I am so down i lost my job through dismissal of health grounds

so sorry you are going through this I was in a similar situation not worked since November 2025 please be assured there is something out there for you as there is for us all I haven’t found anything to do myself and am still looking sometimes things can happen when we least expect them to do not give up keep on going what’s for you will never pass you by trust the universe to provide I really hope your situation gets better.

very sad and frustrating.

I know this might sound a bit silly, but this Winnie the Pooh video really helps me when I feel buried by insurmountable challenges like you guys seem to be feeling. I'm feeling like that right now too, for different reasons. Maybe it will help even a teensie bit....

Firstly - there IS light at the end of the tunnel. DON'T SUFFER in silence… make sure you talk to your friends/family. You need them more than ever. I've been through it - so speak with some experience… and 20+ years later, I am still here and ok, its not the "life" I expected, but over time I have adapted, battled my way through the wonders of the DWP and got through it.

Basically I worked in the Civil Service (was with them 28yrs) and worked my way up to a middle-management role and had 12members of staff to manage (all varied ages/experiences) and I was always viewed as the "person to go to" for advice if there was a problem - and I was also known as firm but fair. Never had any disciplinary issues, blemish free work record always getting high marks in my annual report and even got letters of appreciation from public and given internal official commendation certificates. Wasn't an angel, but I took my role seriously and worked hard, often staying late (without claiming overtime) etc.

THEN, I had a new boss - who hated me from day 1. He made my life a misery… from "forgetting" to leave me out of emails (so I made decisions, not knowing his new policy changes he had implemented) so it looked like I was incompetent or defying him; I later found out that he had told one of my staff that if she "spied on me" he would ensure that she got my job; he consistently marked me down on my annual report - saying I had an "over inflated impression of my own competence"; when I applied for internal transfers - he deliberately delayed sending them off to HR and wrote nasty comments with no evidence to back up; if I asked for annual leave (even 8mths in advance to go to a wedding) I would not get the authorisation until the day before (too late to book at the hotel) or if I asked for a week off, I would only get Mon-Weds and Fri off. He knew every trick in the book to do all these things with no witnesses, or would literally work to the letter of every rule, showed no flexibility and always had a water-tight "business case" to back up his decisions.

After nearly a year, after I submitted a fairness at work complaint in to HR, and saw the Head of Department….my line manager subsequently called me in to have a "chat" about something to do with work, and then he told me that he would make it his mission to "get me out" and THEN I discovered that he was homophobic bigot because he said that he "didn't want my sort of people in HIS department, and he wanted disgusting people like me OUT" and went into a tirade of homophobic abuse (sadly no witness). Anyhow there were loads more things he did, but you get the idea.

He made my life a misery and I went from "top marks/excellent employee" to being a social pariah, viewed as incompetent, unreliable, my 28yrs of good reputation was ruined and to my own disappointment, in the end I helped him. My timekeeping became shoddy, I missed deadlines, I got very stroppy, showed my frustrations and bit people's head off, my sick record went through the roof, I became a different person - completely opposite to what I was before he arrived. And of course the "spy" (unbeknown to me) put rumours around telling everyone about anything I did wrong, and even put it round that I was promiscuous and wasn't going to physio appointments but to the STI clinic etc etc… all of which were untrue. In the end I had a NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, could hardly function, went on anti-depressants and was off-sick for 10mths. Even when I was in hospital - my line manager wanted to come to visit me to tick the box, so he looked as he was a nice person! I got into debt, and eventually I was dismissed for "gross misconduct"… I was so anxious of seeing him (even the brown envelopes from work an the DWP sent my heart racing) and even walking into any Govt office felt SO intimidating that I couldn't even go to my hearing. 28yrs of loyal service ended with the stroke of pen. He won and yes "the spy" was put in my role. I didn't have the strength to fight them at an Employment Tribunal, I just walked away and hid. It was the worst time of my life. I applied for hundreds of jobs, but of course no-one would hire me, but to satisfy the DWP to get JSA, I applied over and over again… even the DWP wrongly kept me on JSA for months… I had no idea this was the wrong benefit to claim and they didn't help much either!!!

Eventually with my parent's help and a few well-trusted non-work old school friends, I soon got proper medical treatment, both mentally and physically from my GP. I applied for DLA (before PIP) and ESA, and a debt counselling charity helped me sort out a payment plan to pay off my credit card debts etc…. and slowly by slowly over about a year, I could see things improving. Luckily I had a Labrador dog, so it meant I had to get out of the house, and her routine helped me go out, but there were days I had to force myself. I eventually returned to the real world (previously watching TV 24/7, comfort eating and not leaving the sofa, not shaving etc etc)….

I had felt utterly humiliated, useless and ashamed of being "sacked" (first time ever!!!) so if anyone asked I told them I had been medically retired. I lost lots of friends because I had become almost a recluse, and I stopped all contact with work friends as I couldn't trust them - so my GP referred me to a local "wellbeing" class at the leisure centre for light exercise as my hips and knees are arthritic and I'm awaiting replacements etc… but I've met a new lot of people who didn't know anything (blank canvas) and 15yrs later, these people are NOW my lovely kindest friends, who I socialise with a lot - lunches, day trips to the country, short dog walks etc etc. NOW, I also volunteer at my local hospice in their admin office (just do a few hours a week), which gets me out of the house. I get to meet NEW people all the time, who aren't interested in my past.

Sorry to go on and bore you with a weary tale of woe - but I just wanted you to know that there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel. I was on the brink of suicide at one stage, felt useless, lonely, humiliated, embarrassed, my line manager had ruined me and everything I had worked hard for was gone…. but now I can honestly say, ok life isn't 100%, my health is still a big fragile, I get the usual grief from the DWP (don't we all ???) and I have good days, bad days… but over time I am getting more good days than bad. I've even started dating a guy (it;s still early days!!!)

PLEASE don't give up… I'm sorry you have had such a tough time, its not easy I know, it's not much fun when it feels that the world is your enemy, friends disappoint you, officialdom (DWP etc) seem sterile and bureaucratic and don't care… and the stress of how you were treated and how unfair it is becomes all consuming - but I promise you that things will get better. Keeping busy is the key IMHO, it just takes time (one day at a time, then one week at a time etc etc). There is indeed light at the end of the tunnel. I honestly now look towards the future and even manage to cope with the onslaught of the damn DWP !!!

I truly hope that things improve for you, don't be afraid to ask for help - take your time - but I promise life will improve for you. Good luck.