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Informing DWP that I'm volunteering - HELP!

Kasha

I'm Autistic with ADHD, I also suffer depression and anxiety.

I'm long-term unemployed (nine years) and I'm on ESA-WRAG. I'm beyond desperate to get back into work as I just can't manage financially the way things are, work is also a benefit to my overall health. 

My ability to work is limited by problems getting through interviews due to autism, I've also no way of explaining my unemployment without disclosure and to an employer a long-term unemployed disabled person just isn't appealing! To be honest I don't know what work I can do or if I can work any more. 

I was forced into a work placement in a call centre a few years ago, completely unsuitable placement for an Autistic person, this resulted in a massive meltdown so severe it caused severe regression in autism symptoms. It was so bad it caused serious anxiety attacks over just being in the same room as a phone. This event has done more to prevent my getting back into work than anything else.

So...

I need to volunteer get recent work experience and references, also to find out if I can cope in work. I've not been able to get volunteer work in the past as I've had no references, not even personal references, but I found a way around that and now I have managed to get myself volunteer work.

I'm volunteering for two places currently (three hours each, one one-to-one training and one may involve using a telephone), I've three other charities interested in my volunteering for them.

I'm scared of telling anyone because I'm scared they'll punish me for it - I know I'm allowed to do volunteer work on ESA but I also know that the job center and DWP will make me pay for it somehow. 

I'm scared they'll see the type of volunteer work I'm doing - that I'm trying to have more social interaction and trying to get over my phone phobia - and decide I shouldn't be on ESA any more. 

I've not been invited to the job center for a while so I'm scared of making contact in case it triggers them making me go in every week (which I can't afford), or in case they decide to put me on some useless course and make me stop my volunteering. I can't call DWP as then they'll decide I can use a phone so accuse me of lying or if I can't use a phone when they want they'll use it to sanction me. 

  • Should I wait until they next call me to the job center to tell them I volunteer?
  • Would I be punished for not telling them sooner? 

I'm just absolutely TERRIFIED of what they're going to do if I tell them I'm volunteering...but I'm equally as scared of what they could do if I don't tell them! 

Parents

  • I've been or am in a similar situation. I did find work as a support worker, on a 0 hours contract for a charity that supports learning disabled adults, including those with Aspergers/Autism (I know they might not be learning disabilities). This was under ESA permitted work rules. I started work June last year, leaving in January after an altercation with my line manager back in October. I did in part clear my name with her manager, tho I feel I cannot work with a bully  (I personally don't feel she should be working with vulnerable adults). I did inform the DWP about the workso as not to break any rules, tho in Narch was called to an interview, this was re my earnings (that fell within permitted work rules).Two weeks ago I had a dreaded ESA50,finished filling it out with my ESA WRAG advisor today and posted it, even tho I did get into a panic and threaten self harm/suicide if I'm forced onto JSA. Last medical in 2012, won appeal in 2015, DWP lost my paperwork. Why can't the DWP leave me alone I'm complying with WRAG, even if I'm the type who likes to break stupid rules. I wasn't diagnosed with Aspergers until November last year, aged 45. Tho I did spend 10 years working on the railway from leaving school' til I was made redundant , and my then husband became severely disabled by MS and I became his carer. THo I think sometimes my not always obeying rules got me in trouble on the railway. I know one of the jobs was in a busy call centre as I think I wanted to prove I could do it. Tho my reason for joining the railway was to become a train driver. I know maybe I didn't word my "Corporate Response" as it was called correctly all the time, but I don;t see it matters as long as you're polite.
    Forwarding to now I'd like to test out museum work , and I've got a voluntary job in a museum, tho not started as yet. I sometimes visit a preserved railway and have also helped with restoration of a steam locomotive there. A number of years ago I got into collecting for the Poppy Appeal as my best friend /fella was ex army, tho that's about 8 hours a week over 2 weeks.
    I can have problems with verbal communication, I'm physically able to use a phone as in dialling a number, tho I think if I get anxious I can be hard to understand, and I get frustrated at having to repeat things, and that can make communication worse. I'm OK with friends or my fella and others I know, tho I do wonder at family gatherings sometimes to some I have to repeat myself, I don't know if it's me or is it their hearing going . and I'm thinking  "OH FFS get a hearing aid". I hate phoning strangers just incase they don't understand. Maybe I should have informed Job centre of ASD diagnosis earlier, tho I'm on same money, I haven't tried for PIP, so for me it's about being allowed to undertake voluntary activity to try and find work, tho I gather ESA they've got wind of my work with M3n 6r@p, so as I did permitted work they probably think I can go onto ESA. Tho my ESA WRAG advisor, she isn't employed by the job centre, but her organisation provides the Work Programme,  I don't know if the advisors are meant to undertake the jobcentre's bidding , tho I don't think she does. Just in 2012 when I last filled out an ESA 50(by myself), I really didn't think that I had so many physical issues, but she's found problems I wouldn't have thought I had , certainally pre ASD diagnosis!!!                       

