What do I want to be when I grow up?

[Sobeyondthehills]

Title is slightly misleading.

For the last 7 years I have been out of the job market due to my mental health. I am working with a large amount of professionals to try and get myself into a position where I will be able to work.

But I don't know what I want to do, I have little to no qualifications. I have thought about doing a course or something similar, but we are on the breadline as it is, so cant afford to pay for anything. I have started to look into seeing if we can get some help, but most places need to know what course you want to do and I have no fucking clue.

I use to work in customer services and was good at it, enough to be made a manager.

Maybe I am just not ready for it, but I have at least another 30 years of working and if I am going to be honest I can't face going through the ESA/PIP process again, in my ideal world I would be completely off benefits in a job I love.

I know no one on here is going to be able to say well Sobeyond you should work in xyz, but hopefully someone might be able to think of something that I haven't thought of.

I am not really sure what I am asking, I am damn proud of how far I have come in terms of my mental health and getting a job is the most logical step and one that I am terrified of

I think it is going to be an all or nothing thing with both ESA and PIP.

As soon as I get a job, I wouldn't qualify for either and I shouldn't, but the thought of the what if I get a job and suddenly go downhill again and have to apply all over is petrifying for me.

Ultimately I can get any sort of a job to tide us over and from there start looking for a "forever" career, but trying to find someone to employ me after being out of a job for so long and with mental health problems is going to be the tough thing.

It's rubbish isn;t it because it makes people frightened to try anything. I wonder about voluntary work but even scared of trying that, due to the assessors etc. You can find out which support group category you are in if you ask them for form ESA85 / ESA85A (latter if on paper). Mine says task completion. But almost any job / volunteering would include some of that and feel they would take it away, and the PIP. Not easy

As soon as I get a job, I wouldn't qualify for either and I shouldn't, but the thought of the what if I get a job and suddenly go downhill again and have to apply all over is petrifying for me.

Exactly the same.

@user87382294757

Yep, that is what I thought, the basic being that any job I get unless it is homeworking is going to trigger an assessment.

@Warmhandscoldheart Our local library is closing down, which is gutting.

I will have a look for animal charities, that is an idea and hadn't even thought of forest schools, I am not sure if we have any round here, but its certainly something to check

Self employment might be the way forward? Publish some of your best blog articles in an ebook (like on kindle direct publishing), or sell cross stitch patterns or recipes (no copyright on recipes) in the same way and quietly see how that goes without alerting anyone?

I mean with PIP...it is meant to be not about work etc, (you can claim it in work) but they would use it as a change in circumstances and use it to take you off, I reckon. Even if it didn't contradict the PIP. The would need to appeal etc which is a huge stress.

I do wish they would make it easier for those of us on disability benefits to get back into work, without the fear of losing everything all at once.

I get why they do it, but it becomes a massive loop, you are too scared to try and do anything so remain on the benefits, but you want to go back into the work force but then you lose everything that was a massive fight to get in the first place.

Publish some of your best blog articles in an ebook

I like to think I am great, but most of my posts are me complaining about the government in various colourful language.

Cross stitch patterns, might be a good one, although there are various programs you can buy to make your own, so not sure if it would be a non starter, however I will look into it. Thank you

I do wish they would make it easier for those of us on disability benefits to get back into work, without the fear of losing everything all at once.

Yes, it is very stressful and make a long drawn out process even worse. I'm sure it even adds to the problem as people are frightened to try anything. Not sure if the UC system is any better, probably not. My ESA is contribution based also.

Not sure if the UC system is any better

From what I have understood, its better if you work and don't get paid weekly, which is going to be another cluster fuck for us as my partner is paid weekly and if I lose ESA its going to trigger the change and put us onto UC

I'm sorry feel i derailed the thread a bit with my benefits stuff

I hope you find something you like OP maybe you know if would feel happier working or not. O if something not paid work would also make you happy..

And maybe get some support with the assessments etc -good luck

Oh sorry, saw the recent post yes mine is self employed so might be tricky also. I hope it goes OK.

Thanks User.

We did the maths and a full time job on minimum wage would cover what we lose, however it doesn't factor in childcare, also ideally I would like to start off as a part time job to ease myself in but I am guessing beggers can't be choosers.

If self employed I would try and stay on the old system for as long as possible, while horrible to say it is nice to know that other people are in the same situation

Kind thoughts, not easy. there are others out there too!

Also not sure if this is of any help to you but I really like the Mind website Elefriends you might like it too. www.elefriends.org.uk/

I had never heard of elefriends, thank you for that

Elefriends is run by Mind and is a kind os support forum / chat room, it is lovely. It is named after mental health being a bit like the "elephant in the room' at times.