To be frightened about the Government’s plans for benefits reform?

[PilgorTheGoat]

I am one of the millions of people currently on long term sickness benefits. I receive the LCWRA element of UC and PIP due to poor mental health and autism. I have severe anxiety and depression and I am awaiting an appointment to see if I also have PTSD due to sexual abuse in my childhood.

I have tried every element of support offered to me. I’m maxed out on 2 different types of antidepressants. I have had back-to-back (excluding the 6 month wait in between) 12 week sessions of counselling offered via the NHS. I am on a waiting list for intensive CBT due to my possible PTSD. I am currently having twice weekly private, video counselling appointments.

I can’t leave my house alone due to panic attacks. I struggle to meet my own care needs and my husband has to do a lot of the work for us both (although he works full time). I have a very understanding friend whom I force myself to go for a short walk with twice a week in order to stop myself becoming completely imprisoned at home but I find this very distressing and we have to take the same route each time.

I am so, so scared about the government’s plans to end sickness benefits for people like me. We don’t have a load of spare cash, we’re just about getting by. There is no support available. I’ve taken everything offered and my husband has been very proactive in seeking out other services for me to be involved with. I’d love to be better, I’d love not to live in fear but there is no help.

Yeah, people who had jobs they could do as WFH to start with.
I used to clean offices... please tell me how I could do that remotely.

You really have absolutely no idea what poor mental health involves, do you? Zero. Or perhaps you do and your just being goady, who knows?

That is a disgusting post. There was no need for that whatsoever as you know what the FM was talking about.

What WFH jobs are there for someone who had never had a phone/PC based job?

No idea @XenoBitch but apparently there are loads of WFH jobs out there, and I am sure all the training could be done remotely ? However I am not sure the Government are that keen on people just WFH, so that might be an issue ?

no. gov will help you retrain for a computer, people arguing role.

I have never had a job where I used a PC. How can I prove to a potential employer that I can use one.

You studied computer science. Why would an employer ask you to prove you can use a PC?

WFH roles are very competitive for people who have tons of experience.

Why don't you apply and see what happens?

This trope of WFH being the answer to people with MH issues can fuck off.

Working from home is a realistic option, as proven during lockdowns.

I am middle aged, not worked for well over a decade... a trash DBS, and very bad work history (fired/managed out). I end up in 136 suites and police cells every so often.

So, you're just planning to never work again?

Who is going to employ me? I bloody wouldn't.

Maybe you'd be surprised if you actually applied for some roles?

And will they help me get through a job interview too? I am a fucking awful person.

Agreed

Sadly, many feel it will never happen to them. Often a shock, illness, some awful event can even knock down the biggest of people for six.

I was a mental health inpatient for 6 weeks, 5 years ago.

Not to mention that many people with MH issues get severe anxiety over phone calls and video calls which Is pretty essential to working from home. I have to reject video calls even from doctors because I can't log on as I can't breath with anxiety over them. No way would I ever get a job from a remote video call interview

And will they help me get through a job interview too? I am a fucking awful person.

I doubt you are a fucking awful person, all the fucking awful people I know think they are marvelous !

job interview help is a good one. i have read on here, some people receiving it from the employers interviewing them, after disclosing their anxiety and other mh issues.

on a serious note, i think the gov should indeed be your employer so it is a one stop shop. genuine recommendation. everything will be more joined up!

They just ignore posts that point out their errors and don't fit their narrative.

Then you really should know better. Shame on you.

email interview?

How funny. ‘You’ve got no idea!’ ‘Actually I do and this is why’ ‘Then you should still agree with me’

Yes, very funny. Clearly absolutely no empathy.

I didn't study computer science. Where did that come from? I have a very out of date certificate from the late 90s about how I could use MS Paint, and use a printer. Oh, and "code", when I got someone else to do that for me.

WFH is very competitive now. I have nowt to offer. It would be a form of self harm to try. Again, I have no PC/phone experience.... I have only ever done physical jobs.

I want to work, but I would need a ton of support. I am looking into being assessed for both ASD and ADHD. Right now, the Job Centre will give zero fucks about that.

Like I said, I have a dirty DBS (and people need to realise that a simple caution can fuck your life up... I have several), I am not reliable as I get overwhelmed often... I have been fired from jobs in the family business.

I'm ignoring you because you're wrong.

You claimed that you can't claim for mortgages, you're wrong. You can actually claim the interest for up to £200k.

You claimed you can't claim council tax, you're wrong.

An email interview? Who does email interviews?

I just asked my DH who works from a company and asked if they'd give someone an email interview for a job. He just laughed at me. Being able to communicate and participate in meetings etc are pretty essential to working as part of a remote team. Who in the world is going to hire someone for a remote job based on an email interview when they have plenty of applications from applicants who can actually participate as a member of the team on a video call like everyone else?
You wouldn't even get short listed for the job if you had to request an email interview.

I have huge empathy but sometimes I don’t think encouraging people to lie in bed with the curtains drawn is helpful.

I had a bad day the other day and DP asked me:
’Have you been outside today?’
’No.’
’Have you spoken to anybody outside the house?’
’No.’
’Have you eaten properly and stayed hydrated?’
‘No.’
’It’s no wonder you feel like crap then.’

He had a point!

Not aimed at you op because I don’t know your personal circumstances but let’s face it there are a lit of people in this country who either of taking the piss or don’t seem to realize that anxiety is a normal human condition that you have to learn to manage. I work and I have suffered extreme anxiety. Please explain to me how sitting at home catastrophising will help me? A lot of mental health problems are helped by work. Working raises confidence and builds self esteem, it gets you out and about and you are forced to become part of something bigger than yourself. We have to have some tough conversations, too many people are sitting at home. We all suffer from anxiety but some of us get on with it and fight back. What would happen if everyone crumbled and hid in the house?

No, sex workers work in bed don't they. That is my mind's take on it.

The mortgage payment is a loan. And you still have to pay some council tax. So it’s not wrong at all.

That made me laugh, honestly some of these posts have been wild.