Reply

  • I've been or am in a similar situation. I did find work as a support worker, on a 0 hours contract for a charity that supports learning disabled adults, including those with Aspergers/Autism (I know they might not be learning disabilities). This was under ESA permitted work rules. I started work June last year, leaving in January after an altercation with my line manager back in October. I did in part clear my name with her manager, tho I feel I cannot work with a bully  (I personally don't feel she should be working with vulnerable adults). I did inform the DWP about the workso as not to break any rules, tho in Narch was called to an interview, this was re my earnings (that fell within permitted work rules).Two weeks ago I had a dreaded ESA50,finished filling it out with my ESA WRAG advisor today and posted it, even tho I did get into a panic and threaten self harm/suicide if I'm forced onto JSA. Last medical in 2012, won appeal in 2015, DWP lost my paperwork. Why can't the DWP leave me alone I'm complying with WRAG, even if I'm the type who likes to break stupid rules. I wasn't diagnosed with Aspergers until November last year, aged 45. Tho I did spend 10 years working on the railway from leaving school' til I was made redundant , and my then husband became severely disabled by MS and I became his carer. THo I think sometimes my not always obeying rules got me in trouble on the railway. I know one of the jobs was in a busy call centre as I think I wanted to prove I could do it. Tho my reason for joining the railway was to become a train driver. I know maybe I didn't word my "Corporate Response" as it was called correctly all the time, but I don;t see it matters as long as you're polite.
    Forwarding to now I'd like to test out museum work , and I've got a voluntary job in a museum, tho not started as yet. I sometimes visit a preserved railway and have also helped with restoration of a steam locomotive there. A number of years ago I got into collecting for the Poppy Appeal as my best friend /fella was ex army, tho that's about 8 hours a week over 2 weeks.
    I can have problems with verbal communication, I'm physically able to use a phone as in dialling a number, tho I think if I get anxious I can be hard to understand, and I get frustrated at having to repeat things, and that can make communication worse. I'm OK with friends or my fella and others I know, tho I do wonder at family gatherings sometimes to some I have to repeat myself, I don't know if it's me or is it their hearing going . and I'm thinking  "OH FFS get a hearing aid". I hate phoning strangers just incase they don't understand. Maybe I should have informed Job centre of ASD diagnosis earlier, tho I'm on same money, I haven't tried for PIP, so for me it's about being allowed to undertake voluntary activity to try and find work, tho I gather ESA they've got wind of my work with M3n 6r@p, so as I did permitted work they probably think I can go onto ESA. Tho my ESA WRAG advisor, she isn't employed by the job centre, but her organisation provides the Work Programme,  I don't know if the advisors are meant to undertake the jobcentre's bidding , tho I don't think she does. Just in 2012 when I last filled out an ESA 50(by myself), I really didn't think that I had so many physical issues, but she's found problems I wouldn't have thought I had , certainally pre ASD diagnosis!!!                       

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