Sick but not sick enough.

[sasadr]

Just need to have a rant about this. I am a civil servant and have been working for them for about 24 years. Over the last 3 years i have only been off work 3 times with my fibro. This time i have been so bad i can hardly get out of bed and have seen lots of doc's. The civil service sent me to thier own specialist to see if they could medically retire me but that was useless. The doc said i am unfit to work but too young to get medically retired. What am i supposed to do. Live at home with no money and then be sacked for being ineffient or go back to work even though the specialist says i am unfit to work. I am now on nill pay but can't get any benifits. I just feel like ending it all now because i feel so usless.

[Benjamina]

Why can't you get ESA...if your SSP has run out and you are still unwell you can apply for it

[LindseyMid]

I would highly recommend getting independent legal and benefits advice asap. There are specialist organisations listed on the link below which may be able to help:

fibroaction.org/Pages/Benef...

Best wishes

Lindsey

[sasadr]

Thanks for your comments. I have just been on the phone with my union rep and he is gonna help me with my appeal for med retirement. I don't think i would get ESA because my husband works full time but i am gonna try anyway.

[LindseyMid]

If you email [e-mail] I can send out the Benefits & Work Guides.

Best wishes

Linz

[Hilly]

Hi wen you apply for esa tell them you wish to claim contributions esa that way it don't matter what your husband earns it is not taken into account, if you have worked for the last 24 years then you will be able to claim on your contributions. I get esa and my hubby works full time, good luck. Hilly

[julieevh]

Don't forget you can apply for DLA as well as ESA - at the moment other household income doesn't matter for either.

The Teachers pension scheme do a thing called Partial Incapacity ... which means you are unable to teach but may be able to do another job; I got this as you basically have to have a fatal condition to get total incapacity. Does the civil service pension have a partical incapacity option, it will be a bit less but a big help nevertheless..

Julie xx

[sasadr]

Forgot i could claim contributions only for ESA. My DLA claim has gone to tribunal. Don't know if i will win. Hope so, thanks for help

[roundthebenz]

I had a similar situation. My employer had wanted me to attend their doctor to assess my situation. I refused stating that my own Doctor's diagnosis is sufficient. I was in receipt of SSP but my employer cancelled my contract and I went onto Incapacity benefit. Then DWP took me off that and said I had to apply for JSA. So no income of any sort. I appealed which brought me in a reduced benefit.

My argument at appeal was that to sign for JSA I had to state that I was fit for work and able to start work immediately. However, as the DWP was holding a certificate from my Doctor stating that I was not fit to work I would be breaking the law by signing on for JSA. The DWP therefore would be forcing me into an illegal situation. I won.