On Limited Capability to Work but scared to get help with work search
Hi π
Last week I received a message from my local job centre about them helping me develop my skills and find work etc. I would like to work if I can manage it with my health but I don't trust them. I feel that if I tell them about all the things and hobbies I am interesting in they will use them against me.
Ideally I would like to be a freelance photographer because I am passionate about it and I think I could work it around my illness and make enough money to live on. (I currently sell stationery online but a good month is Β£20 profit.) Do you think this is something they would be able to help me with?
I just don't know what to expect from them and I am so weary after being denied PIP because of my hobbies. (I appealed and won.) I will be very grateful for anyone's experiences and advice.
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Heya @Melon365 and a very warm welcome to the community. π
If you're found LCW, then you will be expected to take part in work related activities and not doing so could see you getting sanctioned, or losing your UC altogether.
As long as the work you're wanting to do is ok'd by the DWP (permitted work) and stays under the allotted work hours (under 16 hours per week) then you should be ok. The main problem is if the DWP can show that the work you are doing goes against the reasons you're found to have LCW.But if your passion is photography, it's worth asking them if there's something they could suggest? It sounds like an amazing thing to do!
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Hi Albus
Thank you for your reply. On my letter it says that I am not required to look for work does that change what you said?
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Hi @Albus_Scope
Thank you for your reply. On my letter it says that I am not required to look for work. Does that change the advice you gave?
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Good Morning @Melon365 , My partner had a similar message on their journal a few weeks ago from our local JC and 10 days later got another one. The first message said that it would not affect their money at all and that they only needed to respond if they WANTED to take part with what they wanted to offer & talk about. The 2nd message 10 days later, was a bit more forceful sounding but also said the money would not be affected and when they was ready to get in touch. I asked for advice online and everyone basically said the same thing. If they say you do not need to respond unless you are interested in what they are offering - you do not have to if you are in the LCWRA group ( Β limited capability for work and work-related activityΒ - will say this on your health assessment letter. If you are in the LCW group ( limited capability for work ) then you will be expected to respond to this and take part. Just to be certain double check what the wording says as to what group you are in and then also check if they say you do not need to respond unless you want to. Someone also said to me that I could respond and say that my partner was not well enough to at this point in time.
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A few years back I asked them to help me get a job and they signed me up with a group ''I think it was called AVANTA '' what a nightmare firm it was. They knew I had epilepsy ''2 seizures' a week roughly ''so avanta booked me in to a 3 week course, I get to the course and it was for fitting solo panels on roofs π
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Their so-called support only revolves around help with CV writing and preparing for job interviews and sending people to small dodgy training centres. I have never heard of anyone for whom they've found a job.
In my view, work coaches themselves need to get real jobs, in the first place. Most of them used to be unemployed for an extended period of time, yet they've no sympathy for jobseekers and have deplorable condescending attitudes just to meet targets.
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Thank you for all your replies. These stories are horrible and yet not surprising.
@deelee I checked and I am in the LCWRA group. I couldn't get the acronyms sorted in my head π. It also says on my message that it is voluntary. This is a relief because I really don't have the capacity to deal with this at the moment.
I have decided not to engage with them. I am already having a bad flare of symptoms and I can't cope with the stress and anxiety talking to them will bring. I also have very strong doubts about how helpful they will be.
I have plans to start my own photography business so I will try do that if/when I feel up to it.
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You can decide not to engage with them, but make no mistake, they're thinking whether to make such an engagement a duty and a requirement to benefits entitlement. This is what they've said in their Green Paper. We'll know more about this and other stuff in October.
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Hi @Melon365 - I fully understand where you are coming from. At least you know that you do not have to engage and it is voluntary - as per what they said to you. It can be quite unsettling when you get these messages and as you are in the LCWRA group, under current rules, LCWRA do not need to participate in any work or preparing for work, unless you want to. At some point in the future, when you are ready and able to, you have a good idea what you would like to do.
Have a lovely day
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