starting

So I’m on the work programme and Employment & Support Allowance: ESA. Whilst on ESA I am expected to do work related activity but I don't have to apply for jobs.

What do I know about it? Negative reports in the press, a letter in December saying that I could/would be required to go on it and that it lasts 2 years. Also that they get paid by results and can check up on you after you have found work – that is called support I found at my first interview. I know someone my age in a similar position who would love to work but can’t so does voluntary work. She is on the work programme. She is being required o do a course that clashes with tha voluntary work – can you guess what the course is about? Yes, volunteering. But as the advisor at the jobcentre at the beginning of the year said, see if there is useful stuff, attend what you have to – so I have been attempting an open mind.

How much background to give? I have not properly worked for just over 10 years, before that I was unable to work full time due to health problems – I was self employed and sometimes, at the beginning, supported by my partner from the age of about 28 when I became ill. So not the best history! But I have 2 HNDs in design, a BA Hons in Fine Art [I nearly gave that up due to my health], a PGCE in post Compulsory Education and an MA in an obscure area of fine art – if I told you its title any anonymity would go out the window!! I gave up lecturing in HE & FE, working as an artist in schools and art residencies and making a lot of craft and art work

 

I experience pain in many parts of my body from head to toe, in varying amounts. I don’t look sick – just weird as I am photosensitive. Exercise can make me worse. But I am currently supported by a range of health care professionals and spending my own money on private medicine [via a GP]. My memory is not brilliant and there seem to be a few cognitive issues.

I saw an advisor whose function is to help those with disabilities who think they can get back to work in 6 months. After about 5 minutes she said she couldn’t see me following that route. So the Work Programme.

My first appointment started with a hint of difficulty as my knees were hurting and we went upstairs. In a small room we discussed a few things about my health from two sets of notes from 2 jobcentre interviews. The first being from 2012. We didn’t really discuss my health issues and problems just some points that were not understood from the forms. Then in a room where there were other people we went through the rest of the paperwork. I ended up having to briefly touch on my mental health issues. I wasn’t entirely happy.

Before this appointment I had had a phone call from the provider Job Fit and given my short term and long term goals. I wasn’t happy with how they had been translated. The short term was ok I was “concentrating mainly [their] addition] on my health”. Long term was not “teaching art & design” that was corrected to” art, design, education or an academic route via Phd”.

I left having signed things and not other things. I took the data protection stuff home with me. But realised I had signed: I will attend my work programme for the hours agreed. I also understand that I will complete periods of work placement during my time on the programme Without having established what this meant. A few days later I received a letter with appointments up until December – having first arranged an induction morning for 2 weeks later. There were telephone availability dates and physical visit appointments: 2 methods of contact per month. The attendance times were for 9.30, I phoned to say that this was difficult for me, that I would do the induction appointment at 9.30 but what could be changed about the others. It seems that it will be fine to go in at 10.30. The first phone appointment is for a day when I have hospital appointments – I did say this at the first appointment.

So all in all I was a bit confused or perhaps ignorant of what was expected of me and what I would do at the appointments that is what were the phone calls about and what would I do when I visited the centre. Yes I ought to have asked more questions, but I do get tired and inarticulate and forgetful. I also had not established where the lift was.