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Rank: Advanced Member
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I had to go for a second assessment today, after qualifying for the Employment and Support Allowance this was to find what I can do and not what I can't manage. I was asked what I thought might help my return to work and what my goals are and this is sent on to my Personal Adviser at Job Centre Plus to help in finding me suitable employment. It was nothing to be worried about, I thought it might be of interest if others were going down this route. By the way I am having the arthroscopic surgery next Tuesday so I'm hoping this will be a small part of my return to work. Glenys.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
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Glad it wasn't scary and intimidating, Glenys. Everything crossed for the surgery next week.
Lots of love
Jeanxxxxx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,689 Location: Durham
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Pleased it wasn`t too bad Glenys - and hope all goes well on Tuesday for you. Take care, Kathleen x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
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Thats good, and all best for surgery next week. lv melly cuddly cats make my world seem so much more fun
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Thanks for the update Glenys. I take it you have been placed in the middle group, not the support group, is that right? Do you have to attend more interviews, until you find suitable employment? Carol
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Joined: 12/4/2009
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Hi Carol,yes,I've been assessed as having a limited capability to work and I've had the medical and then the work related assessment yesterday. I have to attend several times at the job centre, I've been twice already. At the moment my employers are still keeping my job open for me and although I would love to get back there I am being realistic and looking at all options. Through the job centre I have been appointed a Personal Adviser ( oooo I've never had one of those before ) she will work with me on finding suitable employment if I can't get back to my job. I'm going to make good use of the opportunity, they offer workshop places and I have asked for two. One is managing pain and the other is managing your disability at work. I'm trying to be positive. Thanks for all your good wishes for my surgery nest week. Glenys. x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 331 Location: South London
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Hi Glenys
Iam interested as i am probably going to be moved to ESA from incapacity. How often do you have to do the interviews. Do you have to go every two weeks to the job centre and does the ESA only last 6 months. Did you find the advisor helpful or did you find yourself being pushed into anything? Is it different as you have a job or are do they treat you as if you dont have a job.
Regards
mari
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Hello Mari, how are you keeping these days. When I qualified for the ESA it was given me until December so that is 6 months from going on to the higher rate from being on the assessment rate, I don't know if I have to be reassessed then, the info says that they must be informed of any changes in my circumstances. I havn't been pushed into anything infact we were told in the begining ,when I was part of a group being introduced to the scheme, that there would be no point in placing anyone in a job that dosen't suit. There hasn't been any specific timeing of the interviews, I have worked it out with my personal adviser so that I've seen her when something has changed such as I will see her next after my medical for my employers. She has been very kind and is very informative. I think it has made a difference that I still have a job so far. we haven't worked on my CV yet but we have talked about what sort of job I would like to do if I can't return to my present job. Glenys.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/7/2010 Posts: 441 Location: Bristol
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Hi Glenys,
I'm so pleased everything is working out so well with the ESA process and your experiences with the Job Centre.
Good luck for Tuesday!!
x x
Joanna
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 331 Location: South London
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Hi Glenys
Thats interesting. I thought being in the limited capability group automatically met fornightly sign on, but it could be different if you are working anyway. I think on ESA it has no time limited as long as you fit the criteria Can you in that group do voluntary work, part time studies etc to help find work? ~What type of work do you do or would lke to do?
I am fine thanks I forgot to ask you, how did the surgery go?
Mari
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Hello Mari, the surgery went well and I'm recovering well thanks. Yes you can do something called permitted work you have to fill in more forms for this and you can do training and courses. I've asked to do two through the , helping you into work, scheme, Self management of long-term conditions and managing pain, both of these could be of benifit to me. I'm a cook Mari and I work in school meals as Chief cook and bottle washer, Catering Supervisor that is. As you imagine it is very heavy work. I've been in catering for about thirty years. I might manage catering in a nursing home or a small establishment. I'm willing to retrain to do something very different, something like a traffic warden. I don't really know yet I'm finding it hard to let go of a job I love. Some days I think I could still do it and other days I know it will not be possible. Glenys.
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Joined: 12/3/2009
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Glad to hear your ESA process is going well Glenys. Being in the limited capability group and looking for work, do they expect people to find full time employment or any hours that suit them? I'm thinking some people with RA might manage a full 35-40 hour week but others only a few hours. Thanks. Carol
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
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Glad your operation went well.
The esa process confuses me a bit. I will prob be going down that route in next couple months
Rose
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Hello Carol, you will be given help to find a job that suits you and the hours that are best for you and that means including your own capability. Thanks Rose. It all seems very confusing, it does help if you speek with someone has been through it although we each have our own interpretation on things.Glenys.
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 331 Location: South London
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Hi Glenys
Thanks for the information. I was quite worried about the ESA as my main fear of being seen by a 20 year old with no concept of RA and being forced to do something I dont want to do. In reality I would like help to get working though teh other thing is dealing within work as I am quite proud and prefer to keep my personal life underwraps in other words I would hate to cry off and say I couldnt do something because of my RA.
do they offer training to change jobs or is it up to you to find it and pay for it any grants etc. Do they come up and push ideas at you or is more a working with you.
I think its hard to move out of an area that you find comfortable and have buillt up relationships - is it the school, or the team environment you are working in. Maybe that would help you make a decision. Iam in the same dilemma myself and am getting dizzy going in circles. I imagine catering supervisor you would have a lot of transferable skills in managing deadlines, resources and co-ordianting. Its good that you managd to keep working as I have a massive blackhole in my cv.
Take care
Mari
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Joined: 12/3/2009
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Thanks Glenys. I wonder what they'd say if you told them you need a job thats flexible enough to allow you to work 1-2 hours when you could, but you couldn't say in advance when that might be, then need 2-3 days off to recover from the exertion ..................... of getting up and ready, driving to work, doing the job, driving home and coping with usual home duties? Carol
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Oh, I'd go for one of those, Carol!
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Joined: 12/4/2009
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Hello Mari, I don't think I would be offered funding for retraining it's not something that has come up. I hope for myself that I would be given retraining from my employers if I went down the redeployment road. It's made me think more about my situation after reading your reply and I'm listing some questions ready for my next visit which is 15th July. the lady that I see is very sympathetic but wouldn't understand about what it's like having RA.I will ask her to help me look for alterative employment because I need to start looking now so as not to waste the opportunity of the help on offer. I have not worked now for almost a year so that wouldn't look good on my CV. Carol you are right about working being so exhausting and having to take time off. Because I have been off work for so long now I was forgetting that being in work leaves nothing left for a social life or a decent home life and who would want to employ someone who can't be reliable. I just hope there is something that I can do perhaps working 15 or 16 hours a week. I do miss the company but I need to earn about 100 pounds a week to help pay the bills or else sell up and move because my husband has a low wage. You have both given me food for thought. Glenys.
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
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This is no easy decision for you, Glenys - but you always seem such a sensible lass, so I am sure you will make the best possible decision.
Take care
Love Jeanxxxx
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Thanks Jean, I'm off on holiday tomorrow to Exmore National Park. I will talk my friends ears off and come back with more of an idea. x
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