Return to work

[Alibongo60]

Hello, just found website, I had sah on 15th Jan, due to burst aneurysm, I have no physical disabilities and mentally feel ok. I am a senior care assistant, and debating if to return to work, due to financial problems, I only receive ssp, 88 pounds a week, not enough to run my house on. I'm concerned I will have people in my care and does become quite stressful and worried might not cope, even considered returning as a care assistant, less stress but more physical, not sure what to do, grateful for any advise

[razyheath43]

Wait until you are given the all clear to go back or try a new job,headway and turn2us help pepole back to work. i know how hard living on benifits is,but please get well!

[moo196]

Hi,

Speak to remploy....gov agency set up to help disabled or newly disabled people get ot stay in work. They were invaluable to me when I needed help and advice about returning to work.

Consider a phased return to work anyway....

Good luck !

[cat3]

Yes Ali, contact Remploy as Moo suggests ; so many people go back too early and find they can't cope. Determination doesn't come into it I'm afraid, so it's essential to get a sensible assessment of your capabilities and ease back in gradually. Good luck ! x

[malalatete]

Take it steady and be prepared to accept that this has in fact been a major, lifechanging incident. You may not be abble to eeturn to your old job, another job, or indeed any job. And as Cat says, whilst being positive and determined is really important, you will run into trouble if you try and exceed your limitations too early.

[Hidden]

I agree with the all the advice you have been given. You must feel very confused as you want your life to be back to normal. There is lots of help out there both in helping you back into your job or into a new position. If your job is very stressful then think of what positions you could apply for using your skills.

I hope everything turns out well for you.

Angie x

[lcd8]

I was in this sort of situation last year although perhaps not as serious. I wasn't sure whether I should be at work even once I was back. But I had a lot of meetings with my line manager and HR Dept in which we discussed what I should do to ensure it was a phased return, how I could minimize stress and perhaps achieve a reduction in hours. Unfortunately I couldn't afford to pursue the last suggestion. But fortunately they were very supportive and understanding. I would suggest having a good chat with such people at your workplace before taking it further.

[suemoff]

Whatever you decide, take it slowly. I had a brain haemorrhage from an accident and went back too soon. I was on a phased return, but couldn't keep up with the expected increase in hours, so had to go off again. I took it much slower the second time and now work 4 days, which is still quite a struggle.

Xx

[Alibongo60]

Thank you everybody, I know everything you've all said makes sense but very difficult to follow when financially difficult. I have spoken to my specialist nurse who like you all advised to take things slowly, got my doctor s next week then will contact work to see what they offer and take it from there, thanks again. It's nice to know I'm not on my own xx

[maureen103]

It might be useful to speak to someone who knows you well. I was convinced that i was perfectly fit and well and had absolutely no problems for several months but my family could see that i was not as well as i thought i was. It only dawned on me slowly that what i thought and how i was were not really the same thing. But i wasn't looking at going back to work as had retired several years previously but it affected my social life, hobbies etc far more than i wanted. But good luck in whatever you decide. Determination will help you to achieve but maybe we don't need to achieve everything immediately. Do take care and value yourself.

[Alibongo60]

Thank you, I know I feel very fortunate to not have a physical disability, and indeed to have survived at all. It's disgusting when I have worked all my life and can only receive ssp, there are payments in place if you have cancer so why not brain injury, I will have to return to work soon as can't afford not to, it's very wrong.

[RogerCMerriman]

Does your firm offer a phased return?

It may well be harder than you think? I did go back month and a half after, started at 2hrs or something. Which I though would be easy, reality was far harder! Took me 8 months to get back to full time, I do have a compromise balance but generally physically fit and healthy i.e. Any disability as such is brain not body mainly fatigue.

[Alibongo60]

Thanks roger, I don't know about phased return, work not been in touch, thought would wait until see doctor next week before approaching them, so will see xx

[Olive72]

Hello. I had a SAH last August and like you, luckily have not been left with any physical disabilities, but my energy levels even 6 months on are still very low. I was not working at the time, as I have a baby, but was expecting to return to work after about a year. I was made redundant prior to having my SAH, so had no work to return to as such. Would have had to look for a new job, but I have qualified for Employment Support Allowance and also the Personal Independence Payment. I have been awarded the standard rate for the daily living allowance and also the standard mobility allowance. Employment Support Allowance they pay for 90 days where they expect you to provide a Dr's Certificate, and then after that they assess you. I have now been put into the Support Group, where they accept that I am too ill to work at present and that award lasts until 2019, where they will reassess my situation again. The two combined payments brings in approx. £800 per month. You may also qualify for Council Tax benefit and a number of other benefits, depending on your domestic situation. When they operated on me, they found 3 aneurysms, coiled two, but I still have a third, which is being monitored. I have also been diagnosed with post stroke depression and have been referred to a neuro phychologist. Do not rush back to work, especially as it sounds like you have a physical job too. I hope this is helpful to you and take care of yourself.

[Alibongo60]

Hi olive, thank you, does sound helpful, but how long did you have to wait to go on the benefits, I had bad day yesterday so does tell me I'm not ready to return just yet. I've never claimed benefits before so won't know where to start. Take care xx

[Olive72 in reply to Alibongo60]

Good morning. I have also worked full time over the past 20 odd years and never claimed any benefit. The Employment Support Allowance starts to be paid reasonably quickly, within a matter of weeks and it backdated to the date you started your claim, minus about a week if I remember rightly. The PIP claim can take up to 3 months to receive your award, but again, they backdate the payment. If you Google both, you should find more information on the DWP website and you can give them a call. It was quite stressful trying to sort it out and they will want you to attend assessment interviews. I was/am suffering extreme anxiety and asked if they would come and see me at home. They didn't want to do this initially and it took 3 letters from 2 Dr's and my Neurosurgeon to convince them that I needed a home visit. I guess also that you are still not allowed to drive, and my anxiety and severe fatigue made it so I couldn't get on a bus alone and navigate myself alone to the appointments. But they did come around in the end. You just need to be strong. Hope this helps xx

[Silmarillion in reply to Alibongo60]

You can claim PIP and it's not means tested. So you can get it if you're working.......if you are lucky enough to qualify for it.