Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that some people with illness/disability truly cannot work at all?

32 replies

Agix · 20/06/2024 07:38

All the political discussion recently about helping sick/disabled people into work is great in theory, but in practise I'm wondering if it's at all realistic. And quite scary when discussed alongside the threats to sickness/disability benefits.

I've had chronic illness, physical problems and mental illness since a young age. Won't list all the diagnosis as it's extensive and boring.

I was keeping my head above water for a long time, working, but recently I've severely worsened.

I work full time, with all the reasonable adjustments now. WFH, breaks as much as I need, manage my own schedule.. and I'm still declining and struggling. There is no more employers can do for me, realistically.

It's not a lack of will to work with dealing with health issues, it's that I no longer can. I've worked through discomfort and pain for years, that's fine, but now I cant do work. I cant focus, on anything. Could never do much at all physically, now cant do much mentally as requires focus and energy that I do not have.

For my own situation, something will have to give at some point. I've requested to talk to occupational health to see if there's any way to manage my job. Perhaps I can work 2 days to some sort of adequate standard at most. I'm under CMH as well as having recieved other referrals for treatment in other areas. I'm waiting now.

The sickness benefits I may have had to rely on if I had to quit/severely reduce hours look like they're being taken away. I'd have to be at the mercy of my partner and rely on him if I lost my job/living wage.

But it has made me wonder, what's going to happen to sick people who cannot work? Who dont have anyone else to rely on?

It's not just about the sick persons willpower, but what employer is going to want to hire someone who cant do any work? Or work to a certain standard? Why do we assume everyone can do something worth paying for, enough to earn a living wage 'if they just tried'? I know i bloody cant.. I've tried and am trying! I'm tired of fighting to keep doing something I can't. I'm not worth my employers money.

And if someone can only work very part time, how are they going to afford to live without the sickness benefits too?

I just find it baffling that people are assuming all unwell people can somehow manage to work. If they could do, they would already be doing or trying (like I have and am). There are people much more unwell than me out there.

AIBU to think that some people with health conditions truly cannot work because of them?

OP posts:
sevsal · 20/06/2024 08:36

I would never be able to hold down a job, well I mean I probably could for a short time but it would cause me so much stress. When I say stress it's because I am unable to articulate. I am autistic and have ADHD and complex PTSD and I could never in a million years explain to someone how that affects my ability to work. I don't have the processing or communication ability to do that. On the outside I would be judged as able to work, I'm sure, but how that work would affect me is something I could not convey. The best I can do even here is to say 'stress' because I don't know how to write it down. I haven't worked for years, but if I were dependent on disability benefits and someone else deciding my 'ability' I would be screwed

LutonBeds · 20/06/2024 08:30

I get you OP. There was a TV programme about this, a few years ago now. One of the people on it had been a champion skier but had become ill and required lots of hospital appointments. Like she said; even if she could work what employer was going to be happy with at least two hospital appointments a week? And as they were at different departments, she couldn’t even say she’d work 3 days and have her appointments the other days.

Overthebow · 20/06/2024 08:25

It isn’t sickness benefits for those that are unable to work that are being taken away though is it? It’s PIP that’s being discussed, which isn’t dependent on of you work or not, working people get it. Yes there are of course people who’d really can’t work, which sounds like yourself, who should continue to get benefits and should be protected. But there’s also others who could work and they should be supported to work.

Catza · 20/06/2024 08:21

I work with people with chronic illnesses and some of them, indeed cannot manage even nominal hours. Not without sacrificing what they can do outside of work anyway. So, yes, realistically someone may be able to WFH for an hour a day, and yes, in theory, if we had employers open to it then it may have been possible. However, someone who then has to spend the day recovering from that hour and not being able to look after themselves as a result... I don't think work is beneficial in these circumstances.
However, there is the other side to it. People who can work but lack opportunity and support to make it happen. I talked about my friend's son before on similar threads. He has a progressive genetic disorder which rendered him effectively quadriplegic from the age of 12. He requires 24/7 care, yet he is in full time employment. My friend was able to access funds and support from charitable organisations to source necessary assistive equipment and a personal assistant. His employer is extremely flexible. He works from his bed on a computer which is voice activated and tracks eye movement. It's a huge upfront investment but it guaranteed lifelong work ability and good quality of life. Will our government fork out for something like that? Not a chance.

junebirthdaygirl · 20/06/2024 08:15

I am in lreland so don't know what's happening about disability payments but everything you have said makes total sense and l cannot see how anyone could argue against it. Here, a member of my family gets a disability payment due to severe depression but is allowed to work two days a week ,with no repercussions, as doctors have said its good for his mental health.

Sounds to me like you have gone past the call of duty now and should be able to save what energy you have just for living and l don't know what kind of society would have an issue with that.

patsy999 · 20/06/2024 08:07

Im the same OP. Multiple dissabilities and cant work.

Blackcats7 · 20/06/2024 07:57

You sound as if all the disabled bashing is getting to you. Don’t let the bastards grind you down. Easier said than done I know.
Surely it is absolutely obvious to anyone with genuine knowledge of the full range chronic ill health and disability that those most severely affected generally cannot work? People who disagree have no idea what they are talking about. Certainly some disabled people or people with chronic health conditions can and do work but many simply cannot. It is not a choice but an awful reality which damages every aspect of life.
I would love to hear someone tell me how I could still be working. God knows I could do with a laugh.