Is it just me...
 

...or are we in the UK heading for a state in which the only criterion for being fit for work is to be alive? I offer the latest Budget "reforms" (trans.: cuts) to various benefits as evidence.

To sum up for anyone who hasn't read my earlier posts:

On May 5th 2022 I had a stroke. I am still recovering. The right side of my face feels constantly taut; I suspect nerve damage. I am very unsteady on my feet. This is at least partly due to the Ramipril I'm taking for my high blood pressure; it's a side-effect. But since high blood pressure tends to cause strokes, and given that the odds are against me surviving another one, if it's unsteadiness on my feet or high BP, I know which bet I'll take.

Plus I get very tired, very easily, very quickly. Just a trip to my local Lidl, a mere 200 yards or so, does me in, so what I'd be like working I can easily imagine. After a trip to, say, the chemist for my prescription, or to the DWP (I try to combine the two to save money), I'm fit for nowt for a couple of hours. To cap it all off, my right hand is almost useless owing to arthritis; I can't make a fist.

At least one of my eyedrops (Azarga, to treat my glaucoma) is a beta-blocker, which tends to preclude operating heavy machinery. With my right hand seized up, I wouldn't trust myself with a forklift or a Pedestrian Pallet Truck (I was going to do a PPT course, but then the stroke happened and I was hospitalised for a month).

I tend to walk, or rather stagger, as if I were drunk, though I haven't had a drink - or caffeine, or chocolate - in years, as I tend to get heartburn. I cut all three out of my diet and I haven't had it since. I neither know nor care which was causing it (well, not strictly true, I do miss chocolate...).

I can no longer ride my bike. I don't dare - apart from the tiredness issue, there's the unsteadiness issue. I've been off my bike too often already even before the stroke.

Despite all this, the DWP reckons I'm fit for, and I quote, "some sort of work". They haven't said what sort. The last fit note I submitted was not accepted, because it didn't say I'd gotten worse...though in fact I think I have.

See what I mean about fitness criteria?

Doubtless some of you on this board are or have been employers. My half-sister, rest her soul, was for years, and when I asked her if she would take me on, she told me she wouldn't - the liability would be too high. I agree.

She and I never got on as kids, it's true (she was 10 years older than me), but in her last decade or so we reached a modus vivendi and got on quite well. So I knew she'd give me an unbiased opinion despite us being half-siblings. She was always a no-nonsense sort (well, at her funeral I learned to my total surprise that before I got to secondary school she was quite the tearaway, but not when I knew her!). She told me not to bother looking for work.

To be honest, I wouldn't take on a stroke survivor either. I don't believe there's a single employer in the UK which could afford the lawsuit my other half-sister (11 years older) could bring if I died on shift. Could the employer prove the job didn't kill me? I don't think so.

The only reason I'm looking is to be a good little boy by the DWP's lights and thus retain my Universal Credit. In the unlikely event I get an interview, I intend to be honest with the prospective employer. Under the terms of the Health & Safety At Work Act (1974), I believe I should. The employer should be aware before I start work that there are issues. H & S applies to all employees 24/7. So they need to know.

So what do you think, peeps? Am I "fit for work"?

Re: Is it just me...
 

"Fitness for work" is akin to the length of a piece of string. Our twins were assessed by a DWP person who had been a professional Carer. She knew what they could possibly do, both physically and mentally, but erred on the side of not putting them into work that could cause them harm, anxiety or distress.

And yesterday, up popped Tony Bliar saying that Disability Payments should not be doled-out to people just because they might get anxious.

That is the first shot across the bow I reckon. Full scale war against the disabled will appear soon enough "to save money".

Re: Is it just me...
 

I think most people would agree with Blair as his statement stands. Certainly most/all of the right of centre parties would. I would not conflate a conversation to try and identify the real needs from those who may not require the same help as "war on the disabled".

Re: Is it just me...
 

