This is going to be a rant ... so switch off now if you dont want to know! During the past couple of years, as most of you know, Ive been signed off work due to work related stress, depression & bullying. Whilst Ive come a long way since then and have a positive and go forward attitude for my life and work. I am building an established job for myself and all seems rosy. However, coming off my sickness benefits [ESA to those who know], becoming self employed & trying to cope again for myself .. on my own isnt always so rosy. During the time I was on ESA there were certain elements (financial) that I was helped with. I was totally thankful for this help, though always felt bad at taking it. In actual fact, I didnt sign up for any help, which is everyones right to have, for well over 6 months after I should have. Yes, yes, human pride and feeling like I had to use all my savings before asking for help were what I felt I had to do before asking for help. I know I was due that help, but for whatever reasons - I didnt ask! Now Im at the better end of things, I am trying my hardest to run my own business and move forward. I became officially self employed and came off the ESA. This meant that I would literally only have the £s I brought in, but was told that as I was working 16 hours a week, I qualified for Tax Credits to help me. Im still at a disablement to my work with anxiety & panic attacks I have with the phone, but I mostly can manage around that. So, I put together the pages and pages of information, photocopies of details, bank statements ... almost feel they know more about me better than I do myself!! This was back in late May/early June. Today I receive a response from them to say that because the remuneration (paid) hours I do is below the amount they require, I do not qualify for any help! Because my work is self employed and I cant give myself a salary at this stage, I am penalised for trying to work for myself. Is it any wonder that folk stay on benefits and dont get up and out to try and help themselves? I cant guarentee money coming in, though over the year, it maybe that it averages out? While I was off sick and on the benefits I was entitled to, I was better off each week by another 150% of what Im bringing in right now! This sort of thing cant just be happening to me? I never wanted to enter the world of the Job Centre, even if it was due to illness. It is a world I had no idea and no help with sorting out - it was all new to me. As the time went on and they passed me over to a working-group, I knew more about what I was doing with my plan of work than they could help me with. I have been self employed before and could tell them a few things. Im an educated person, but not intelligent, but it seems to me that there is something quite seriously wrong with our systems. At this moment in time, it would be better for me to go backward to continue to be under the working-group, to get all the financial benefits I was getting before and sit on my backside and do nothing about it. I WANT to move forward and I am running my own business, albeit not raking the money in. WHY cant they help me with that rather than sending someone backwards into the system?? I wont let them do it! Im on my feet and I will run with it. I am very lucky and have a good life. I have parents who have been there for me throughout these times and would never let me suffer. Some folk dont have anyone or anything! I am truly blessed and thankful. Bless you if you got to the end of reading this - youre a true friend! X
Posted on: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 11:37:01 +0000