Page 9 | Unemployed Dh now signed off for a year- fed up and skint!

Stressedgiraffe · 2023-12-14T19:16:58+00:00

Dh has been unemployed for over 9 months. He's been applying for remote work but not getting any where. I think he's now given up as he has diabetes and side effects . He was on jsa but has now had a meeting with the disability person who has signed him off as unfit to work. But he's capable of working. He spends all his time on the computer. He walks the dogs for miles, potters in the garden etc. He's late 50s so I think he's subtly retiring But we can't afford it. I work ft and can just afford rent bills and food. There is no spare money. We have spent our savings. We have teenagers who want to go out with friends and spend money. I'm starting to feel really resentful of someone I see 24/7 who now has a cushy life. How do I stop feeling like this?

Mirabai · 14/12/2023 22:37

If he works in IT has he considered being an SE personal IT consultant in the local area?

TeaChocKitKat · 14/12/2023 22:37

It sounds like he is also entitled to PIP and possibly universal credit depending on your earnings.
I know its tough being the one working full time while your partner doesn't work but if you can make sure he's getting all the right benefits it might take the pressure off for you.
It's very difficult to get signed off in those assessments so I don't think he is trying to swing it.

Copperoliverbear · 14/12/2023 22:38

Get him to apply for pip today and maybe your teenagers could get themselves a little weekend job or something.

Rosscameasdoody · 14/12/2023 22:40

MercanDede · 14/12/2023 22:31

It’s his first time claiming his entire life, so I don’t expect him or OP to be relaying the signed off for a year accurately. Lots of people don’t know that a PIP award for 4 years is really for only 3 years. You learn the ins and outs when you have been navigating it for years as a patient or if you work in welfare benefits. People who have worked all their lives and find themselves long term unemployed and struggling with life limiting illness/disabilities are often confused, overwhelmed and get the details wrong.

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I was a benefits adviser myself and I agree with @Lovelysausagedogscrumpywho I took to be making the distinction between being ‘signed off’ as in given a fit note by a GP, and undergoing the work capability assessment, awarded benefit and given a review date of 12 months for that benefit. Once the claimant has successfully undergone the WCA, DWP will write to them with the benefit award and advise them of the length of the award before review is due, and it sounds as though this is what’s happened here.

And PIP awards can be reviewed at any time. Most awards tend to be looked at again 12 months before they run out and DWP will contact the claimant within that period with a request to complete a review form.

VanGoghsDog · 14/12/2023 22:42

Get him to contact Access to Work, they can help him find a job that suits him and get the accommodations he needs to enable him to work.

You'll soon find out if he's fibbing.

VitoCorleoneOfMNMafia · 14/12/2023 22:43

Copperoliverbear · 14/12/2023 22:38

Get him to apply for pip today and maybe your teenagers could get themselves a little weekend job or something.

JFC what is it with people thinking that children should work to pick up an adult's slack?

Which should OP send them to: the mill or the mine?

Rosscameasdoody · 14/12/2023 22:45

MercanDede · 14/12/2023 22:22

I know people on PIP who sit in wetherspoons all day
Yea, because it’s a warm bank. Disabled people are most likely to be living in poverty and unable to heat their homes. So many are going to warm banks so they don’t die of hypothermia.

I replied to that comment too. Absolutely disgusting and ableist post, implying that if you can’t see the disability it doesn’t exist.

JayJayEl · 14/12/2023 22:48

VitoCorleoneOfMNMafia · 14/12/2023 22:43

JFC what is it with people thinking that children should work to pick up an adult's slack?

Which should OP send them to: the mill or the mine?

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This was my initial thought, too. But I think the PP actually means that the teens can earn money for themselves, to fund their own hobbies and activities?

adriftabroad · 14/12/2023 22:49

VitoCorleoneOfMNMafia · 14/12/2023 22:43

JFC what is it with people thinking that children should work to pick up an adult's slack?

Which should OP send them to: the mill or the mine?

