Join the night owls for chat, all welcome.

[Mummylin]

Thanks for reminder Becca rushes to get first pick of comfy sheltered branch !!!
Settles in with fleecy blankets etc !

Still struggling. Now been told to attend a social services "exit interview". So much for being good enough to ask for help. If I hadn't thus wouldn't be happening.

Did you hear about your ESA?

They increased my rate by £20/payment but think I'm fit for some work related activities.

I'm meeting a work coach in a few days which is pointless as I've never worked and won't be working, I'll eventually be going back to education.

Hi, can I join? Gonna be up all night wrestling with my brain that won’t switch of because it’s coming to a couple of scary realisations.

Sorry you're struggling

Hi NameChange! Welcome

We sometimes drop off so don't worry if nobody posts middle of the night!

Do not tell them that. You run the risk of them stopping your money.

You'll probably be asked make a cv/sign up to look for work on their website/possibly sent on a course to prepare for work or a cv as you've not worked and go back - sometimes monthly sometimes less or more, usually its monthly. What they ask of you varies. If you don't do what they ask of you, you will be sanctioned. You'll need to look for work as long as you're claiming and they may send you to interviews they deem suitable. Going into education would make claiming again difficult for the same illness/needs so I hope it's a course that leads to work.

Hi namechange I'm going through a bad patch at the moment (worse than usual) but wanted to say that this is a safe place to talk about things.

Things are really bad and now I've got a severe ibs flare to deal with as well, well I think it's ibs and nothing more serious but I don't really know. I've not posted as much as I don't know what to say.

It's ESA though not JSA, does it matter?

I'm taking a support worker with me.

To clarify my last point above - I meant studying for something useful in work place and not something that's not useful.

I think that makes sense

It's work group ESA, so you're expected to do things to find/prepare for work. They don't always treat people in work group that differently to fit for work, it varies hugely. They won't just leave you alone, they're not allowed to do that anymore in work group and they do sanction.

So whatever you do don't cancel it or be late!

Thanks I’m not struggling with anything difficult particularly (well I am but that’s not what’s keeping me up 😂). I’m sorry you guys are struggling/finding things difficult at the moment though. It’s nice this chat is here though 😊

I won't cancel it!

That came out a bit harsher than I intended! I just meant don't make the mistake of thinking its some kind of optional thing you can not do, it's not and its important you do whatever they ask of you. If you're lucky it'll just be to make a cv, though if you've not worked its likely to be you'll be sent on a course to do it, which may or may not be nearby.

In my area it's very much like being found for work, they barely differentiate except the person in work group doesn't need to go every week and apply for as many jobs. i know others in other areas who have been asked to do a cv/look into courses/therapy if mh related and come back in two months time.

I know you meant it nicely! Don't worry

Anyone doing anything to cheer themselves up tonight?

Found out a new series of my favourite show starts in December.

And I'm taller than I thought

Worrying is about all I'm good at right now.

I'm trying to watch the worst witch (90s itv version). I got it on DVD years ago, it's in German but can change the language to English - it's now very expensive so I'm glad I got it when I did!!

I’m having a clotted cream scone at the moment. A nice little pick me up 🙂

Oh I love that version, so much better than the new one 😂

I can't get on with the new one at all. I really wanted to love it, I've watched them all but not got the DVDs and I've got all the ITV ones (even the last one where the English tracks are wrong on some episodes!) and the film with tim curry from the 80s (which definitely did not stand up to time at all.

I wanted to get some for a friend for Christmas as we were talking about how much we loved the books and ITV series that was when I found out how expensive they are assuming you can find them on Amazon now unfortunately.

I think a big issue with the BBC one are the actress who plays miss hardbroom just isn't her whereas Kate duchene. It just doesn't feel right generally.

Maybe I just read the books too often!! They were my favourites at school, everyone excitedly waiting for the next one!

The ITV ones are on Amazon at almost £40 each! and that's the cheap ones. The last season has been sold - that was over £100 and two of the episodes the English has been swapped!

Sorry I meant to say Kate duchene was perfect as hardbroom!