Hi, my name is LucindaTaggart! I had to resign due to illness. What should I do next?

LucindaTaggart

Hi, everyone, I have been working all my life but sadly had to resign from work due to illness (I had a heart attack 2 years ago and sever arthritis in my neck, knees etc) I am in constant pain and my mental health is very dark atm I loved my work and I have been working with them for 16 years I am very unset with myself but I couldn't carry on, in so much pain, I have cried not stop since I resigned on Friday 6th, and I don't know what to do now we're on UC so I have asked my work coach to contact me to see what to do now I am 49, has anyone any advice on this I would appreciate any help you can give me ?Lucinda 

Sandy_123

Hi @LucindaTaggart welcome to the forum,
I'm sorry to read that you have left your job through ill health, do you claim pip for your illnesses and how they effect you? It might be worth considering. Do you feel able to work in another role? I'm hoping your work coach can explore options with you, also scope have work shops you can join. Who will help you in looking at work to suit your needs. Link below.
https://www.scope.org.uk/employment-services/?gclid=CjwKCAjwkN6EBhBNEiwADVfyayU-oMgQkgrXzJSYwquqgIUN-_OHkTiGKqhYs8u3DNOSc19S5TagQBoC-JMQAvD_BwE
Also for your mental health have you spoke to your Gp?  Another link below you might find useful.
https://www.mind.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/

chiarieds

Hi @LucindaTaggart - & welcome to the community. I wonder if you have considered applying for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). This is a non-means based benefit, so wouldn't affect your UC. Have a look at the following link, which shows the activities/descriptors that are looked at with PIP, reading the notes at the end. Please see: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/asset-library/Personal-Independence-Payment-Descriptors-and-Scores-April-2021.pdf

LucindaTaggart

Thank you for your warm welcome I will check this out I have never claimed any benefits apart from Universal credit so I can let you how I get on with my work coach ?

janer1967

Hi there 

Have you reported a medical condition on your uc and if so provided fit notes 

This promts a work capability assessment and could result in additional payment if you are found to have limited capability for work and related activities and will mean you are not required to look for work 

Ross_Alumni

Hello @LucindaTaggart

Welcome to the community, I'm sorry to read about what you've been through.

You mentioned that your mental health is in a dark place at the minute, is it something your GP is aware of? Do they support you with your mental health? Thankfully you have joined a very supportive and welcoming community so I'm sure that our members will do their best to make you feel better  

Have you also explored possible avenues to help you manage your pain? See this page from the NHS.

It must have been very hard to give up on your work, but if it's for the long term benefit of your health then I'm sure it was the right thing to do. Do you have hobbies that will help keep you occupied and productive? I'd maybe do some of those and focus on relaxing a bit  

LucindaTaggart

Thanks for all your help and advice 

Caz_Alumni

Hi @LucindaTaggart

We haven't spoken yet. My name's Caz and I'm on of the online community team. How are you doing today? 

Have you had chance to read the posts from our community members in response to your original message? Hopefully, they've been helpful and given you a few things to think about? 

More importantly, are you feeling any better and brighter about things today? I know you said you were having a hard time of things in your original post, but the smiley face on your post from today suggests that you might be feeling a bit better about things? 

I do hope that's the case.

LucindaTaggart

Yes feeling a bit better, just taking each day at a time, trying to process all I have been through over the past few years, writing alot of things down. 

calcotti

The advice from janer to report your health issues to UC is crucial, if they limit your ability to work. If you have not already done so you do this by reporting a change of circumstances in your UC journal.. You will need to obtain a Fit Note from your GP to support this, You have 7 days within which to do this.

LucindaTaggart

I have reported the issue to my work coach and UC, she's advised me to contact pip, hopefully get a phone call from my GP that I have requested. Thanks for your help