access to work

[Wumm]

hello,

I hope you have all had a good week so far.

I was hoping for some advice and I guess support really from people that understand and can sympathise with the conditions. I suffer with depression anxiety endometriosis fibromyalgia and also have chronic hep b (although this doesn’t affect me, I got it through FGM when I was a child sadly)

I got a full time position recently. The job is a perfect role and match my skill set having been out of work due to health concerns for the past 6months. I started the role today and the commute to location is an hour or more during rush hour.

I have been in contact with access to work for support and had my assessment yesterday where the assessor suggested a range of assistive technology, devices and ergonomics equipment and also travel support using taxis.

Now all these seems fantastic but I’m very worried about the travel side of things. The access to work coach that referred me for workplace assessment had previously said they wouldn’t fund my travel cost with taxis simply because I have a drivers license. I have tried going through UC but they can only help with bus passes.

I am unable to take public transport due to widespread pain and severe anxiety. Driving an hour plus each way will be a difficult challenge for me as my anxiety kicks in on the road, I also need to be able to adjust posture while sitting for long time and will be restricted by the concentration I need for driving, I often Infact mostly miss my way when I drive. I’m also on amitryptyline and pain killers which makes me drowsy earlier in the day.

As I type now my legs are cramping badly despite the pain killers. I know I can do this job if I have the right support but this really worries me and I guess I’m just wondering if anyone else have been in my position and how they managed to get sorted.

I want to work and also want to be able to do so with as much comfort as I can get. I’m very worried that if I’m not approved for the travel cost I may have to give up this new job before I have had a chance to settle in which will be sad for me.

I look forward to your replies. Thank you and apologies for the long read.

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

Congratulations on your new job. Having a drivers licence does not automatically mean that you are fit to drive, and I would hope that Access to Work would take this into account when making a decision.

[Wumm in reply to Hazel_Angelstar]

Thank you so much for your post Hazel, I am hoping this is the case. I’m just thinking should they not go with what the assessor recommends? Plus my job is patient facing so it can’t be done from home. Fingers crossed anyway I just hope I don’t end up with panic attacks before I get it approved. Have a good weekend 😊 xx

[RufyRhubarb]

Hi,whilst it was some years ago now,Access to Work funded taxi's for me to travel from home to work 3 days a week (50 mile round trip daily).I had to pay a proportion of the cost(this was based on how much I would have had to pay to drive my own car there ) and I had to pay all the costs upfront and then claim it back monthly after my line manager had signed forms confirming my attendance.I found it worked well.Hope this helps .Take care and hope all works out for you.

[Wumm in reply to RufyRhubarb]

Hi RufyRhubarb,

Thank you for your response. I would be glad if I can have this too. I understand they may not be able to pay it all but anything will really go a long way in helping. I hope it all works out too. Thank you so much xx