tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post4155481902038498566..comments2024-03-28T09:16:33.241+00:00Comments on Diary of a Benefit Scrounger: Work ConsultationSue Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849801822216267250noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-25876292207436916152013-07-19T08:20:08.113+01:002013-07-19T08:20:08.113+01:00Great job. Thanks.
hermes beltGreat job. Thanks. <br /><a href="http://www.kellyhandbag.com/hermes-accessories/hermes-belts" rel="nofollow">hermes belt</a><br />Ideation Fashionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05747709881385879688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-87057836215038857892012-12-07T10:29:43.500+00:002012-12-07T10:29:43.500+00:00Hello Everybody,
My name is Mrs. Monica Roland. I...Hello Everybody,<br /><br />My name is Mrs. Monica Roland. I live in UK London and i am a happy woman today? and i told my self that any lender that rescue my family from our poor situation, i will refer any person that is looking for loan to him, he gave me happiness to me and my family, i was in need of a loan of $250,000.00 to start my life all over as i am a single mother with 3 kids I met this honest and GOD fearing man loan lender that help me with a loan of $250,000.00 U.S. Dollar, he is a GOD fearing man, if you are in need of loan and you will pay back the loan please contact him tell him that is Mrs. Monica Roland that refer you to him. Contact Mr. James Bone via email: (bestloansfinance02@gmail.com)<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-50343643422881493142012-11-06T15:27:51.653+00:002012-11-06T15:27:51.653+00:00Dear Sue I think this consultation is a fantastic ...Dear Sue I think this consultation is a fantastic idea and I would like to see the outcome. Here's my input:<br /><br />WOULD ANY OF THESE SUGGESTIONS HELP ME?<br /><br />Yes, working from home as an employee (as opposed to self-employed) would help to some extent. I recently attempted a part time internship in a voluntary sector organisation. Policies for flexible working, including sometimes working from home existed and were promoted but I was shocked to discover they were aimed at parents and employees with caring responsibilities but not people with disabilities or chronic illness. Im sure this was an oversight. This was an organisation that wanted to provide equal opportunities and encourage a diverse workforce. It had never occurred to them that access to work for people with disabilities might include flexible and home working. <br />My supervisor was very accommodating about my need to work flexible hours and from home. But given it was an unpaid internship they had little choice but to accept that my attendance at work was unpredictable. The bottom line was that I got the work done on time.<br />However, I could see there were limits to which the organisation could accommodate home working. In my experience the culture and the dynamics of organisations makes face to face interaction essential. Not just at scheduled meetings but in the “corridors”. Employees could sometimes work from home when they needed to but when I had a relapse and ended up working more from home than in the office, I got left out of initiatives and felt excluded from not having a reliable presence in the office.<br />If I were able to work say 75% of the time from the office and 25% from home with flexible hours I would argue my right to flexible working practices. But I don’t think an organisation is able to include and accommodate a co-worker who cannot work in an office environment for the majority of the time.<br /><br />WHAT IS YOUR CONDITION? HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD IT? <br />ME/CFS for 24 years!<br /><br />WHEN DID YOU LAST WORK?<br />I’ve been ill all my adult life so never been able to work, although gained a degree from part time study. Improvement in the last few years has led to me attempting the part time internship mentioned above<br /><br />WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK, HOWEVER LITTLE?<br />Yes, I can put in about 12 - 15 hours per week (that’s during a good patch). I use it to serve on the management committee of a small local charity. This gives me all the understanding and flexibility I need from fellow committee members. But of course it will never be paid and I feel I lack support in developing skills that might eventually lead to paid work.<br /><br />DOES THE BENEFIT SYSTEM HOLD YOU BACK FROM WORKING? <br />I don’t know. Since I don’t have the prospect of paid employment given my limitations I haven’t even looked into whether it would work financially.<br /><br />What fears do you have about schemes that aim to do more to support those with long term conditions into work? <br />I fear my forthcoming Jobcentre interview and WRAG requirements. Not only because they won’t have the solutions in terms of finding an employer able to accommodate my barriers to work, but also because it will prevent me from being able to carry out my voluntary work as a trustee of a local charity, as well as impacting on my ability to care for my children as a lone parent. The requirement for regular interviews and any other mandatory activity will simply drain the limited energy I have for participating in my community and being a good parent to my children.<br /><br />I particularly support your suggestion for a “volunteer credit” which could boost pension levels and should excuse claimants in the WRAG groups from having to participate in the Work Programme.<br /><br />Catherine Halehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18404235448808729042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-62648873842799076322012-10-29T01:16:20.633+00:002012-10-29T01:16:20.633+00:00Robin, I've only just spotted your comment. Th...Robin, I've only just spotted your comment. Thank you so very much for sharing this! I will certainly get in touch with them and discuss my current situation to find out more. This could be good news indeed. I'm so grateful to you. coffeecuphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14595328767389539577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-11619095874994742392012-10-20T17:48:07.028+01:002012-10-20T17:48:07.028+01:00Would any of these suggestions help you?