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The teenagers could easily get a job.
A good thing.

adriftabroad · 14/12/2023 22:50

Of course, for themselves.

Like we all did.

adriftabroad · 14/12/2023 22:55

I babysat
Worked in a taxi company on a Saturday
At 17 at M&S
mince pie factory before uni.

DD 15 teaches summer schools with me.

All good. No mine involved.

maddiemookins16mum · 14/12/2023 22:58

FancyBottom · 14/12/2023 19:39

The way I look at it:
DWP has every motivation and target to refuse benefits and get people to work
A year is a long time
Meanwhile the wife (OP) has many reasons to minimise his illness.
So on balance, he must be genuinely not well enough. The walking for miles could well be an exaggeration or on a sporadic good day. If we now get a drip feed that it's every day I would be even more sceptical.
Someone on sick leave doesn't have to be bedbound and indoors. It could be argued that walking and being in nature will help his recovery and health.
While she is away FT working and teens at work, why can't he be online? You could be doing anything online.

Mocking it that he is therefore capable of working when he has been formally assessed the government and with probably medical evidence and input just because he has good days or is doing some joyful hobbies, it's absolutely nothing like an actual business or work! How ridiculous!

I think this thread will just round up the vile prejudice against disabilities and benefits.

Edited

yep, plus it’s a man so another aspect for MN to hate.

MercanDede · 14/12/2023 22:59

Rosscameasdoody · 14/12/2023 22:45

I replied to that comment too. Absolutely disgusting and ableist post, implying that if you can’t see the disability it doesn’t exist.

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There have been a few on the thread. I have reported two of them.

Rosscameasdoody · 14/12/2023 23:01

MercanDede · 14/12/2023 22:00

PIP mobility isn’t just ability to walk reliably, repeatedly and without pain it is also the ability to plan a journey and then follow that plan. He could get points for walking, but with pain or walking but not reliably and repeatedly. He could get points for being unable to go on a journey alone due to tremors/pain/brain fog/risk of falls.

He won’t be eligible for enhanced mobility, but he may score enough points for standard mobility.

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There are two components to PIP mobility. Descriptor 12 is the moving around category, which assesses the physical ability to walk a certain distance, taking into account whether you can do it reliably, repeatedly, safely, and within a reasonable time frame. 8 points gets you the standard award, and 12 points the enhanced.

Descriptor 11 is the Planning and Following A Journey category. This is solely for people with mental health, sensory or cognitive disorders. It does not assess the physical ability to move around or the distance you can cover. It’s possible to secure an award from points in both categories if you have a both a physical and mental health/cognitive or sensory condition. But the threshold for scoring any points at all in Descriptor 11 is set extremely high - you have to have a severe level of impairment and find it almost impossible to go out unaccompanied or use a specialist orientation aid. The OP’s DH wouldn’t score points from Descriptor 11 for tremors, pain or risk of falls- these are all assessed for in Descriptor 12 as they are physical and not down to mental health issues. Brain fog may score some points but it would have to be as a result of a mental health or cognitive disorder and not brought about by physical disability.

converseandjeans · 14/12/2023 23:01

Well he's exaggerating either to DWP about how unwell he is, or to you by saying he is fine. Nobody on MN ever believes that some people do swing the lead. It sounds like he enjoys pottering about. To be fair lots of women do this & stay off work or go very part time once they have kids.

£100/month UC doesn't sound much though if he's been signed off.

I'm not surprised he lost his wfh job if he was walking dogs, napping & tinkering with his computer!

I'm sure there are jobs he could do. My Grandad had awful arthritis & one eye after having his head blown up in the war but he managed to work full time in a manual job until 65. Nowadays I imagine he would be classed as disabled. Surely your husband could work till at a garden centre, sell stuff on vinted, work in a call centre. I don't mean full time but 16 hrs/week.

I think your teens will need to get jobs.

Cashing on pension was a silly idea. He will only have basic state pension when he reaches retirement age.

