I hope you are all keeping warm. The cold definitely makes things worse for me I know that!
I was hoping I could get some advice really. I have Fibro,Endo, dep and anxiety, IBS.
I am a survivor of domestic abuse/ sexual abuse and FGM. I’m waiting on specialist counselling.
I trained as a health care worker 13years ago and have been working since until summer this year when I had a traumatic incident at work. This set me back a lot and contributed to my flares. So I gave up work and resigned.
recently I have been feeling much better and plus the fact that we are a young family needing our own house, I felt I needed to go back to work so I applied for a role which I got.
this encouraged me that I wasn’t as useless as I thought I was and I was good at what I did.
I have had pip mr and still only got the standard rate despite explaining my situation and how anxious I can be when driving and also not able to walk too far due to fatigue and hip/back pain. I gave up after the MR and just left it. I was wondering if I should ring back to request for the enhanced rate and what are my chances of getting it?
Also I have an occupational health assessment coming up and was wondering what reasonable adjustments I can have at work?
my job will involve me calling patients in and treating in clinic (physio).
It’s a full time role and we really need the money so I am hoping I could get advice regarding how to make it work by reducing other factors in and outside work that could trigger my conditions.
I am thinking of getting a cleaner for my house, the enhanced rate pip will allow me get a blue badge also to park close to where I need to be. Also I’m looking at avoiding rush hour for going to work. I know we won’t get any benefits once I start this job and the enhanced rate pip will really go along way in helping us. I already have an automatic car which my husband drives mostly. He will be the one to take me to work and come get me after.
Any advice will really help me.
thank you
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Thank you, I did try fight4justice site but I get so overwhelmed with it all and I give up after. I guess what would be helpful for me is someone or a body that can do the whole filling form in and appeal process for me. Xx
Hi yes I guess that would be the answer to many peoples problems when filling out the forms. If only we had someone to do it for us.
Maybe you could find someone who does that kind of thing. I thought the fight 4 justice did that for a small fee? I maybe mistaken. But worth checking out.
Thank you Dizzytwo, I know! A lot of us could do with the help.
I know with me trying to go back to work, especially been a health care professional it sounds as though I shouldn’t be getting it but tbh if I don’t try to work I probably will deteriorate further and I’m only 34!
I left my previous job cos of all the home visits I had to do as I can no longer move around. My partner drives mostly and will have to take me to work when I start this new job hopefully if occupational health signs me off.
Despite everything with my health situation and that I still keep a brave face like most of us do.
I’m hoping as my new employer is a disability confident employer I will get the right support to keep going
I think fight for justice do for a fee. When I checked it then, all the things on the website got confusing for me. I’m dyslexic as well so I guess that doesn’t help. I will see if there’s a phone number to contact them on.
Hi. I think you are certainly going to need an accommodating and considerate employer. NHS, if that, can be very harsh (know several who didn’t get the support), especially if frequent time off becomes needed when a newish employee. It is really important all your needs are documented and reported both at interview, application of role, OH and any training. That way they can’t say you wasn’t clear at the beginning. Hope all works out perfectly for you 👍🏻
This is what I thought. I did put down on application I was disabled but I wasn’t asked about it at interview and tbh I didn’t offer. But I spoke to OH yesterday and she said she’ll put down all the reasonable adjustments and it’s up to the employer to see if they can accommodate it. Tbh she was sort of going in the direction of “it’s a busy role and you should be thinking part time rather than full time or not working at all” she kept saying “you have been through so much”
I know all these but we need the money as a family, we on UC and standard daily living pip and that’s it. Other half works customer service so getting paid less than 25k a year. We rent and can’t afford our own home so what can I do but work even if I’m not up to it.
I have gone through access to work scheme and just hoping I can get all the right support in the role.
Good to hear Access to work is positive. Is that where you have 12 weeks in work still on your benefits (not pip)?
I guess to see if works for you? I’d say be very clear of your needs, along with how positive you are about getting back to work. People think not working is easy but actually working gives people a sense of identity, purpose and independence in finances.
It’s also good for employers to support, fully, those with disabilities and employ them.
My employer previously was the opposite..horrid tbh.
Re PIP higher points on mobility. Think now you have to be unable walk more than 20metres or to do so would cause you an extreme effect . Used to be 50 metres so many suddenly found themselves reduced to standard mobility part of pip, even had to hand their cars in 😯. Check out your abilities against pip points scoring and be honest about your worst days and how often. Your type of work may or may not come into it on abilities, I really don’t know.
I don’t get the mobility part at all. Only awarded the living part. Also will they not say with me going to work I can do most things. I just dont want to sit at home cos I know my problems will get worse if I don’t try to keep myself functioning.
Will I not be penalized for working and told I can do most things.
If the time for appeal has passed, is it better to ring them up and report changes?
Also would it help if I do this only after work has put reasonable adjustments in place for me?
I did not claim PIP and applied for blue badge and got it. It is not necessary to have the mobility part of PIP. I filled in the form, went to the local council offices to see their occupational health person had a chat. She watched me walk into the building and again out of the building after my appointment and two weeks later I had my blue badge.
I have reasonable adjustments in place at work. Didn't particularly want to go through the assessment but glad I did as I have remained employed for the 12 years since the assessment. Most employers realise that we are covered under the Equality Act 2010 so are quite prepared to carry out reasonable adjustments just so long as their business is not adversely affected.
There is a company (they charge as they are a business) who helped a relative of mine, all forms completed over the phone. Not sure I can give their name on here but if you are interested then just PM me and I will give you details.
I found Occ health assessment very helpful for work. They listened and also said I had a good understanding and management of my health conditions. The reasonable adjustments can be different for everyone.
Mine included an extended period before sickness leave procedures would start. (2 days extra) and for me the ability to go home if fatigue was starting so I could drive safely.
Yours may be different but think in practical terms what will help. Work pattens etc. Drop off or parking near work etc.
Hello I can really relate to you, I also did a MR and was awarded the same, just daily living. I also have Fibro, Depression, anxiety and am also a survivor of Sexual Abuse. I only work part time, and also drive an automatic car to work and back, which is local and only takes 5 to 10 minutes to get there.My job involves just sitting at a desk, and I have very supportive managers.
I would definitely appeal the decision as I am. I have also got someone to help as the stress of it all causes makes my anxiety worse.
As regards driving, those who do get the enhanced mobility part of PIP can either use it to get a car, or for help needed so as to live their life as normal as possible.
I hope this helps you.
I will post further when I have put in my application for appealing their decision and how it turns out.
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