Hi, my name is catlou76!

catlou76

Hi,

I need some advice please regarding benefits and work.

I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgua in 2018 after being in a lot of pain for two years and chronic fatigue.
I worked full time up until 2019 and then part time up until 2020 and I wasn’t coping with the demands of work, and ended up resigning from my post.
I lost everything, my partner left, I lost my home and my car.
I suffered a major depressive episode due to this and attempted suicide by falling but was brought to safety by emergency services.

I was subsequently diagnosed with BPD.

I have been on a lot of anti depressive, anti psychotic and pain medications since then.

I was lucky to get social housing and have been on benefits , PIP and UC ( I’m in the limited capacity for work and training group) for the last few years.

I have been admitted to hospital due to my mental health 2 times since then and struggle with constant pain of varying degrees since then, on my worst days I am unable to function normally and do not cope with the pain or how low my mood becomes.

My question is, I am so miserable and so bored , feeling like I have zero purpose in life. I think it is the space where work used to be, how much I enjoyed social interaction, and the motivation of having something to get out of bed for.
My mental health is shocking. I dwell on suicide all the time , knowing I can’t keep living this empty life.

So, my question is , has anyone here, who may have similar conditions, successfully returned to part time work? I have no idea where to start , am petrified of not coping with it and I’m also unsure of how my benefits would be affected. I am scared of being worse off financially losing more in benefits than I could earn through work. I want to speak to DWP, but worry I could find myself being pressurised into taking work that would be unsuitable, worsen my health , I’m just feeling very trapped.

If anyone could advise I would be extremely grateful

Thankyou in advance

Cat

Santosha12

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/135458/hi-my-name-is-catlou76

Hello Cat @catlou76 , I am so very sorry, and saddened, to read of the serious struggles you've faced; I want to say first of all you're very welcome here and I hope you get the support and advice to help you move forward in your life and to get to a better place mentally too.

This is probably a long reply sorry, I don't want to overwhelm you though.

I can relate an awful lot to what you've said. I don't have fibromyalgia but have Long Covid one of the worse aspects being brain fog and chronic fatigue, and diagnosed with over 30 health conditions in the last three years, am mostly housebound and just on benefits. Its all took its toll on my mental health, especially the isolation/not working as I lost my nursing job 2 years ago.

If you are on LCWRA (Limited capability for work and related activities) you can have a work allowance that enables you to earn up to 411.00 per month without it affecting your benefits. If you earn over that amount, UC deduct 55p from your UC for each 1.00 you earn over that amount. You'd need to let UC know (I think you can just put a message on your UC Journal).

If you get LCW only, then I understand you can do Permitted Work, only up to 16 hours a week and a maximum earning of 195.50 per week.

Please do check the above with someone like the Citizens Advice Bureau as I don't know in the LCW scenario I've given, if any of those earnings are deducted from your UC, or not, so please do check.

You could also ring the Scope Helpline, they advised me on a similar question today and are very helpful, knowledgeable and kind. I wouldn't personally ring DWP as my first port of call until I've at least researched it myself through other resources, like those I've mentioned above.

I think one of the key things is that the type of work being done, and hours etc. do not contradict the (health) reasons which you receive benefits for.

I personally would not take a chance on coming off benefits when my health is as poor and fragile as it is. But there are other, very positive options, as above that could be 'stepping stones' for you to a more rewarding and satisfying life and could bring more joy into your everyday life.

I'm sorry I'm no expert but I didn't want to just scroll past without sharing the bits I do know ! (I'm on LCWRA for instance).

An alternative for you could be to consider some voluntary work.

I am still trying to find my way as it is incredibly hard being isolated and I understand well all that you have said.

There absolutely will be a way forward for you (and I!) - we have just not found it yet but we will. We need to keep hope and faith in ourselves at the very forefront of our mind: having support helps to do that. You've come to the right place here I think; I've found ideas and found it to be an extremely supportive community. It sounds like you're going to start rebuilding your life and you deserve to be happy and to find peace within yourself too. Believe me when I say that is absolutely possible.

I'm sorry I've not been able to give a lot of information relating to the benefits but it might be a starting point for you.

Finally, I hope you don't mind but I want to just give you a few ideas of other contacts too where you might want to get support if you've not already. There is a Fibromyalgia charity who may have some guidance and advice for you regarding employment.

Your GP surgery may have a Social Prescriber who are often a good ear/sounding board which could help.

Do you have 24 hour access to your local mental health crisis team and their Helpline number readily available to you if you ever need it.

Also, the Samaritans are on 116 123 and they're available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There is Saneline too and MIND.

Please do come back on here, if you're happy to. Any questions at all please feel free to ask. You'll always be very welcome here. With my very warmest wishes to you Cat, and many hugs 🫂.