A) Work...Would any of these suggestions help you? <br /><br />A) Working from home yes. this would cut down the stress of travel, which let's face it, even healthy people are stressed out before they even start work. <br /><br />What is your condition, How long have you had it for? <br /><br />A) Various but the main one is ME/CFS (which is an umbrella for a myriad of issues that interfere with life no end). Just taking basic care of myself is a full-time job. Also have mental issue ie, depression and anxiety, history of PTSD<br /><br />Do you have other suggestions that you think could work?<br /><br />A)I don't have the energy to think about that!<br /><br />When did you last work? <br /><br />A) 10 years ago.<br /><br />What did you do? <br /><br />A) Worked in public sector in various roles, the last one in IT <br /><br />How long did you work for?<br /><br />A) 6 years with the last job.<br /><br />Why did you have to stop working? <br /><br />A) Had a breakdown due to bullying/victimisation. Should have claim constructive dismissal, but could not face it.<br /><br />Would you like to work, however little?<br /><br />A) Yes<br /><br />Are you now totally unable to work?<br /><br />A) Hard to tell, under "normal" circumstances, yes. Would not be able to sustain a 9-5 pattern.<br /><br />Does the benefit system hold you back from working? <br /><br />A) Yes, and the tax system. <br /><br />What fears do you have about schemes that aim to do more to support those with long term conditions into work? What, if anything, interests or inspires you? <br /><br />A) the schemes are probably window-dressing. Like a glamour model, all front, no substance. <br /><br />Nothing inspires me anymore, I only have energy for surviving. <br /><br />I am considering becoming a prostitute as there does not seem to be any other way. Can work from home in short bursts (sorry to put it like that!)<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-64810001016423235032012-10-16T02:23:54.409+01:002012-10-16T02:23:54.409+01:00I've read your blog many times, very inspiring...I've read your blog many times, very inspiring. Never been tempted to post before, but I hope my comments will be useful.<br /><br />Would any of these suggestions help you? <br />I would love to work from home, but my previous employer wouldn’t consider it and now I’ve been out of work for a while I wouldn’t know where to start. <br /><br />What is your condition, How long have you had it for? <br />I have Crohn’s Disease and Fibromyalgia. For about five or six years now I think. Both controlled now with drugs, but the tiredness remains and I can only manage two to three hours a day of activity (standing up, traveling on buses/trains, walking about a classroom/library) for three days before I need a day of proper rest to recover. I can work at the computer for hours though – unless it’s a bad day …<br /><br />Do you have other suggestions that you think could work?<br />I’m currently doing OU (last chance as the fees have gone up enormously if you already have a degree) and enjoy interacting with people online. So some kind of work where you can advise/help people online maybe.<br /><br />When did you last work? <br />August 2010<br /><br />What did you do? <br />IT systems development, maintenance and training in a University Student Records department.<br /><br />How long did you work for?<br />Only nine years really due to bringing up two children as a single mother after divorce.<br /><br />Why did you have to stop working? <br />Ill health, I could work for a day or so then I had to have a week or more off and work were just getting fed up with me. I used to be worn out from just the commute, it took an hour to recover in the mornings. They tried to terminate my contract, they wouldn’t give me early retirement (not ill enough according to the pension authority doctor) but after advice I held out until a chance for redundancy came along.<br /><br />Would you like to work, however little?<br />I would love to work – I hate being dependant on my husband for every penny. My ESA was stopped in April this year as I had already had my year’s worth and because he works I get nothing. We still have to pay for my prescriptions and can’t see how I can get new glasses or go to the dentist any more. Just can’t afford it. I even applied for a part time job in our local co-op but they didn’t even respond to my CV. Over qualified I guess. <br /><br />I currently attend a local history group (mostly elderly people) two hours twice a week, giving IT help and advice. I spend one morning (three hours) transcribing documents at the local archives and the rest of the time I spread out the domestic stuff so it all gets done without completely tiring me out.<br /><br />Last year I did some volunteering, another two hours a week, at a local Adult Education Centre, teaching older people how to use the Internet and send emails etc, but the staff there are now desperate for work themselves and under threat of redundancy and there’s nothing for me. Mostly due to the government removing the subsidies for classes unless people are on JSA or ESA, so many of our clients, pensioners and women whose husbands work, now can’t get cheap or free classes so of course they don’t enrol.<br /><br />Are you now totally unable to work?<br />By the official definition of ESA no – but the woman at the Job Centre that I had to see every month didn’t bother trying to send me for jobs or any other kind of “work support”. She knew no-one would set me on, not with my sick record (off 18 months before getting redundancy). If there was a job that was 6 hours a week, 2 hours over 3 days, well yes I’d have a go!<br /><br />Does the benefit system hold you back from working? <br />No, not now I have no income at all. When I was a single mum I didn’t work for ten years because of the benefit system. You were allowed to keep the first £15 in those days – I once earned £25 covering a couple of shifts in a pub for a friend and the DSS asked for my benefit book back even though they paid me around £90 a week. I sent them a cheque for the £10 and kept my book!<br /><br />I would be happy to earn a pittance for a bit of work – that £25 a week I didn’t dare earn when the children were little would be nice now. <br />BarnsleyHistorianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17706725823398288376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-35985939717316958182012-10-13T20:27:53.470+01:002012-10-13T20:27:53.470+01:00We talked about balancing benefits and work for th...We talked about balancing benefits and work for the whole day at benefits camp last winter. Lisa Ellwood and I think someone else (@claireOT perhaps?) wrote about it online.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16714918894319998184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-6730150885661595272012-10-12T14:12:20.103+01:002012-10-12T14:12:20.103+01:00You ask:
