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Terminally unemployable folks - how do you survive?

Abbie

As in, literally, how do you get by? I just lost yet another job for the crime of being useless little me, and I'm sick to death of trying. I give up. There's no point in trying to get employment - not even just unpaid work at that! What can I say to the jobcentre to get them to register me as permanently unemployable due to disability/illness? And then after that, quite literally how do I survive in this world without an NT level income? Or can I just expect that one day my savings and/or benefits will be taken away and I'll just quietly starve while people mourn the potential I was always alleged to have?

  • I do online gig/freelance work that doesn't involve interacting with anyone beyond emails or platform messages. I've been doing that since I left education 11 years ago. Seems much easier than interacting with the benefits system.

  • I know exactly how you feel.

    I lasted nine months in my latest job, I thought I was doing a good job, I was punctual, never took a sick day and got along with my online customers, by phone, email, internet, post.  But I never made friends with my colleagues in the actual office.  So when my temporary contract came to an end, I was the only team member whose contract was not extended.

    The job centre insists that I am fit, healthy and perfectly employable.  Employers disagree.

  • If you feel that you are unemployable, your only option will be to request a Work Capability Assessment and obtain sick notes from your GP, unless you're willing to be referred to the DWP Work & Health Programme. If you go down the WCA route, you will be required to have a medical assessment. A report will then be sent to a DWP Decision Maker, who will decide your fate. Even if your GP considers you unfit for work, it's the Decision Maker who calls the shots. If they decide you are capable of working, your only option then is to request a Mandatory Reconsideration, and if that fails to then Appeal.