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Is there any support available for aspies on JSA?

Bloodheart

I've been unemployed for three years, I told the job centre last August that I have asperger's and regretted it as the adviser decided this meant I was 'mentally incapable' of working so decided I wasn't following my job seekers agreement and so forced me off JSA and onto ESA. I was denied ESA, as it seems there's no criteria for ASD in the assessment nor do they consider how ASD can effect us doing certain jobs or in different ways, so I'm back on JSA now. 

I've had a disability adviser at the job centre, as of Janurary, but he is no help what-so-ever - he doesn't seem to understand what asperger's is or how it effects anything, he's not really discussed with me what I can/cannot do, and so all he does is perform a job search as the normal advisers do...which is no good! 

I used to work as an employability trainer, so I know how to write CV's, but things have changed in the jobs market and with asperger's it's all the more difficult to find work. I need help in figuring out what jobs I could do, career advice or advice on what I can do until I'm back in work, general job seeking advice (e.g. what to do when I have no references, how to deal with answering phone calls from employers, how to apply for certain types of jobs, etc.), help getting into work placements or voluntary jobs, and unbiased information about benefits. 

I've had Shaw Trust suggested to me but they only help people on ESA so not an option for me, and I can't ask at the job centre given their attitude with me at the moment. Surely there has to be some other support somewhere for people who are disabled but still on JSA - any suggestions? 

  • hello may i suggest a site from that u should get the info links that you might need http://www.autism.org.uk/living-with-autism/benefits-community-care/care-and-benefits-for-adults-with-an-asd.aspx     copy n paste it mate [took me ageas lol]

     all the best me :-)

  • I'm currently back on ESA - I was denied again, it's currently in appeal. 

    I now have a formal diagnosis of Autism. 

    While I was on JSA I was put onto the Work Program - this was the worst hell so-far. The staff at Ingeus were very rude and on multiple occasions openly mocked clients as soon as they walked out the door, in front of other clients.

    On Work Program I had to apply for an additional 10 jobs a week, on top of what is expected by the job centre - as with the job centre there was no regard for the fact there aren't enough jobs full-stop least of all for disabled job seekers, and no allowences for the restrictions your disability may put on you when job seeking. They refused to give me any flexibility in regards to appointment, and even scolded me for taking time to get up the stairs (I have mild mobility problems).

    My advisor would sit right up close to me INSISTING that I maintain eye contact with him becuase not doing so was rude, one day this along with general upset of being there, sensory issues being assaulted and being forced to apply for jobs I couldn't do...triggered a meltdown. At which point my advisor accused me of haivng a "bad attitude" (for the record my meltdowns are of the crying veriety - autistic or not it's not a very helpful thing to say when someone is visibly very upset), saying that I had no reason not to get a job like anyone else, he then told me if I didn't improve my attitude and start looking him in the eye that he'd kick me off Work Program and thus my benefits would stop. 

    I couldn't take it any more, I had to get out of there - the New Deal work placement a few years ago where I was placed in a call centre (despite being unable to use a telephone) resulted in my first meltdown in years causing serious regression...I didn't want to risk that again!

    Thus I reapplied for ESA, I may be denied again...but in the mean time the space away from Work Program and Job Centre has done me the world of good!  

  • What you describe, above, Bloodheart, is exactly the kind of thing that forced me into applying for ESA too!

    (If you do get refused ESA again, appeal the decision!

    It does mean some more worry and stress waiting for the appeal hearing, and so on, but that's nowhere near as bad the hell they put you through at the JobCenter, and the vast majority of people that appeal win!

    Also, you won't have to go back onto JSA while you're waiting for the appeal, and if you win the increase in money is back dated to however many weeks the 'assessment period' is after you put the application in.)

    EDIT: Just reread your post - good luck with the appeal!

  • There is very little to zero help for disabled people who want to work, full stop.

    ESA is better than JSA in that, once you're on it, you don't have the same pressures put on you to find work - so you can do so when, and at the pace, you are able to.

    However, actually getting on to ESA can be difficult, particularly if you don't have a formal diagnosis, or your disability is considered 'mild'.

    JSA, on the other hand, is easy to get, but hellish for anyone on the Autistic spectrum.

    And, either way, there really doesn't seem to be any real support in actually finding a job beyond beyond various levels of condescension, 'help writing a CV', and so on.