Would any of these suggestions help you?...You ask:<br /><br />Would any of these suggestions help you? <br /><br />I am desperately trying to develop a co-operative Social business that could roll out nationally but do need support to get is off the ground - so yes<br /><br />What is your condition, How long have you had it for? <br /><br />I have a variety of conditions - Fibro; Sjorgens; Carpel Tunnel and nerve entrapment; Spinal displacment - differing levels & spondylitus<br /><br /><br />Do you have other suggestions that you think could work?<br /><br />Employers need to focus on the output and quality of work and not perceive disability as the problem<br /><br />When did you last work? <br /><br />2009<br /><br />What did you do? <br /><br />Qualified & time served Community Worker, Adult Tutor (community work & Equalities) Counsellor<br /><br />How long did you work for?<br /><br />30+ years<br /><br />Why did you have to stop working? <br /><br />Combination lack of understanding from management which deteriorated into Harassment this had a further detrimental impact on my already poor health<br /><br />Would you like to work, however little?<br /><br />Yes<br /><br />Are you now totally unable to work?<br /><br />It is impossible for me to ever try to work again within a traditional work set up under a 9-5 Mon-Fri type contract <br /><br />Does the benefit system hold you back from working? <br /><br />The difficulties with in work benefits and transitions do<br /><br /><br />What fears do you have about schemes that aim to do more to support those with long term conditions into work? What, if anything, interests or inspires you? <br /><br />I fear anything the current Govn claims is for my benefit<br /><br /><br />JayneLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00512594513221073398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-57716216392110958942012-10-12T02:44:45.636+01:002012-10-12T02:44:45.636+01:00Just need to drop this reference in here so it doe...Just need to drop this reference in here so it doesnt get forgotten - i think the report it refers to could be very relevant: http://www.neweconomics.org/blog/2012/10/11/disabled-people-don%E2%80%99t-cause-welfare-dependency-%E2%80%93-they-are-the-solution-to-itJanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04924279884167633221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-43734481042197077642012-10-11T14:42:42.455+01:002012-10-11T14:42:42.455+01:00Would any of these suggestions help you?
Yes, the...Would any of these suggestions help you? <br />Yes, they are amazing! <br /><br />What is your condition, How long have you had it for? <br />I have M.E and EDS. Have had chronic pain since the age of 11 (but managed to get to university although it made me much worse) and the ME for 7 years.<br /><br />Do you have other suggestions that you think could work?<br />Not sure<br /><br />When did you last work? <br />Never have (but have always wanted to, hence doing the degree in the hope I could work)<br /><br />Would you like to work, however little?<br />Yes, yes, yes!! So much. It would give me some dignity, self esteem, pride, eradicate guilt. I have started volunteering one hour a week and love it. If they could pay me just for that one hour I’d feel amazing. <br /><br />Are you now totally unable to work?<br />Yes, but would love to do, say, an hour of admin work from home 2-3 mornings a week (although of course am one of those people who wouldn’t be able to do it some weeks)<br /><br />Does the benefit system hold you back from working? <br />If I’ve thought of starting a craft business I’ve been very scared of making enough steady income and scared that the dwp will say ‘oh there you go, you’re well enough to work, no more help from us!’<br />Fionahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13833350028701140373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-13399464023165108862012-10-11T09:33:23.130+01:002012-10-11T09:33:23.130+01:00Well, that's a capitalist society for you. Va...Well, that's a capitalist society for you. Valuing the "professional" (ie paid) over the amateur (unpaid) in everything except sex.<br /><br />If you look deeper, of course, things aren't that straightforward. When I visited Germany in the mid-80s, the village had a "volunteer fire brigade" which was celebrating some kind of beer fest. I was a little startled at there being a volunteer fire brigade, but is that any different than using volunteers in the emergency services and judiciary? Eg special constables, ambulance workers who are St John Ambulance volunteers, (non-stipendary)magistrates, RNLI volunteer crew members?<br /><br />So typical of the Tories that volunteers are celebrated if they have jobs (or are supported by spouses), but still classed as a drain if they are on benefits. But, sadly, Labour are the same. That is part of the reason I vote Green. I don't know whether the Basic Income/Citizen's Income Scheme will become a reality, but I think the idea has a lot going for it.Vanilla Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07946634138308342764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-49238491121587953142012-10-10T14:24:19.770+01:002012-10-10T14:24:19.770+01:00hi CoffeeCup,
Do you know that if you don't a...hi CoffeeCup,<br /><br />Do you know that if you don't already have a degree, and you're unemployed (or have an income of less than about £18,000 a year) the OU will fully fund your courses, and give you around £200 a year toward study costs? Plus you have access to the Disabled Students Allowance to meet any study-related access need costs you may have?<br /><br />I am an OU student, and the only way I could study was through the OU as I was unemployed & couldn't cope with a bricks-and-mortar uni or regular & set study hours.<br /><br />Do get in touch with them and ask if there are ways you could be supported into OU education as it would be a shame to let your skills go undeveloped.<br /><br />Best wishesRobinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-36544829944393957762012-10-10T12:25:15.161+01:002012-10-10T12:25:15.161+01:00Would any of these suggestions help you?
