Shielding

[Jake25]

I've been out of work now over a year, had to quit my job at the height of the pandemic, I have COPD and was working in residential care, and couldn't cope with the breathlessness, I was told to shield as CEV. So I been claiming universal credit since then. So when we started to come out of the pandemic the benefits office was contacting me every 2 weeks seeing if I had managed to get a job. They also put me in touch with an agency, they get paid via the government to help people back into work. Anyway they too are always calling me to see what I have applied for even though they are not very helpful in finding any jobs for me. So now I may have found myself a job depending on return of references. I read the news today and see infection rates and death rates are once again rising, and there's mentioning of further lockdown maybe in Sept. Well I will tell you now I will not be shielding the pressure the benefits place and that agency have put me under, hounding me week after week, making me feel depressed I will not be locking down or shielding. This government is a disgrace. All this protecting the vulnerable is a load of rubbish, they have now thrown us to the wolves, they don't care about how many people have, and are still dying. Its all about money not people.

[Spacecat1]

Are you claiming pip if you have problems with your breath and find getting from a to b a problem it's worth trying to claim. You can work as well check it out

[Jake25 in reply to Spacecat1]

Thanks spacecat.

[leo60 in reply to Jake25]

Or Employment and Support Allowance?! Have you told Universal credit that you have COPD? xx

[Jake25 in reply to leo60]

Hi LeoYes they know I have COPD. But I don't think I would qualify for any other benefits. I get very breathless but I can do most things for myself.

[leo60 in reply to Jake25]

Have a quick squint at ESA on the Citizens Advice Bureau website, esp at the bit of how they score your points. You may be surprised or at least know it's there for another day Good luck with everything xx

[Jake25 in reply to leo60]

Thanks Leo.

[P-i-n-k in reply to Jake25]

Me too but what an effort some days

[Alberta56 in reply to Jake25]

How quickly can you do things? or how long do you need to recover after doing them? I think that counts when PIP is assessed.

[BreatheasyBe in reply to Jake25]

Hi Jake we can all do most things ourselves. Slowly as the disease progresses we may experience more difficulty with these tasks. We do these things to survive and you’ll be surprised how many off us are in denial about how we have to change how we do things to get by… at first we don’t really notice the changes to our everyday tasks because Copd deterioration can be gradual. PIP is not so much about your illness but how it impacts on your life. Two different people with the same condition can cope differently and have different struggles. The point to get across with PIP is that despite being able to do xyz it causes you pain, discomfort or fatigue or takes you longer to do these tasks that someone around your age who is healthy. Being breathless is disabling (discomfort) and for me it may take me longer to do tasks (pace), so for example I may have to take breaks as I couldn’t walk non stop from A-B or attempt the stairs, Bending down to tie my shoes, put a load in the washing machine, having a a bath or shower cause me to become more breathless I end up needing recovery time to catch my breath. The list goes on. Don’t forget to mention the effects of medication and how often you have exasperation’s and if you condition is well managed or not. Please apply for PIP and get help to fill it in. Im assuming you’re on income related If awarded PIP this will not be means tested. You can get PIP while working too and this will give you some benefit should you find yourself back in the same position again. Let us know how you get on. Best of luck in the new job but most important look after yourself. B 🤞

[rhultra in reply to Jake25]

If you suffer anxiety disorders and depression along with COPD you qualify for ESA and PIP

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

So sorry that youhabeen treated this way I think it's disgusting. This government should be helping to protect people not hounding them you must feel so let down. Please check out the websites that others have suggested, hopefully they may be a lot of help to you. Please let us know how you get on have a lovely day and take care 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx

[Jake25 in reply to Damon1864]

Thankyou.

[cofdrop-UK]

I am so sorry you are caught up in this unfair system. It is people of working age who have been overlooked. Good advice from your friends above.

You state you can do most things but that you get very breathless. So that sounds to me that you would do things at a slower pace than the normally fit and well, having to stop due to breathlessness. The numbers are not good and you might want to think carefully about noy shielding etc. Not easy with them hounding you constantly.

You might want to get i. Touch with Welfare Rights, CAB or DIAL and speak to an expert benefits officer about your situation.

Good luck and please let us know how you get on.

