Date: 16.05.2014
From: Sandy
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Subject: losing my job
i had an interview at home yesterday with personel dept from work as i have been off sick for quite a while now ..i appreciate the cant hold my job open indeffinitely but its such a blow to be told that you're going to have your employment terminated due to ill health ! ...im not sure where i go from here .. ive been claiming esa with a sick note ...but will that continue ? ..ive tried looking it up on the internet but it doesnt really make it clear as there are two groups apparrently that you can be put into and you have to go for medicals and interviews ... can they refuse me ?
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Date: 16.05.2014
From: Emm
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Subject: Re: losing my job
Sandy so sorry you have lost your job. I am not up on the rules anymore,
I just wanted to send you my best wishes as I know how hard it is to fear for your job because of ill health I hope all goes well for you.
Times are hard for able bodied people today so it is hard when our health goes pear shaped to be able to give 100 per cent. Good luck and I am sure someone will help you out with their knowledge on here. If not try citizens advice for good advice.
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Date: 16.05.2014
From: Lucy
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Subject: Re: losing my job
Hey Sandy,
I've just been terminated because of Ill Health after 18 months off sick. I'm devastated so know how you must be feeling. I'm claiming ESA, they have had my medical questionnaire to assess me for which group for 10 months so don't expect any rapid answers from the DWP! If they sort you into the non working group, you will not be expected to attend courses or actively seek work and this will continue regardless of your savings and national insurance payments. ESA usually runs for 12 months and then you are assessed for income based, this is. to the case if you are in the non working group which you should be put into if you are unfit for work. You will have to keep supplying sick notes to the DWP. What was/is your job? Do you have a union representative for support? One of the arthritis support groups maybe NRAS does a good booklet about benefits, will have a look for you. Keep your chin up, you are not the only one this is happening to! I certainly did not expect to be terminated and retired at 35 :( here if you need to rant chick x
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Date: 16.05.2014
From: Lucy
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Subject: Re: losing my job
Here is link
http://www.nras.org.uk/publications/benefits-and-rheumatoid-arthritis
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Date: 16.05.2014
From: Sandy
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Subject: Re: losing my job
thanks for replying Emm & Lucy ..Im like you Lucy i feel devastated .. I knew it would happen at some point but I was hoping for a bit more time to see if the abatacept would start to have some effect.The lady from personel tried to be nice but said that she'd received reports from my gp & specialist and neither could give any suggestions as to what could be put in place to help me ... so as a company they didnt feel there was anything they could do ! I work in audiology .. so small hearing aids,computers & phones ... theres no union so no rep to ask for help ..I phoned job centre plus this afternoon & all they said was that I would have to send my termination letter in when I receive it and they couldnt tell me anything until they got that and I fill in more forms ... even though its only 3 months ago that I filled in all the forms when work stopped paying my sick pay ... I feel like Im going round in circles ..its so worrying ..the bills still need paying ...I could scream ! ..I HATE RA !!
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Date: 16.05.2014
From: Lucy
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Subject: Re: losing my job
sandy it does suck you are right! Speak to citizens advice for employment & benefit advice. I've been in my right state as you do know it's coming but hope something will fix us and make it right. I've had to read horrible reports stating I'm not only unable to do my job (labour ward midwife) but unlikely to do any other job in the future. My next few years will be more ops but nothing can undo the damage the infection did to my elbow so I'm now basically one handed which is hard enough when the one hand works, let alone when it's arthritis! Grr! Have you applied for PIP.? Again get citizens advice or online disabled help sites for your forms. You should be entitled to ESA as well as DLA/PIP why should help with the bills. Ilike I said though, no quick fix the DWP takes such a long time. Keep your can up, you are not alone. Do you have an other half or family members for support? As long as your termination letter states the reason as ill health then you should be ok with your ESA. Am here and happy to chat/moan etc chick x
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Date: 16.05.2014
From: Sandy
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Subject: Re: losing my job
Thanks Lucy,it does help a bit to know that you're not on your own with this - but it's soooo frustrating!The reports written on me said that even with medication my prognosis was poor and that my specialist 'suspected that even with medication that I would still have significant problems that would affect my ability to work' ... and my GP stated 'that it would be unsafe for me to continue working'... well .. thanks for that is all I can say !!! It would have been nice if they had consulted me before writing these!The problem is that to them you're just a case number,but this is our lives that are being ruined....I do get DLA so hopefully esa will continue,do I have to keep getting sick notes for ever or is it just for the first 12 months? this all seems to be a bit of a mine field and I don't know how you feel but I feel that I've got enough with the RA without feeling that I have to fight the system as well!!
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Date: 17.05.2014
From: Lucy
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Subject: Re: losing my job
Think we have to continue with the sick notes. I've just been fired but no paperwork to prove it so only a few steps ahead if you. The reports are awful to read but get copies and send them to Dwp as they support your ESA application. Do you get max DLA? If not re apply as ur circumstances have changed but don't do until you're ready for another fight. I agree it's such a struggle, no one makes it easy and it takes so much energy to get out of bed in the morning let alone fight work, docs, dwp, bills etc. I'm on Facebook or email if wanna private moan! Keep ur chin up! I'm attempting to go out today, only been out twice this week to hospital appts so will be worth the effort I hope! Take care x
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Date: 17.05.2014
From: Sandy
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Subject: Re: losing my job
hi Lucy ... hope you enjoy your day out ...I've just done the same myself today ..been to a carboot with a mate ...we had to stop for loads of sit downs & coffees but it was nice to escape for a while .... contact on facebook would be good coz you can private message on there ... anyway I always forget to read my emails ! ... sometimes it just helps to have a moan or a chat coz the way i see it nobody has a clue what its like being like us unless they have it themselves ...xx
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Date: 17.05.2014
From: Lucy
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Subject: Re: losing my job
True Sandy! Am knackered after a brief shop with coffee stops! Had a snooze so feeling better now! Come find me on Facebook Lucy Jepson from Wolverhampton x
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Date: 07.06.2014
From: Hayley
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Subject: Re: losing my job
I am new to this and have just been diagnosed with arthitis, i saw my boss and HR yesterday for an informal chat, albeit it was fairly positive, but i have only been off work for 6 weeks - so not sure i would expect that to last, my heart goes out to you ladies, because just having that meeting yesterday was scary and very very unsettling....xx
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Date: 07.06.2014
From: marlene
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Subject: Re: losing my job
Hi Hayley and welcome, what type of arthritis have you been diagnosed with.
Try not to stress it is not good for arthritis. Your HR have a duty to look after you but don't allow them to harass you. You will find there are laws that they have to look after you and make changes to suit you where appropriate. What kind of employment are you in. For the present time just concentrate on getting your arthritis under control. Take care and chin up XX
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