The main...Would any of these suggestions help you?<br /><br />The main word here is flexibility. If businesses could allow for fluctuating conditions then I'd love to do a few hours a week. If you look on the internet there are companies offering call center work at home, but they are very strict about how you work, which is no use to someone who never knows how ill you'll feel from one day to the next. I'm afraid that business cannot allow the slack needed for disabled people. <br /><br />What is your condition, How long have you had it for? <br /><br />Ill for 17 Years<br /><br />Do you have other suggestions that you think could work?<br /><br />The DWP needs to build flexibility into the UC next year, but all it seems focused on is people finding 35 hours a week. Chronically disabled people should be able to dip in and out of work as they can without having to go through a complex claim process. If the DWP offered that, I think many disabled people would take the chance and try to work. I can't do it now, but I used to have to work for a year then take a year off and then try again. I couldn't do that now though due to the severity of my illness, but I could do something for a few hours a week. <br /><br />When did you last work? <br /><br />2009<br /><br />What did you do?<br /><br />Music/Film workshop leader and private tutor<br /><br />How long did you work for?<br /><br />Had the odd year off since being ill, but basically starved back into work due to not being able to claim disability benefits during the first 9 years of the illness.<br /><br />Why did you have to stop working?<br /><br />Stopped working in the end due to experiencing massive spasms and the deterioration of the fatigue and my cognitive skills, which meant that I couldn't remember student's names or physically fulfill my duties<br /><br />Would you like to work, however little?<br /><br />Most definitely <br /><br /><br />Are you now totally unable to work?<br /><br />No, but I'm either bad or much worse than that, sometimes I'm totally unable to work for 6 weeks at a time, and the process of leaving the house for an appointment or anything else leaves me incapable for days after, so I wouldn't be a reliable employee.<br /><br />Does the benefit system hold you back from working?<br /><br />Previously, after taking time off I was able to build up my work gradually with the support of the income support team, but now because I'm so ill and because it took so long to obtain any disability benefits I would worry what would happen if I crashed again and then couldn't obtain the benefits I needed to survive. I am not confident that the current support available is appropriate or helpful in truly supporting disabled people's needs in the workplace.<br /><br />What fears do you have about schemes that aim to do more to support those with long term conditions into work? What, if anything, interests or inspires you?<br /><br />I am really scared about being put into the WRAG. Just traveling to see an adviser would exhaust me, and as for being put on the Community Action Programme, after one day of attending I would be in serious trouble physically and would probably collapse. Nothing inspires me with regard to the programmes on offer!Sassonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06755376613926186962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-87387235473242697342012-10-10T11:32:30.279+01:002012-10-10T11:32:30.279+01:00OOps forgit the rest, here goes.
