So what on earth do people with mild disabilities do?

[Tabsicle]

This was triggered by a couple of conversations, and (I'll admit) a thread on here.

Lately it's seemed to me that as a society we've basically created a set up where if you're severely disabled there is, in theory, a safety net (I know this is being torn apart at a rate of knots) and if you're very healthy you can work, but there's a huge spectrum in the middle where people are increasingly screwed.

I was talking to a friend of mine today. She's got rheumatoid arthritis, and it hits her hands quite badly at times, but not consistently. She reckons she's fine for most of the time but, often triggered by bad weather, can have periods during which her hands just seize up and she can't do anything. She's had massive issues keeping jobs as a result because of her sickness record. She's been told she's not eligible for ESA because her condition is so variable and she's functional for the majority of the time, but the JSA people are threatening to kick her off JSA because she has had issues with attendance at a placement due to her hands, and she's probably about to receive a sanction based on the phone call she had today.

I've read similar stories here - people who are well enough that they can't claim ESA but can't hold down jobs due to significant issues with attendance. What on earth are these people meant to do? It just seems so spectacularly unfair.

YADNBU OP. This is a horrendous issue that needs more media coverage. I have a DD with ASD who I get told "looks normal " yet has major social and executive functioning issues that means I have had to home school her as her ASD is not severe enough for a specialist school but her social issues mean she cannot cope in mainstream. She cannot manage personal care and I cannot see her being able to work/live independently and very sadly the chances of getting into an assisted work programme where we are are very slim. I wake at night in a cold sweat at times worrying about what will happen to her.

Whilst things have supposedly moved on we still have a long way to go. The second class citizens thread had me curled up in a ball. I am a big believer and advocate in the Social Model of Disability and can only hope that as a country/nation we will achieve that one day.

MrsJay and SilverDragonfly that does not suprise me sadly. I have a range of mild disabilities from a knee injury to a congenital complex neurological condition. I went straight into work and college when leaving school then on to university. I applied for ESA after suffering a nervous breakdown a few years ago and got placed in the support group. When I applied for PIP, I lost at the initial stage, then at the appeal they noted they didn't think my condition had changed that much (on the waiting list for surgery) or affect me that bad. Why? Because apparently going to Uni 8yrs ago means you're clever and your condition cant get worse. The rules to get help now are ridiculous.

I'd love to be able to work right now, but there's very little flexible jobs that fit around being a single parent and my constant stream of medical appointments and my bad days etc, and I'd be a liability to any full time employer right now.

I currently claim JSA which I feel isn't right for me at all. I want to talk to my advisor about claiming ESA instead but I'm worried about the assessment and not being disabled enough because I only have aspergers. I'm dreading having to move onto PIP too.

I can act neurotypical but it exhausts me. Have to come home and sit quietly for a while because it all gets too much. I get very easily overwelmed by sensory input- even something simple like walking home in the heat is too much for me sometimes.

OhSoggyBiscuit Have a chat with them if you have a good advisor, and your GP too. I was lucky in that I had a lovely advisor most of the time who was very helpful. If you do switch over. They put you on a basic rate first before assessing which group you either fit into, or neither as the case may be. Do feel free to PM me if you wish to discuss further as my situation is quite unique and so quite outing.