I want to return to work.

I've been off work for nearly 6 years, (its gone quite quick!) and I feel now, that maybe I could return part time. I'm worried that no one will want to hire someone who has done no work in six years and has dodgy health. I have completed an OU course and am currently half way through my second, so its not as if I have done nothing in them 6 years. My self esteem is low and so is my confidence, I'm trying to be brave but after 6 years of mostly my own company, the big wide world can seem quite scary and fightening! I don't know where to start in making this happen, anyone got any advice about returning to work after so long?!

My health has improved a tad, I've lost weight which means I have been able to gradually increase my exercise tolerance, my asthma hasn't improved much but I feel better genrally.

I'm still on a huge list of drugs including subcut bricanyl, so I don't want to scare any future employers with this.

I just feel like I could be doing more but don't know how to go about it! I'm scared!

Sorry for the long ramble

Clare

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Well done Clare. I would suggest speaking to a disability advisor at ur job centre. They

May do a work assessment to see wot work u can do and how can they support u in employment.

Their is also voluntary work but if your on benefits this will affect them . Hope all goes well !!!!

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good for you!!

i'd echo gussy's advice - head for the jobcentre and ask for some support. if they can't help you, they'll know who can.

hope it all goes well!

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Hi Clare. Its great that you're feeling like you might be able to start work again. Could you look at some of the graded return to work programmes the employment centre offer? I have known people to go back to full time employment by doing a few hours a week and building up...Of course the temptation is (for me anyway!) to think ""oohh I feel better now"" and dash back to trying to do everything 100% where upon you end up back at stage one!!!!

Its fab that you've been doing your study whilst you've been off, that will no doubt be really valuable and shows that you were keeping ""your hand in"". I think sometimes we dont realise just how much our job roles impacts on our identities and how we view ourselves until said role is threatened, and its great that you've been able to focus on something whilst you've been off (other than getting better off course!) That'll look good on the CV!

I've always thought I would go temping as my ""back up plan"" and I wonder if this might be an option you could consider? That way you could try a variety of posts and do a week on then a week off or something?!?!?!

Congrats on the weight loss by the way, thats an uphill struggle itself on a tonne of meds sometimes isnt it....and I'm sure you're braver than you think...You're obviously very determined and thats gotta be a good start!

Good Luck with it all

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Correction to Gussypoo's post, as long as both your doctor is happy and the benefits agency is informed you are able to undertake voluntary work without it affecting your benefits. It is possible to do something called ""permitted work"" and earn £20 a week, Kate Moss on this message board undertakes ""permitted work"" sure she may be willing to give you some advice.

It was also possible to work a fixed period of weeks over 12 months earning a wage without it affecting your benefits, in the sense that if it didn't work out you could return to your original benefits. This was available so that those who were worried about the future could try it out without any pressures and worries if it didn't work out. I don't know if this is still available with the new rules coming in, but worth asking.

Congrats on the weight loss and OU courses, the weight loss still needs to be achieved in my world but I am now on my 3rd OU course so know how difficult it can be studying with health problems so good for sticking with it.

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To katina thanks for update re voluntary work and benefits. That info is good to know.

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Also, wanted to let you know, the 12 month rule for working under 16 hours is only if you are in the work ready group of ESA. If you are in the support group that 16 hours can be indefinitely. You would need to notify them about it if it's over £20 a week but should not effect your ESA benefit. However, if you are getting things like income support or housing benefit then it may effect them. It is also subject to the normal taxation rules.

If you take a look on the direct gov website it talks about permitted work.

direct.gov.uk/en/Disabled People/FinancialSupport/esa/DG_171909

good luck. I'm sure you will do fine!

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yes i would also suggest seeing a disabilty advisor at the job centre, i dont want to scare but should warn you that it can be really hard to find a job with health problems as i have mumerous conditions and physically disabled i have only been unemployed for a year and when trying to get back into work i have applied for loads of jobs but once again no one wants someone with a health problems, so can be really fustrating so i have decided to work part time and go to college, you should ask the job centre about work trails as dont get paid but they give you a chance to see what it would be like back working and how you will cope and the employer could give you the job afterwards

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Thanks for the advice peeps. I still receive Incapacity benefit so the rules are probably the same for that as they are for ESA.

I have a very supportive advisor lady at the job centre that I have seen over the years when she calls me in for an update on how things are, I think I'll get in touch with her on monday.

As for actually finding a job I have 3 years experience as a care assitant and now a certificate in health and social care so I'm sure someone somewhere will employ me

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Of course they will! You will get something amazing I'm sure!

Take a look on somewhere like goodmoves for social care and public sector jobs which some also do guaranteed interviews for disabled people

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Thanks WSS for the further information about work rules/permitted work etc, I wasn't totally up to date, because I have never used it myself, just aware of its existence. Every little bit of information helps us all, can be stored away for future use.