Mental illness

The job centre have now referred me to the government RESTART scheme, run by a private company called Maximus.

Yesterday I had my induction, phone appointment.  As part of this induction they asked about my health and disabilities and the women on the line often repeated what I said, to double check the accuracy.  I mentioned autism, she repeated, ' you suffer from the mental illness autism.'

Parents
  • Robert, contact the job centre and speak to the work coach who referred you to Maximus. Tell them that before you start this scheme, you need the input of a DEA (Disability Employment Advisor) to identify any specialised support or adjustments that need to be in place for you before you start. You are expected to undertake any training provided by the job centre (or the third parties it sub-contacts to provide training) without the required support and adjustments first being agreed and actioned. Not only is this a core principle of the Equality Act, it also forms part of the DWP's national strategy for supporting clients with disabilities.

  • I have  already been forced to accept extra commitments in order to get paid universal credit.

    These are:

    •  I have been made aware that failure to participate in my appointment and engage with Maximus could result in my benefit being affected.
    • i will attend all of my restart appointments and partake in the activities set by my employment advisor at Maximus. I will attend at the times that are prescribed to me from maximus.

    I will keep people here informed of my progress.

Reply
  • I have  already been forced to accept extra commitments in order to get paid universal credit.

    These are:

    •  I have been made aware that failure to participate in my appointment and engage with Maximus could result in my benefit being affected.
    • i will attend all of my restart appointments and partake in the activities set by my employment advisor at Maximus. I will attend at the times that are prescribed to me from maximus.

    I will keep people here informed of my progress.

Children
  • Thank you for advice, I should probably add it to 'to do list' for next week's days off.

    Though my stuborness wants to prove them wrong, that I can be independent, and being shy, does not help, when you need to ask for help. So i need to make a plan, how to approach it, I've been in Job Centre once 13 years ago, at the very begining, but I remember where it is :P

  • You're handling things very well, Mariusz, so well done for that.

    But, have you ever considered contacting the DEA in your job centre and telling them how the constant work changes and uncertainty in hours are affecting your health? Autists react pretty badly to these kind of changes and that level of uncertainty. Another option would be to ask your work coach for a WCA (work-based capability assessment) so that they can formalise your individual support needs.

    You might also consider applying for PIP (Personal Independence Payments) as a source of financial support to overcome your daily living challenges. 

  • I live alone renting studio flat because nobody wants me for a flatmate

    Cry

  • I forgot to say, and it's relevant, I had contract for 25h with that company

  • I am continiously employed in low paid jobs on few hour contract and working maksimum possible 45h weekly on average, I live alone renting studio flat because nobody wants me for a flatmate. I managed until covid started and previous company turned it into a problem by sending me home, even though I told them I won't be able to pay rent if it continuous. it went on for 3 months 15h weekly emptying my savings. So, my friend T suggested to go to UC, since then they kept on adding a little monthly, about 10% of what I get paid. But their system is flawed because I do not work 2 jobs and they look at it like that. for the moment lost only one payment from them.

  • Mariusz, have you informed them of your recent diagnosis and how this impacts your job seeking?

  • Robert, have you made them aware of your additional support needs? 

  • I found out recently that UC has zero empathy as well.

    Changing a job caused my pay day to move, as a result I had 2 pays in 1 month, and I did not get extra money from UC this month.

    And they keep sending me warning/reminders all the time about keeping up to date with my commitments