Does the benefit...OOps forgit the rest, here goes.<br /><br />Does the benefit system hold you back from working? <br /><br />When on IB etc I was informed I was not able to work or undertake further training etc as listed above. Now that the Welfare Changes are in practice it is becoming increasingly difficult to meet the new criteria set out to be in the Support Group and DLA care/ mobility components in the high rate category will be almost impossible to reach when PIP comes into force.<br /><br />With this in place where does it leave people such as me who were told ‘no work, no training’ etc, and stopped in effect from taking up any work/training etc.<br />Now I am 55 (yes that means my retirement age has been increased from 60 to now 66!!!!) how am I supposed to find any form of meaningful employment with my restrictions of disability in place. <br />I would dearly of loved to become a teacher when I became disabled, as to me it seemed a suitable profession to undertake but it was then a no go situation. My health has obviously deteriorated since 1999 and cannot now see a way out that would be effective. <br />If it means things have changed to help me work in this field, then fine, however I feel I should sue the govt for not allowing me to take up the profession when I tried to back in 1999 when Jobcentre disability people said no.<br /><br />It doesn't hold me back from working as I am unable to work, but it definably effects my condition, caused by the stress of jumping through the hoops and lies that are now in place.<br /><br /><br /><br />What fears do you have about schemes that aim to do more to support those with long term conditions into work? What, if anything, interests or inspires you? <br /><br />My fears are that there are no positions for those who are disabled out there from an Employer’s prospective as they cannot afford to employ someone with ongoing health problems, the finances do not stack up favourably for either the employer or the employee.<br />With the onset of help being given to the employer ceasing from the govt next year for aids to help a disabled person in work, the employee will then have to pay for a suitable work station, ergonomic keyboard etc, which will not be provided by the employer as the govt will stop this disability aid package.<br />This will put increasing pressure on a disabled employee to fund disability aids to assist them in the work place, who have no income in the first instance to purchase such aids. With this in practice no employer will take on a disabled employee or will a disabled person want to work if they have to fork out lots of money in order to try and stay in work to ultimately fail if their health lets them down. <br /><br />smokeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11754493473098867750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-7203550649794451192012-10-10T11:30:57.149+01:002012-10-10T11:30:57.149+01:00What is your condition, How long have you had it f...What is your condition, How long have you had it for? <br /><br />I was retired due to ill health in 1999 following a motorcycle accident at work in 1996, which resulted in serious spinal, disc damage, peripheral eye damage with only 50% peripheral eye sight in each eye, and nerve root damage to the spine.<br />Over time I have associated Arthrosis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Fibro/ME symptoms, chronic pain and relapses of moderate to severe depression. A wheelchair user now most of the time with poor concentration due to the management of medication etc.<br /><br />Do you have other suggestions that you think could work?<br /><br />I think it is dependant upon the person itself and only if the govt were to put considerable help into helping someone find their potential.<br />I.E If a severely disabled person required an assistant to help them, who would pay for this? If a disabled person required considerable time off from a workplace would there be a back up to take over, who would pay for this?<br />If a disabled person trying to go back into the workplace required returning back to university/ technical college etc, would there be a provision to financially assist this in as much as ESA/DLA etc not being cut and in fact providing more finances to cover the cost of the courses involved and to stay in further education regardless of age etc?<br /><br />When did you last work? <br /><br />In 1999, retired medically as unfit to participate in any form of work by Local Authority and the Jobcentre disability section. <br /><br />What did you do? <br /><br />Environmental Health Officer.{EHO} (Degree in 1992-1995 & then to Local Authority as an EHO)<br />Previous to that I was in Dentistry for over 20 years.<br /><br />How long did you work for?<br /><br />Dentistry 20 years<br />EHO for 4 years, before being medically retired without a pension from work.<br /><br /><br />Why did you have to stop working? <br /><br />Retired due to ill heath by Human Resources at Local Authority on the say so of the Disability section of the Jobcentre in 1998 who said I was medically unfit for any work along with the Occupational Health Consultant employed from the Local Authority. They did look at other modes of work/training etc but deemed my disability to severe to undertake any mode of activity in either direction and informed me that it would be preferable to have Incapacity Benefit along with Industrial Injury at 50% and Disability Benefit both in care and mobility increasing to higher rate as my mobility/ health decreased over time. I was informed this would be the best route rather than having an occupational pension. <br /><br />(How wrong is that now with the current form of welfare benefit changes!!) <br /><br />Would you like to work, however little?<br /><br />If working was a feasible prospect I would be in it by now, and my chosen profession with my disabilities would be teaching or research for HoL/C to utilise my Science Degree.<br /><br />Are you now totally unable to work?<br />Yes<br />smokeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11754493473098867750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-10174611969772840022012-10-09T21:24:31.275+01:002012-10-09T21:24:31.275+01:00I am blind and like many blind or Visually Impaire...I am blind and like many blind or Visually Impaired, (partially sighted people) we want to work, we would love the opportunity to work,<br />When I still had some sight and lost my Executive job, I took a van drivers job on the simple basis that £250 a week was better than £75 of the job center.