AIBU to think that some people with illness/disability truly cannot work at all?

[Agix]

All the political discussion recently about helping sick/disabled people into work is great in theory, but in practise I'm wondering if it's at all realistic. And quite scary when discussed alongside the threats to sickness/disability benefits.

I've had chronic illness, physical problems and mental illness since a young age. Won't list all the diagnosis as it's extensive and boring.

I was keeping my head above water for a long time, working, but recently I've severely worsened.

I work full time, with all the reasonable adjustments now. WFH, breaks as much as I need, manage my own schedule.. and I'm still declining and struggling. There is no more employers can do for me, realistically.

It's not a lack of will to work with dealing with health issues, it's that I no longer can. I've worked through discomfort and pain for years, that's fine, but now I cant do work. I cant focus, on anything. Could never do much at all physically, now cant do much mentally as requires focus and energy that I do not have.

For my own situation, something will have to give at some point. I've requested to talk to occupational health to see if there's any way to manage my job. Perhaps I can work 2 days to some sort of adequate standard at most. I'm under CMH as well as having recieved other referrals for treatment in other areas. I'm waiting now.

The sickness benefits I may have had to rely on if I had to quit/severely reduce hours look like they're being taken away. I'd have to be at the mercy of my partner and rely on him if I lost my job/living wage.

But it has made me wonder, what's going to happen to sick people who cannot work? Who dont have anyone else to rely on?

It's not just about the sick persons willpower, but what employer is going to want to hire someone who cant do any work? Or work to a certain standard? Why do we assume everyone can do something worth paying for, enough to earn a living wage 'if they just tried'? I know i bloody cant.. I've tried and am trying! I'm tired of fighting to keep doing something I can't. I'm not worth my employers money.

And if someone can only work very part time, how are they going to afford to live without the sickness benefits too?

I just find it baffling that people are assuming all unwell people can somehow manage to work. If they could do, they would already be doing or trying (like I have and am). There are people much more unwell than me out there.

AIBU to think that some people with health conditions truly cannot work because of them?

Yanbu.
Work is very bad for us even when we are fit and well.

Yep. I'm one of the lucky ones. I have a good line manager and some flexibility but it's been a three year battle and an exhausting one to get adjustments and to keep them.

I still struggle to call in sick when I need to because of responsibilities in my role. I have twenty years left on mortgage, single parent, no support and I'm terrified of not being able to work. From what I know of my community, PIP is really hard to get.

It's an invisible fluctuating illness. You see me at work, you think I'm fine. You don't see me floored in bed every weekend. I have no life outside work anymore.

malificent7 · Today 20:35
Yanbu.
Work is very bad for us even when we are fit and well.”

Why?

I'm unable to work, I have ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Peripheral Neuropathy, Anxiety, Depression, Autism & PTSD. I can't walk any further than 10 metres, I'm housebound, I sleep 14 hours a day, wake up around 12.00pm & then have to nap 3.00pm-5.00pm. I have brain fog, can't retain information, I can't feel my fingers, feet & legs, I have falls & then need someone to get me up.

I have schizophrenia and I go to work. I obviously take medication and it can be challenging for me. In the end, the love of earning my own money keeps me going. I have no physical disabilities though.

It worries me, I can’t work at all due to multiple conditions (ASD, ADHD, Situational mutism, EDS, PoTs, ME, endometriosis and hemiplegic migraine) I hope that whoever wins the election will understand that for some people work is impossible and we need support

I have autism and I didn’t work for several years. I am physically and mentally capable of work but no employer would have me! There’s nothing in the legislation to cover the situation where you’re capable of working but can’t because employers discriminate against you.

I wfh now (thank you Covid). But I think it’s a mistake to judge disabled people as being capable of working without considering the other side of the equation - employers are reluctant to hire us.