Universal Credit

I am currently out of work, claiming universal credit. I found the whole process overwhelming but my work coach is great, she has worked in a previous post working with autistic people, she also has a step daughter who’s autistic so she kind of understands me. I just let them know from day one that I wasn’t looking for work (not at that point and still not now) and I told them that I refuse to take just any old job just to please them. The work coach brought the manager of the job centre over to speak to me and reassure me that they weren’t going to make me look for work so long as I had a sick note and that when I was ready, they would help me and support me to get the kind of work suitable for me. I was freaking out a bit to be honest, and I more or less said that I’d rather crawl on my belly like a sewer rat and eat food off the floor like a wild dog than look for a job. It was stressful but they were super helpful and nice, I forgot my Id (which they make a massive deal over so try not to forget that! Lol, they get all official n s**t about that) I was sitting in the wrong place so I missed my slot, they told me to go and sit in the yellow area so I was looking for yellow walls and couldn’t find them, I was freaking out at this, it turns out it was just a little sign on the wall saying yellow area, it was all a bit of a nightmare but they really were all very nice. They are also under a government campaign, the manager told me, to help disabled/autistic people into work etc and they even have a special team. When I’m ready to work, they can’t really help me very much as I’m self employed, but they seem to be able to provide at least some support and most of all, I had the managers word that they wouldn’t try to make me look for work and they haven’t. I’ve even missed an appointment and they didn’t sanction me or anything, they were really understanding and supportive and because I’ve told them it’s not doing me any good anymore, going in every week, I only go in every few weeks now.

You’ll be fine. Just let them know straight away that your autistic and you find this kind of thing highly stressful so please be patient, and they will be. There are some lovely people working there and if you’re honest with them, they really do what they can to help. My work coach arranged for the support worker I’m getting through social services, she didn’t have to do that and didn’t know how to do it to be honest, the manager suggested it to her and helped her out with it, she didn’t even know such support existed but she knew I needed help and she had told me she would do what she can and she really has. They’ve looked after me but I laid my cards out on the table from day one so there was no misunderstanding. Remember, this is your health and well being at stake, don’t let them bully you, be honest and up front with them but try to know your rights etc so they don’t take advantage of our honest natures. Sometimes they do to meet targets etc which I understand, I don’t hold it against them, you need to simply be clear about what you want and need and be certain you’ll get it.

I am currently out of work, claiming universal credit. I found the whole process overwhelming but my work coach is great, she has worked in a previous post working with autistic people, she also has a step daughter who’s autistic so she kind of understands me. I just let them know from day one that I wasn’t looking for work (not at that point and still not now) and I told them that I refuse to take just any old job just to please them. The work coach brought the manager of the job centre over to speak to me and reassure me that they weren’t going to make me look for work so long as I had a sick note and that when I was ready, they would help me and support me to get the kind of work suitable for me. I was freaking out a bit to be honest, and I more or less said that I’d rather crawl on my belly like a sewer rat and eat food off the floor like a wild dog than look for a job. It was stressful but they were super helpful and nice, I forgot my Id (which they make a massive deal over so try not to forget that! Lol, they get all official n s**t about that) I was sitting in the wrong place so I missed my slot, they told me to go and sit in the yellow area so I was looking for yellow walls and couldn’t find them, I was freaking out at this, it turns out it was just a little sign on the wall saying yellow area, it was all a bit of a nightmare but they really were all very nice. They are also under a government campaign, the manager told me, to help disabled/autistic people into work etc and they even have a special team. When I’m ready to work, they can’t really help me very much as I’m self employed, but they seem to be able to provide at least some support and most of all, I had the managers word that they wouldn’t try to make me look for work and they haven’t. I’ve even missed an appointment and they didn’t sanction me or anything, they were really understanding and supportive and because I’ve told them it’s not doing me any good anymore, going in every week, I only go in every few weeks now.

You’ll be fine. Just let them know straight away that your autistic and you find this kind of thing highly stressful so please be patient, and they will be. There are some lovely people working there and if you’re honest with them, they really do what they can to help. My work coach arranged for the support worker I’m getting through social services, she didn’t have to do that and didn’t know how to do it to be honest, the manager suggested it to her and helped her out with it, she didn’t even know such support existed but she knew I needed help and she had told me she would do what she can and she really has. They’ve looked after me but I laid my cards out on the table from day one so there was no misunderstanding. Remember, this is your health and well being at stake, don’t let them bully you, be honest and up front with them but try to know your rights etc so they don’t take advantage of our honest natures. Sometimes they do to meet targets etc which I understand, I don’t hold it against them, you need to simply be clear about what you want and need and be certain you’ll get it.