new to this, ADHD, slipped disc, (possible) Autism

simon1138

Hello,

I have included a history below this as you may not want to read that. I have my first interview with the work coach and not listed anything as I am not sure how to list my job search. I am worried I may be sanctioned. When I had a first appointment they did not talk much about my physical or mental disabilities or health. There was some basic questions about my back, nothing about what work I can and can't do. I am worried I may be sanctioned? Can I get the sick note to give me more time to figure things out? I would like something to keep me busy and need to earn money but not the first thing that may come along which will probably not last, I will get treated poorly and then abused as has happened so many times before. 46, still living with my parents and looking at homelessness because I have no idea how to get along with others or look after myself.

I have a slipped disc, recently diagnosed ADHD and possibly Autism. I lost my last job three years ago from Royal Mail after depression, work hassles got the better.

I have my first appointment with my work coach this Tuesday 29th Sept and not sure what I am going to do. I don't really feel ready to attend work again as my specific situation is quite bad. Something I do causes people to respond badly towards me. I have had people threaten to hit me a number of times, I have had confrontations and been verbally abused. All left me feeling lost as I have no idea what I did, except for possibly tolerating bad behavior. I do not want to go into full time work, I would prefer something that offers a future, will provide a qualification that means I cannot just be let go and replaced as has happened in the past. I do not sleep much at all and have no diagnosis for sleep issues. There are a number of things I have issue with

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

When you say this is the first appointment, have you only just started Universal Credit?

If you're not currently getting any Health Element of UC then you should get a Fit Note and declare your health conditions to start on the journey towards a Work Capability Assessment and either LCW or LCWRA.

Unfortunately, without a Health Element of UC, the job of the Work Coach is simply to get you into paid employment as soon as possible. They will not really be interested in the idea of future career projection and gaining additional qualifications.

Mary_Scope

Hi @simon1138 and a warm welcome to the community from me!

I see OverlyAnxious has already given some great advice and information so I won't add much more today but here is some information on your first UC interview that I hope will be helpful to explore.

How are you feeling about the appointment on Tuesday? I hope it goes well.

Lovely to have you here and I look forward to seeing you around the community😊

simon1138

Hello,
Thank you both for your responses. I have a work search review, so I imagine my first meeting was done the other day. I feel that the woman was slightly pushing me into certain things when making choices. I did attempt to tell her about my slipped disc and ADHD and possible autism (waiting for assessment). She seemed to have no interest. I am not sure how long it would take to get a fit note as I don't feel able to take on full time work, part time seems a bit daunting.

Mary_Scope

It can vary how long it takes to get a sick note @simon1138 as each GP surgery is different but it shouldn't take longer than 48 hours to be processed and ready😊.

Sorry to hear that you felt pushed into certain things, those meetings can feel intimidating sometimes. Are you going to take anybody with you for support tomorrow?

simon1138

Hello Mary,

I went to my job search review and attempted to tell them about my situation and she showed no interest. I am going to add those details to my journal. The work coach arranged a one hour job interview workshop for the 14th of October. I asked about the fit note and WCA and she basically ignored me. She asked why I wanted it and that was it. No mention on the journal from her, I assume she can add that on my journal. What do I say to the GP, I have a different one each time and I only just got diagnosed with my ADHD, still waiting on my Autism diagnosis. I am not sure if the doctor will put whatever they feel as I have discussed some issues before but not fully understood my problems until getting the diagnosis and researching terms for my problems. Thanks for your response and support!

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

You can add health conditions to your own journal. When you upload the Fit Note, that starts the journey towards a WCA.

The GP needs to write the main condition(s) that prevent you from working on the Fit Note. They don't have to go into detail. You will get a UC50 form to fill in soon after submitting the Fit Note. That's where you explain your conditions and the specific effects that they have on you, which may be different to other people with the same conditions.

Mary_Scope

Thank you for letting us know how the appointment went @simon1138. Sorry it felt like she ignored you, that must be very frustrating! You can put a note on your journal that you asked about the fit note and WCA.

It's also okay if your fit note mentions the same issues as before as you can get new fit notes for the same reasons, you don't have to have a different reasons for each one😊

simon1138

Hello,
I am unsure about the fit note. Do I speak to the doctor before he writes the note so he is aware of my problems or do I wait for the WCA assessment? I have had issues with socialising in the past, most jobs. A few jobs I have almost been assaulted, one man attempted to cut me with a scalpal. Another repeatedly told me he would hit me, and throw punches at me falling an inch from my face and shout abuse at me. all my jobs have included verbal abuse, name calling and manipulation (people complaining to get me into trouble). I know this is going to happen on the next job but I do not know how to deal with it without losing my job. The social aspect is what concerns me most. I need something away from people or something where i can get the support all the way to a court room and it has to go in my favor. Do I speak to the doctor about my problems or is the fit note just generic?

simon1138

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1151655#Comment_1151655

Hi,

You have to get the Fit Note first. The WCA can't be booked until you've got a Fit Note.

The Doctor doesn't need to put anything too specific. Even just putting ADHD and slipped disc will be fine for this purpose.

Unfortunately I think you've misunderstood the job of the Work Coach though. They are being paid to get you into full time employment as soon as possible, to get you off of the governments unemployed list. They will not really be interested in the type of job that you would 'like', that's not what they're there for.

Hopefully you will get put into the LCWRA group which means that you no longer have to look for work in order to get paid UC. Then you can take your time looking for the right kind of part time job, without the Work Coach forcing you to do work searches and apply for jobs that aren't really right for you.