I could see a GP today and say I'm feel a bit down and suffer from anxiety. And I'm sure within minutes I'd be prescribed anti depressants. Then I can say I have mental health issues and suffer from depression and anxiety and then claim for it. - This is what's gone wrong.

Re: Is it just me...
 

I hate to agree with Blair, but he is right, you can’t go and get a friendly GP to agree you’re ‘anxious’ and use that as a pretext to get benefits instead of working.

As this relates to the OP, the question is what work you’re skilled and or experienced for and how far you’re physically fit to do it. As they have ruled you are fit for some work you have little choice at this point. You are going to have to look hard at everything you could do, whether it’s stuff you have previously done, and see what’s out there. Not ideal, I know, but I understand, and agree with, the general principle that work is better for your health than worklessness, and if there’s something you can productively do, you should do it.

Re: Is it just me...
 

Think there's a difference between being a 'bit anxious', and being disabled as a result of a stroke. Do what the DWP say and tick all their boxes which is all they care about. Seems to me they don't actively do much in terms of actually helping you get a job/skills these days. It's just targets, seeing if they can get you on anything to get you off the list.

We're an ageing an increasingly non productive nation now. Our main industries nail bars and coffee shops, that's not the unemployed's fault.

Re: Is it just me...
 

I'm sure it used to say on the form, do not assume you're entitled to this benefit even if you are missing 1,2,3,4 or even five limbs, going by that alone I'd say even being alive may have always not necessarily been vital

Re: Is it just me...
 

I heard from somewhere that if you can lick a stamp you can work...

To claim ESA it is all about your illness / disability. To qualify for PIP it's not about your illness or disability but the care and extra help you need to live with those illness's / disabilities.

They also go by evidence which is key to getting the right help. Without it they'll dismiss anything and everything you say unless there is evidence.

To say you've 'had' a stroke which is bad in itself, 'had' is a word they'll judge you by. If you've been checked over since and things are still not good then you should have reports saying this. These reports are what they go by. Then you can say things that would be based around the report which will have to be taken into account.

It's all crap at the end of the day. You have to jump through hoops to help yourself. Do nothing and expect the worse. You've got to prove to them beyond means and fight your own corner.

Re: Is it just me...
 

"Work from Home" has opened the doors to the DWP to get many disabled into work and off State Benefits.

Re: Is it just me...
 

The DWP are parasites.

When my dad died I notified them to cancel my carers allowance which was done, but they still removed the money from my UC money (CA comes out of your UC payment an they give a top up payment).

So I was £100 down on that money, after many phone calls it was sorted.

Now for a second time they want the last 4 months of banks statements, this is to see how much is being paid in, they don't care that I'm paying out £200+ more than I get in as it's not there problem.


They keep saying what about being a carer, despite me saying I had no choice in caring for my dad, as they would have taken the house and made me homeless as "not there problem" they would just want the money for his care bill.

Re: Is it just me...
 

Thanks, everyone, but...this wasn't what I was looking for. Again, would you consider me employable? From an employer's POV, forget the damn know-nothing DWP. Maybe I should've posted a poll. :p:

Re: Is it just me...
 

I probably say yes. Because there must be something you can do. This is just based on the very limited amount of information I've got. This is how the DWP works.

If I had more information, an assessment maybe. More details and reports from your GP and consultants. Reports of your day to day life etc, then maybe I could say different.

Bottom line is, it's not what we say, it's the information and evidence you give that decides and then it's assessed.

Whether you'd find gainful employment, well that's a different matter. You will have to meet their requirements which is a job in itself.

Re: Is it just me...
 

Given you can post on a forum, the answer would have to be yes.

Re: Is it just me...
 

I reiterate: I am not safe at work.

Re: Is it just me...
 

Firstly, you have not made any such statement previously, so you cannot be reiterating it.

Secondly, unless you are not "safe" at home, then you can be safe at work - its called Working from Home, something I do every day.
I work Monday - Friday, on a computer, at home. You seem capable of using a computer, so IMO, the answer remains Yes, you are employable.