<br /><br />The Govt boasts that 33% of Vi are in work, and thats great but it also means that 66% who are of working age are NOT working but could and would given the chance.<br /><br />To employ "us" requires an employer installing technology, for which they get help and tax breaks so its to their advantage.<br />Its common that if when applying for a job we "omit" the fact that we are blind our qualifications get us interviews, if we declare it , we dont get interviews.<br />At the interview HR and the company dont see and or talk about what we CAN do, they see only the issues, the problems, things we cant do.<br />there isnt a problem , its just a challenge we have not yet met or resolved.<br /><br />By cutting DLA for long cane users(not guide dog users) under the PiP regulations coupled with the access to work fund its even harder to get to work.<br /><br />50 years ago the Blind were trained to make baskets (basket weaving) operate switchboards, or tune pianos. the Chinese now make the baskets, there are no switchboards of note, and who owns a piano any more? Its a sad reflection that the DWP has failed to recognize that there is a lack of knowledge withing the Job center Plus / DEO staff with regards to blindness, we are often sent on a course, only to find on arrival, either they do not have software to support us, or staff trained to work with us.<br />The Government in its latest actions and proposals, sees a short term issue not a long term opportunity & solution where the blind are concerned.<br /><br />Disabled quotas were cancelled many years ago, to prove OUR worth it might be of interest if Councils and Government had a quota system so we could prove that the disabled have a value, we have a lot to offer in so many fields instead we are scrapped off far too early and left to rot with diminishing resources.<br />what I think we need is FAIRNESS we can and are productive with much to offer our society.<br /><br />Mike Hughes<br />@blindmike47Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-39426622002115464182012-10-09T20:44:21.590+01:002012-10-09T20:44:21.590+01:00For many people working from home and being self e...For many people working from home and being self employed with their own company (that is the best way to work as a contractor) is a no no as the banks will not lend to able bodied people with healthy bank balances and certainly will not lend to those with illnesses etc. Until money is made available (say about £50k interest free loan over 25 years) to start such businesses then I think the "work from home" idea is a non starter. <br />ians12https://www.blogger.com/profile/05320485793690843646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-63504737414475837022012-10-09T17:49:13.797+01:002012-10-09T17:49:13.797+01:00I have ME (diagnosed in 2008)and chronic depressio...I have ME (diagnosed in 2008)and chronic depression and anxiety. I stopped working in 2007 after 29 years of employment. I had spent the last 19 years working in the civil service and the stress of my job certainly contributed to my illness. In fact I was so traumatized by my place of employment that it wasn't feasible to consider returning there on any basis. I have been on incapacity benefit since 2008 and been through 2 appeal hearings (both successful) and numerous Atos exams. I am now in receipt of ESA and this will cease in Feb 2013. I will have no income after that date and will be totally reliant on my husband who earns a very modest wage.Certainly not enough to support myself and our 2 sons.We have been steadily accruing debt since I had to stop work. I would love to be able to work again but my illness in complex and unpredictable. I could possibly undertake a couple of hours work at a time but then I would be exhausted and have to rest for several hours if not the rest of the day. My anxiety condition makes social interaction very difficult and exhaustion is always the result.I can never plan any activity without being prepared to have to change plans at any time.I have severe IBS so even leaving the house can be impossible on a bad day. <br />I do volunteer work for an animal charity occasionly and I really love it.It feels good to be part of something it only for a couple of hours. I have a feeling of real grief when I think of what I have lost in not being able to work and also a fear of the future with no financial support of even acknowledgment of my situation.What I have been through with the benefit system these last few years has been nothing less than torture and I know most people reading this post will know I am not exaggerating. It has diminished me profoundly and my condition has deteriorated due tho the fear and stress. I feel shame that I am ill and shame as a benefit claimant. I have decided to give up the fight for further benefit applications as the harm it has caused me has been too great a price to pay. I would never have been able to believe or understand how a person can be so beaten by such an inflexible and cruel system had I not been through it myself. TO BE ILL OR DISABLED IN THIS COUNTRY IS A CRIME AND UNLESS YOU ARE IN THE FORTUNATE POSITION TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT YOURSELF YOU WILL BE PUNISHED. I realise I have strayed away from the subject here so apologies. I would really like to be helped back into some sort of work by people that really understand what it is like to have to cope with the limitations that chronic illness brings. Working from home and at the hours I choose and a great deal of flexibility would be essential.Fionahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06263322410955758593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-61012284969874108152012-10-09T12:38:53.700+01:002012-10-09T12:38:53.700+01:00What is your condition, How long have you had it f...What is your condition, How long have you had it for? <br />I have had a complex neurological disease with a vestibular disorder for 32 years. It affects my co-ordination, vision, balance, thought processes, hearing etc.<br /><br />Do you have other suggestions that you think could work?<br />Home working,strengthening the DDA for more protection in the workplace, allowing those with chronic fluctuating conditions a period of time in which they can try a job without penalties. That may be allowing them to work for 2 months and deducting the wages like for like from their benefit, but not penalising them if they find they are not well enough or able to work in this way. If they fail in their attempt to work their benefit should be available to them without going through the claim process again.