feel useless at everhthing. Would it be feasible for me to be signed off indefinitely?

oh_really

DanS1 said:

Would it be feasible for me to be signed off indefinitely?

Only your GP can answer that.
Why not use this moment as an opportunity to retrain or build your qualifications? What interests you, what are you hobbies that you can draw from?

gozaimasu

I know someone who hasn't worked for 10+ years due to anxiety. Having spent time around them I really don't see how they can't work and I have no idea what kind of behaviours they exhibit during their yearly benefit assessment.

Get a job with minimal interaction with the public and ideally working from home. You'll earn more money than the disability living allowance.

The people who say you're too quiet need a sock in their mouth. Ignore them. Horrible people.

DayDreamerandGeneralWaster

They don't get to tell you you are too quiet. Utter nonsense. They aren't experts on what level of interaction is required.

TELLIT01

If you are expecting to claim benefits, an indefinite medical certificate would not be acceptable even if a GP would issue one, which is unlikely.  Unless rules have changed under Universal Credit, during the first 6 months of a claim a certificate from a GP can't be for more than 3 months.

Jillanddy

GP's are very reluctant to sign off for even three months unless there is a clearly chronic condition, and this is not one. And there is no such thing as an indefinite sick note. But why would you want that anyway? Apart from the fact that living on benefits is very stressful and you will never have any quality of life living hand to mouth on the next benefit payment, every bit of research and evidence says that poverty (and living on benefits is poverty) means you will be more susceptible to chronic ill-health and you will die, on average, 10 - 15 years before your better off peers. Why would you want to risk that? There has to be better for you out there. 

It would be worth looking locally at the employment support provision available from mental health charities. Around here Scope have some fabulous schemes, but there are a lot around if you look. It won't be easy because you are going to have to want to do it. But surely having a longer, happier and more fulfilling life is an incentive?

Teapot55

You might want to think about going to visit some ‘temp agencies’ again, especially if you live in or near a town or city. You can sign up with them for the types of work that you think you might be able to do. 

Don’t worry if you have a bad day somewhere - have another go the next day and if it still isn’t any good still don’t worry - with temps people are just glad someone has turned up to do their best. They certainly don’t expect you to be expert at the job so go with the flow. 

As long as you are happy to find your way round to different places (always give yourself plenty of time to find somewhere unfamiliar) temping can be a lot of fun. If there’s horrible people you get to realise why the previous person left! But generally there’s lots of nice people out there and every day is different. Good luck!

ACG

Have you thought about going self employed? 

I used to be very shy and still am to some degree. But if you put me in a 1 on 1 situation (or 1 on 2) and I am fine. Put me in front of a room with 20 people looking at me and I would be a train wreck. 

Find something you like and are passionate about. 

Rather than thinking about not working forever, try to think of what you are comfortable with and go from there? If you are comfortable with data entry, why not look for jobs on places like people her hour. You may need to talk to customers via email but that may be better than going into an office. 

oh_really

He's started another thread, wants to be a courier.

Marcon

DanS1 said:

Would it be feasible for me to be signed off indefinitely?

Not sure what you mean by 'feasible'? If you've only been with your current employer for a few months, they aren't likely to pay more than statutory sick pay - and may decide to dispense with your services entirely if you are unable to return to work in the near future. 

Given the picture you paint of yourself and your mental health, what are the prospects of doing something entirely different with minimal interaction with other people - dog walking, gardening, cleaning - all give great flexibility and certainly where I live, are in great demand and pay well above minimum wage.

[Deleted User]

gozaimasu said:

Get a job with minimal interaction with the public and ideally working from home. You'll earn more money than the disability living allowance. 

Just for clarification it’s called personal Independence payment now, unless an existing claim is in place and haven’t been transferred yet.