to admit defeat and be signed off sick and made to live on UC at 39 years old 😢

[SoUnwell]

I have been unwell now for 3 years and lost 4 jobs because of it.
I have gone from job to job in hope I’ll suddenly get better and be able to work as I feel so young to just accept I am unable to.
I have long covid and fibromyalgia ( brought on my long covid ) as well as a b12 deficiency I’ll need monthly injections for life on as my body no longer absorbs anything

I have really tried
I am 2 weeks into another job and can feel all my symptoms coming back
The constant pain and exhaustion is too much to bear

I think the time has come accept defeat and just follow the GPs advice which is to not work tor the time being

How do I go about all of this?

Im already on a small amount of UC as my wages are so low so will they top me up a little until I apply for PIP?
So confused and very worried as have 3 young children

Could you consider working from home?

That sounds rough, I'm sorry.
You can get PIP at the same time as UC. PIP can take months to hear if you're successful from the date you apply. I would advise getting help from a benefits advisor, try CAB of your local council.
If you are on UC and too ill to work you may be eligible for LCWRA (limited capability for work and related activities) which is extra money.
A benefit advisor can help with figuring out what you're entitled to.
sounds like you do need to rest up and recover.

I don't know about benefits but I just wanted to say I am so sorry. I too had covid which turned into Long Covid and caused fibromyalgia and CFS. March 2020. I left work July 2020. I was older than you though at 49.
As PP said could you look at working from home. Apply for PIP asap.
I hope things start to improve for you soon xxx

So sorry to hear this. I am in Ireland so don't have full grasp of your benefit system but can you work part-time while claiming disability? I know here on disability allowance you can work up to 19 hours a week. Part-time work may suit you better rather than giving up employment completely

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk

Has excellent guides and a useful forum. It's really worth the money to become a subscriber because their advice guides are very comprehensive.

Are you in England? If so, you can try claiming PIP (which you can get even if working) and (I think) either UC or new-style ESA depending on your circumstances.

Work from home

It's still work. @SoUnwell didn't say it was the commute that was bringing her symptoms back. Also, easier said than done getting a full time wfh job. I know, I've looked!

What job and hours do you do now? Do you have a partner?

I think if you work full time then you should try to reduce hours/change job before giving up. If your children are young it's likely to get easier but getting back into work as you get older can be really difficult.

I have already dropped my hours from 35 a week to 30 a week to now 16 a week.

All school office jobs so I have half terms off but this has made no difference.

I can’t work from home anymore than I can do the 5 minute walk to work in the morning as some days I can’t keep my eyes open.

No partner - the kids dad has them 50% of the time and helps where he can but this doesn’t help me being able to work etc sadly

How do you apply for this?
thank you

Did you qualify for PIP?
im devastated this has happened
I’m so sorry it happened to you too 😢

I had to do it at 34.
It's shit, but I couldn't work, I was in and out of hospital and really ill.

How does it actually work financially?
Im so worried

Disability benefits.
Again, not great, but there was no other option.

I have to agree with others that you should really try a different job/role if possible, at only 39 and with 3 kids you are going to struggle without paid employment.

Where I work for example we are technically “hybrid” mix of office and home working but for illness/caring responsibilities you can work full time from home. There is 1 member of my team who also has fibromyalgia, and another member on a team I work alongside, they both have permission to work full time from home and to work irregular hours as suits so the lady on my team tends to work 3 hours then has 2 off, then works the rest of the day. So there are jobs out there that can work.

Applying for PIP is a long process, anywhere up to 13 weeks it can take.

You will almost certainly be eligible for PIP

www.gov.uk/pip

They way you apply:

You ring them up
They send you a very long form

I strongly suggest getting help with the form as the questions are very open but they have specific things they are looking for - citizens advice will help or there are other orgs

Either you go in for a meeting or they send out a home assessor

They write a report which is mostly lies (mine said I had damaged the wrong leg and gave completely incorrect details of my accident and said I could walk when I couldn't)

You appeal

The appeal panel tell the assessor off and give you the benefit.

My brother is in a similar situation. YANBU. Be aware that most applications for PIP are rejected initially but get through on appeal. It's a system designed to be oppressive for disabled people but you'll get there in the end. DB is also eligible for blue badge and a disabled Railcard. Get everything you're entitled to. That's the system we all pay into (including yourself) for hard times like this. Good luck! Fibromyalgia is shite.

I had to do it due to endometriosis, Autism and adhd . It’s not great but I get PIP and don’t have to look for work on UC.

On a more optimistic note, you may find that after you have spent some time resting that your body starts to be capable of more slowly.

If you are pacing yourself (I'm sure you are sick of that word already) then many people do improve if somewhat slowly.

Octavia 64
i had my assessment over the phone in October last year, I have moderate Parkinson’s, at 61, I have a small private income and pip.
sometimes I just ache, and get very weak, told last year when diagnosed 6 years, def getting worse.
Luckily just cat and I

I think you should stop working. I also have long Covid. I had to stop working. This allowed me to pace myself. Long Covid is like ME/CFS and if you keep pushing you risk a severe crash that could eventually leave you bed bound. Listen to your body. I have got to the point now where I haven't worked for 2 years but know my limits and I am looking for something I can do part time from home on a flexible basis for a few hours a week. I hope in the long run once I have been doing that a while I will be able to increase that.

Before quitting work I was so unwell. Now I am unwell but functioning because I was able to properly rest. I still have to sleep most afternoons but the difference is significant

If you have ever paid into a workplace or private pension check if you could claim it early on health grounds.

There may be a welfare rights office at your local council who will help you fill in the forms. If you happen to live in Leeds, there is one.

For your UC claim:

If/ when you leave work, make sure you definitely get signed off work by your GP, you’ll need the fit note to submit on your journal. You need to sign in to your account and submit a change of circumstances around your health and request a Capability for Work assessment. It’s a similarly long process to claiming PIP, but a totally separate amount of money if you’re awarded it. It can really help top up your UC, and if you’re found to have Limited Capacity for Work or Work Related Activity it excuses you from having to look for work, but in the future if you are able you can do a small amount of work alongside UC without receiving any deductions.

A local CAB or money advice service can really help with both this and the PIP applications, especially if they go to appeal; which a staggeringly high amount of very valid claims do.