<br /><br />When did you last work? <br />March 2012<br /><br />What did you do? <br />Executive Assistant/PA, though I have worked in a variety of roles/sectors in the past.<br /><br />How long did you work for?<br />I have worked for 27 years, since leaving school.<br /><br />Why did you have to stop working? <br />My illness became chronic and I became sick and disabled.<br /><br />Would you like to work, however little? <br />Yes I would.<br /><br />Are you now totally unable to work? <br />Yes.<br /><br />Does the benefit system hold you back from working? <br />Yes. <br />I'm too scared to take on a job to try, even for a few hours a week right now as I have a chronic but fluctuating condition. I generally only have around 7 better days a month so taking on a job would be risky and potentially very stressful. What employer in their right mind would take me on whilst I'm this ill at this current time?<br /><br />What fears do you have about schemes that aim to do more to support those with long term conditions into work? What, if anything, interests or inspires you?<br />My fears are that there will not be 'support' other than leaflets and an equalities helpline to call and that employers will cherry pick the lowest risk sick/disabled if they take part in any government scheme. My illness falls under the DDA and yet over the years, when I was better than I am now and worked full time with it, I have been systematically discriminated against in the workplace over and over again as soon as I've fallen ill. I have always declared the illness. <br /><br />I started work at a union, with a 1 year probation period some years ago. 4 months into my employment I had to take 2 weeks off sick, this was an extreme example of my illness and generally happened every 2 years or so. I was hauled into HR with my boss at the end of the probation period and asked to 'promise' that I wouldn't have this illness and time off again. I said that I couldn't promise that as it was linked to my chronic illness and reminded them it was covered by DDA. I told them that I mostly made up for the time I took off by working out of hours and I was happy to do so when I could.I was then asked if the specialist couldn't 'just give me a tablet to cure it', and told that they'd been 'caught out before'. They then told me that my employment was terminated and sent home that day.Shocking experience. Nobody could get me my job back, though I did appeal to the union and unsurprisingly failed. An employment tribunal would have been too distressing at the time and I felt completely unemployable when that happened. It was traumatic and I thought then that I never wanted to go through that again, and yet I did, in different guises over and over again. The government have never helped me in the workplace and is unlikely to ever do so in the future. <br /><br />Now I am incapable of working due to the severity of my illness, I can only see situations like that repeating in the future if my illness did improve to allow me to work again,that's if I could get anyone to take me on without trying to hide my illness. <br /><br />I feel the only way forward is for me to be self employed and work from home. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15283730610312124527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-56588145656547591222012-10-08T22:27:11.960+01:002012-10-08T22:27:11.960+01:00I think there would have to be a pilot scheme with...I think there would have to be a pilot scheme with 'investor in people' type companies/local authorities who wanted to show their social conscience and win awards for being good eggs. People without amazing CVs already could build up 'points' by doing 'free trial' work for these companies - for a very short period; and then would be guaranteed paid work with the same companies if they did well.<br /><br />Once those people had got some big name companies on their CVs, other companies would be much keener to join the programme and take those people on. <br /><br />The type of work that might need to be outsourced could be editing, crosschecking, producing Powerpoints and spreadsheets, doing research, collating data in other ways, data entry and so on. This brings up some security/commercial confidentiality issues. There would need to be contracts already in place with 'member companies' and with 'time bank members', ensuring that commercial information wouldn't leak across companies. Companies may also need to decide to what extent 'time bank members' would be given access to their IT systems, and what type of clearance would be needed. <br /><br />But those things can easily be sorted out - the key thing would be how to persuade enough companies to sign up to it. I guess the selling point would be that, unlike consultants or temps, spoonie 'time bank members' wouldn't be doing anything else. So the USP is to guarantee to have someone good available at very short notice, and they wouldn't turn round and tell you they were already booked up. Companies wouldn't have to go trawling round lots of consultancies or temp agencies, which is a real pain - they could just think 'eek we have x urgent overflow work coming up in the next 1-2 days, I will ask the Amazing Spoonie Agency to provide someone and they will do that in just a few hours!' <br /><br />- I know temp agencies do all this in theory, but most temps are inexperienced with v limited skills, so any company with urgent needs that go beyond basic admin is going to take quite a gamble with a temp agency. <br /><br />misspiggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13875859883323529895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-33558011498818589322012-10-08T22:13:24.285+01:002012-10-08T22:13:24.285+01:00Just to add to my previous post:
I think that we n...Just to add to my previous post:<br />I think that we need to go back to the quota system of having a certain percentage of employees with a 'disability'. DDA has been pretty ineffective and the quota model would be a better match for a system looking to target disabled people for employment.HomerJShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02414390191063061432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-49139832826263467792012-10-08T19:18:35.373+01:002012-10-08T19:18:35.373+01:00This is one of many niggles that keeps me awake.