MercanDede · 14/12/2023 23:02

Rosscameasdoody · 14/12/2023 22:40

I was a benefits adviser myself and I agree with @Lovelysausagedogscrumpywho I took to be making the distinction between being ‘signed off’ as in given a fit note by a GP, and undergoing the work capability assessment, awarded benefit and given a review date of 12 months for that benefit. Once the claimant has successfully undergone the WCA, DWP will write to them with the benefit award and advise them of the length of the award before review is due, and it sounds as though this is what’s happened here.

And PIP awards can be reviewed at any time. Most awards tend to be looked at again 12 months before they run out and DWP will contact the claimant within that period with a request to complete a review form.

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I do agree with you on your analysis, I was simply pointing out that other posters saying he must be lying because he is using the wrong terminology are not making allowances for it being his first time applying for disability related benefits.

MercanDede · 14/12/2023 23:06

Rosscameasdoody · 14/12/2023 23:01

There are two components to PIP mobility. Descriptor 12 is the moving around category, which assesses the physical ability to walk a certain distance, taking into account whether you can do it reliably, repeatedly, safely, and within a reasonable time frame. 8 points gets you the standard award, and 12 points the enhanced.

Descriptor 11 is the Planning and Following A Journey category. This is solely for people with mental health, sensory or cognitive disorders. It does not assess the physical ability to move around or the distance you can cover. It’s possible to secure an award from points in both categories if you have a both a physical and mental health/cognitive or sensory condition. But the threshold for scoring any points at all in Descriptor 11 is set extremely high - you have to have a severe level of impairment and find it almost impossible to go out unaccompanied or use a specialist orientation aid. The OP’s DH wouldn’t score points from Descriptor 11 for tremors, pain or risk of falls- these are all assessed for in Descriptor 12 as they are physical and not down to mental health issues. Brain fog may score some points but it would have to be as a result of a mental health or cognitive disorder and not brought about by physical disability.

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Neuropathy does cause sensory and cognitive deficits. So yes, he could qualify under item 11 for tremors/risk of falls/confusion caused by neuropathy that require him to make journeys accompanied (if that were hypothetically true for the severity of his condition).

busittilyoumakeit · 14/12/2023 23:07

I'd dump him

converseandjeans · 14/12/2023 23:12

@busittilyoumakeit

I'd dump him

But if he's genuinely unwell & hiding it from OP as he's embarrassed then that would be harsh! I think if a man said this about his wife MN would be unhappy.

adriftabroad · 14/12/2023 23:12

This is such a depressing thread

adriftabroad · 14/12/2023 23:14

The poor man.

Lovelysausagedogscrumpy · 14/12/2023 23:14

TheGhostOfTheOpera · 14/12/2023 22:16

I’m on contribution based ESA.
im not aware if anyone actually having gone through a review (NOT a reassessment) after many years, let alone 1

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ESA is awarded for anything between 6 months and three years. Unless you’re deemed as being permanently unfit for work by way of a condition which is unlikely to ever change for the better, your claim will be reviewed before the end of the award period. DWP will write to the claimant with a request to complete an ESA2 review form and if nothing has changed, the award will be renewed and DWP will advise the claimant when it’s likely to be reviewed again. Where there is any doubt, before DWP will renew the award, the claimant will usually be asked to undergo a face to face assessment with a DWP assessor to determine ongoing eligibility. Reviews are standard practice whereas reassessments are usually as a result of reporting a change of circumstances.

MercanDede · 14/12/2023 23:16

Kendodd · 14/12/2023 22:06

Well I don't know what sort of relationship you have but the idea that a GP would know more about what I could physically do, day to day, than my own husband is laughable.

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I’m not referring to a GP. You obviously have no idea what it takes to be approved as not fit to work.

SequentialAnalyst · 14/12/2023 23:17

So do you know if he had a Work Capability Assessment, OP?

I am out-of-date exCAB, it used to be that the person claiming ESA had to attend an appointment, for which a letter was sent in the post. Then they would have to travel there to be assessed. Did any such thing happen?

adriftabroad · 14/12/2023 23:18

Frankly, I hope he divorces you.