Cx

[Jake25 in reply to cofdrop-UK]

Thankyou cofdrop for your reply.If I do get this job I'm definitely not going to shield, If shielding comes into force. I've been hounded non stop by these people. Also they will be cutting universal credit by £20 a week in Oct and I've struggled enough. All the times I paid my taxes and when I need a little help this is what you get.

[Kristicats]

I have worked since I was 15. 35 as a nurse but because I worked part time for a few years ( after I retired from NHS) before covid I cannot claim a penny from anywhere. I paid full stamp for 42 years!!!

[Hidden]

The dwp don't understand that c.o.p.d is a progressive irreversible illness which can only be controlled by medication but over time will get worse , I'm stage four end stage and it took me nearly three and a half years to get my ESA back after having it stopped , I'm stuck in Greece and for three years had no access to my prescribed medication that's what escalated my condition now I'm at.end.stage , to them were just a number . Keep your chin up and good luck with the new job , just remember if you don't shield your putting yourself at risk .👍👍

[Lynnetp]

Hi Jane, I was in a similar position to you. I lost my job during the pandemic due to me shielding last year and my COPD…(my face didn’t fit anymore….but that’s another story!)

I claimed universal credit and my work coach made an appointment to call me very 4 weeks and I dreaded the call….which I’m sure you do. Once official shielding had ended we were expected to go back to work. I made it clear that I have chronic medical issues and because of this wasn’t sure I’d be able to go back to work. He asked me to provide a sick note, which I did and they stopped calling until the sick note ran out. They also sent me a form to complete for, “Capability to work.” This form assess whether you are able to work or not due to how your illness affect you….a bit like the PIP form. I completed the form and I had a telephone interview, during which the man said he would not be recommending that I apply for any jobs and that I qualified for the capability to work element of UC. This is a little extra money from UC and they no longer call as they are not expecting me to look for work.

I don’t know whether you would be able or would want to go down this route? It may help you to stay safe and shield for as long as you feel you need to? It would give your mental health a rest from the pressure too.

I don’t know whether this will help or not, but thought I’d mention it.

I do hope you are ok

Sending love

Lynne xx

[Aingeful]

Before you decide that you are not entitled to any benefits please consult a Welfare Rights officer. My daughter does this job and says there are many people out there who could get them and aren't doing so. The Citizens Advice Bureau will point you in the right direction.

[Alberta56]

I'm sorry you are having all this hassle. Quite wicked. You should not feel you have to go back to work while things are so bad. I hope you will try some of the things suggested by our fellow lungies. Good luck whatever you decide. xx

[ninelives]

Very best of luck with this.Lots of good advice from fellow lung buddies.

Please take care of yourself and do reach out to the support /advice agencies others have suggested.

When we face an uphill struggle like this it's so easy to get overwhelmed by the unfairness of the system.

You are a unique beautiful human being ,I do hope you are able to find the support you need to take the decision that is right for you.

[MoyB]

Sometimes we have to balance mental health against physical health and that's never going to be easy! You have to do what feels right for you and try and minimise the risks as much as you are able. You shouldn't have to be in this position, but you are and are having to make the best of it. It's a bummer!

Do please heed people's advice and seek help from those who know about benefits as you may find there is more help out there than you realise. I do hope so!

All the best, however you decide to play the game. xx Moy

[anng18]

So sympathetic to you, Jake.

I have had similar pressures in the past. Very insulting - as had just finished teaching a full school year, but wasn't paid for the summer holidays. I had to apply for every job going and was very harassed by job center etc. A friend of mine had a very different experience as she lived in a different area. At present, with Corona, it must be terrible for you - so insulting!

[rhultra]

Apply for ESA and PIP

[wooo]

Hi there it is worrying but any job you do should do a risk assessment. What about working from home for a company via the Internet. At least youd still feel safe and be working from home

[wooo]

Try working from home via the Internet

[Bingo88]

Your comments are correct Jake25. I was made redundant after 20 years with the same company at 55 years old and I had only signed on for a month and they started hounding me to get a job. Its a disgrace especially when we all know people who have never done a days work in their lives. And they even had me going in for a meeting on the day of my father's funeral. So your right it's flog the willing is what I called it. Brian