  • Hello Bloodheart - just wondering how things going as I now seem to be in a similar position. I too have telephobia with my Aspies - which it seems no-one is prepared to understand (or believe to be a genuine issue), & had my first JSA interview last week which was an unmittigated disaster. Have worked full time for 35 years & had to resign my last job of 15 years due to managerial bullying & harassment after declaring my more recent Aspies diagnosis which had become more apparent with the depression, & as a result was exacerbated by my treatment in the workplace. (I never had any complaints about the quality of my work - it was more a personal vendetta by management).

     Rather than working with me they chose to use the information as a tool to beat me with, making sure I was put in distressing positions whilst claiming they were supporting me!

    My ESA allowance expired at the end of June & I waited 3 months to see a disability advisor at the Jobcentre. He told me to apply for JSA & ask to be referred back to him, whilst making enquiries to Finchale College to get me some paper qualifications to accompany my work experience. In the meantime my JSA was processed & I was referred to the usual JSA advisor, who clearly has no listening skills whatsoever & talked over me & my partner continually, dissing any info the disability advisor had recommended & giving the impression my Aspies limitations were something I had a choice over, rather than being an actual disability. I left feeling I will be shoved into the next available job, however unsuitable (i.e. temp work) & the ramifications this uncertainty causes on my health (need stability) & that my improvement had regressed 6 months. Have been told I need to sign on tomorrow & to provide 3 diary entries already as to what I've been doing to support my job search - bearing in mind I feel I need to retrain & get the necessary paper qualifications first (& the disability advisor is currently on leave). I just know if I'm forced into the first job to accept me however unsuitable it will only serve to put me back into severe depression & the start of a cycle I would rather break.

     

  • Hi, I can't really answer the first post as Im not diagnosed or had recent dealing with the benifits agency however.............

    I've always had trouble holding a job down, and I'm terrified of ending up down the job centre. When I was younger I couldnt really cope with the job centre at all. Im very confused because if I get a diagnosis I'll probably be in limbo for the rest of my days. In a weird way ignorance is bliss, Im finding life much more difficult as I get older in regards to work. I work as a technician in a college part time, but it's not very fullfulling, I feel like my brains rotting, but far too much contact with people/phone calls.

    I really feel for you. Job Centre is my definition of hell.

  • In general, there's no support for disabled people on JSA. Remploy are doing nothing to help me and I do want to work.

    I had to beg my adviser for help and he said there's very little.

  • Update:

    Still on JSA, still getting no support.

    I asked my advisor for support and I was sent to Remploy - I was there 13 weeks and all they did was sit me in front of a computer to job search, they were no help what-so-ever. Is there really no help for me? Can no one help??

    I NEED A JOB!  

  • Hi Bloodheart, whilst we see if any other users are able to help you might also want to contact our Welfare Rights Service.

    I know you've mentioned how difficult it is for you to use the telephone, so you might want to contact them by email to discuss the situation you're in and whether they have any more advice for you than the CAB or job centre were able to offer.

    The email is -

    welfarerights@nas.org.uk

    I hope this helps with the benefit situation. If you want to let us know the rough area you're living in then people may be aware of other services that can help or you can try searching our directory for services close to you if you haven't already.

  • Anyone able to clarify?

  • So I should be on ESA??

    NO ONE has ever explained to me what ESA is, what happens once on it, or if I should be on it at all - not CAB nor the job centre (job centre just gave me a number and told me to call...even after I informed them I struggle with a phone they told me that this wasn't their problem). I wasn't sure as I always thought ESA was for people who are unable to work, where as I am capable of working and thought going onto ESA would mean less chance of support or being able to get back into work. 

    I can't appeal against ESA now...or at least I don't think I can as it was back in October I think it was denied, I think you have to wait a while before applying again too. Not sure, this is another example of where I need support as I was just totally unable to find the information I needed about whether or not I should have been on ESA...and got no idea at all about DLA. 

  • I agree with Laurel. JSA is not fit for people on the spectrum. You should also apply, if you have not done so already, for Disability Living Allowance. You can still receive this benefit if you are in work, and it will offer you some financial security.

    I also used to be on JSA, but I was informed that it was simply not the right benefit for me to be on, as I am incapable of  work at the moment, due to my disability. I am now receiving ESA-previously known as Incapacity Benefit-and DLA mobility component

  • I would suggest - based on my own experience of dealing with the benefits sysytem - that you get yourself a Welfare Benefits Advisor to act as your advocate and then appeal the ESA decision. People who go to appeal win in 40% of the cases but this rises to 70% when they have an advisor with them! The jobcentre or your nearest CAB should be able to give you the name of your local WBA.

    Also you could try out the Benefits and Work website which has lots of info to help people get the benefits they are entitled too. You have a right to state support and you should keep fighting til you receive it.

    Good luck