Re: Is it just me...
 

Paul is right. Also what you think doesn't really matter either. Again, unless you can prove that you can't do anything, then they'll assess you based on the evidence you supply them with.

I'm in the same boat. Everyone is and will be. It all comes down to how you fill in the forms and what evidence you give and what care you need on a daily basis.

Re: Is it just me...
 

But you asked us to tell you if *we* thought you are safe at work, based on your lengthy initial post in which you did not make that claim.

You described symptoms that interfere with your everyday living and you described tasks that you are no longer confident doing, and you told us your sister wouldn’t employ you.

Your posts in this thread look very much like you’ve just been trying to get a lot of people to say you’re not safe at work, rather than being interested in genuine opinions.

As others in this thread have observed, you are capable of engaging with discussion here, which means you’re clearly capable of something. Obviously you’re no longer up for physical warehouse stuff like you’ve done in the past, but that’s not the sum total of the UK workforce.

Obviously nobody here is a GP or a DWP assessor. We’re just a bunch of randoms on the internet, but we are a bunch of randoms responding to information presented to us by another random, so you pays your money, you takes your choice …

Re: Is it just me...
 

All that's true. But 'safe'? At home I am responsible solely for myself. At work I would be responsible for everyone there.

So okay. I'll still tell them at interview, but let them find out about me at work - to their detriment. I'm just trying to do what's sensible. To an employer it would surely make little sense to take on someone who tires rapidly and easily, who might well fall over whilst carrying something fragile and/or valuable, and who has a virtually useless right hand. I know I wouldn't.

Re: Is it just me...
 

Already been said, manual work might not be the right choice now, but you could work from home, telesales etc etc. what you’ve said doesn’t change anything. They’ll see that you can do something. Just not manual work. So you’ll have to do what is expected from them (dwp). Otherwise you’ll be sanctioned.

The only alternative is to prove to them you can’t work. As I’ve already stated previously.

Re: Is it just me...
 

Sales? No thanks. I detest sales reps. Brrr.

But suggestions would be welcome. I honestly don't know what I can do - I've only ever done warehouse work. My programming skills are all out of date; most of the current languages I've never even heard of. I could never get to grips with object-oriented programming even when I wasn't recovering from a stroke

Re: Is it just me...
 

Service/Help Desk work - if you are registered disabled, and there a trainee vacancies, you would be guaranteed an interview at a lot of places.

These sites give some advice

https://www.gov.uk/looking-for-work-...d%20experience

https://jobhelp.campaign.gov.uk/look...oure-disabled/

Re: Is it just me...
 

My sister In law used to work for the AA from home, taking calls from people who'd broken down, she worked for inchcape too, that looked interesting, working out the shipping routes, paying the fees etc, she's disabled too btw

Re: Is it just me...
 

Hmm. I'm not registered as disabled so far as I'm aware, but I'll check out the links. Thanks.

I should've thought of it myself, but I'm definitely not what I was. My memory is like a...what d'you call it, they use 'em in kitchens, holes in 'em - SIEVE! That's it! :p:

Seriously, I do believe my intellect took a bit of a hit - one reason why I have a number of games on my tablet which challenge mental ability, such as sudoku and word games. Often I know where, e.g., a 4 should go...but I type a 3 or a 5 instead. It can be a bit frustrating.

Re: Is it just me...
 

It gets worse!

I've signed the petition and emailed my MP. Just what are people supposed to do if they don't get benefits but can't work, DIE?! Starve?! Turn criminal?!

They think it's bad now, just wait until this comes in, if it does! They're already being accused (rightly IMO) of breaching human rights - what will this do?!

Re: Is it just me...
 

We have blind, wheelchair users, downs syndrome, deaf, pdsd plus about every other condition you can name. I believe that nearly all people can work if they really want to. The question is do they.