...This is one of many niggles that keeps me awake. <br /><br />How does the employer know to trust the employee and vice versa? You're right I think, that it could work with a simple feedback system, but how do you start to build up positive feedback, if you have none to begin with? That old chicken and egg thing.<br /><br />I'm sure there could be some way round it though. Sue Marshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14849801822216267250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-54539460055941866822012-10-08T17:41:56.654+01:002012-10-08T17:41:56.654+01:00Some great ideas, but isn't it frustrating tha...Some great ideas, but isn't it frustrating that governments can't come up with the same quality of thinking. I actually wrote to Tony Blair when he was PM suggesting that people could volunteer and earn pension credits, but got no response other than an acknowledgement.<br />I am unemployed and looking for work, but unfortunately am now with the work programme. This means I am under pressure, which is unhelpful, and of course getting no help at all. My previous recent work was mainly around user involvement, which I got into after suffering a breakdown. I suffer from depression which is partially linked to Aspergers. I have no friends and spend most of my time alone in a small flat. My job (and possible replacements) disappeared in the cuts. At 55 I am struggling to get interviews. I also have been through some bad experiences recently and I have lost my trust of people which could make it difficult for me in work, but the fact is I don't get close enough for it to become an issue. The Work Programme and Jobcentre are worse than useless as they tend to make my job hunting less effective. The problem is that they (and government) have no understanding of the issues and no interest in helping. They believe their own propoganda and demonisation of all unemployed (and the poor) and have therefore adopted a policy of bullying people to get non-existent jobs.HomerJShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02414390191063061432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-88646173873215566122012-10-08T16:52:27.650+01:002012-10-08T16:52:27.650+01:00Would any of these suggestions help you?
A work p...Would any of these suggestions help you? <br />A work pool where i could work at random times for random amounts with random length breaks and get something back in return could possibly work.<br /><br />What is your condition, How long have you had it for? <br />CFS. I've had it about 15 years of which only 5 or so have actually had a diagnosis.<br /><br />Do you have other suggestions that you think could work?<br />A benefit group between the current esa and the current jsa is needed. The idea of a tier where you get to work part time and get a guaranteed minimum income would work for me. Right now its very easy to be too well for ESA and to sick for JSA. This results in regular periods of no income usually followed by back payments after difficult periods of time. <br /><br />When did you last work? <br />A few months a couple of years ago<br /><br />What did you do? <br />Originally I did quality assurance in a food factory. Retrained to administration at doctors suggestion.<br /><br />How long did you work for?<br />Started working part time at 16. Full time from 18 to 21ish when I had to quit. Couple of full time jobs since then maybe 4 years worth.<br /><br />Why did you have to stop working? <br />My absence rate gets beyond what my employer will/can manage. Sadly this period where the employer attempts to retain me and I try to cling to employment by my fingernails actually causes more financial hardship than its worth.<br /><br />Would you like to work, however little?<br />Very much so. The longer i'm unable to work at all the harder and less likely I am to work again.<br /><br />Are you now totally unable to work?<br />I'm totally unable to work within the current employment frameworks. In theory there are types of work (but not employment) I could do which I simply do not have sufficient talents or opportunities to do such as writing or art. These are also all types of work with irregular incomes and workloads which would cause financial stresses I no longer have the resources to deal with (there is only so much you can borrow off friends and family before the well dries up)<br /><br />Does the benefit system hold you back from working? <br />Yes. To even contemplate working I have to be able to bounce on and off benefits as my condition changes. If this was possible and with help from a temporary employment agency of some sort it might be feasible to work occasionally. Certainly not regularly enough to meet a living wage though.<br /><br />What fears do you have about schemes that aim to do more to support those with long term conditions into work? What, if anything, interests or inspires you? <br />They all seem to stop as soon as you achieve work and the problems are all in maintaining work rather than getting work for me.Klindhhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02976427626470019583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-60983310166136986452012-10-08T16:41:47.167+01:002012-10-08T16:41:47.167+01:00These are all amazing ideas. I am in the enviable ...These are all amazing ideas. I am in the enviable position of being able to do some of 1) already, as before I got too sick I worked full time for a very inclusive organisation. Now I get 'overflow' work from them. The thing which makes this work is trust - they know me and the quality of my work very well indeed; and they know that I can still produce quality work when I'm ill. <br /><br />When the same organisation offers 'overflow' work to people it doesn't know, the process is much less flexible, and everything has to be booked up much more rigidly in advance. Often work doesn't get allocated out at all, because the business can't always plan and may need someone who can do it in the next 2 days. But if they don't trust that someone, they won't give them the work, so it will be allocated to a poor in-house person to do that night in their free time (on the basis that this is a cheaper, if poorer quality way to get the work done; if you're going to pay extra to get urgent work done, you will want very good quality). <br /><br />Building trust with employers to take on 'overflow' capacity from sick and disabled people will therefore need careful effort - some kind of benchmarking scheme, some kind of guarantee that businesses can ask if particular people who've worked for them before are available; very good mechanisms for seeking feedback; money-back or discount guarantees possibly.misspiggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13875859883323529895noreply@blogger.com