Equality, Human Right and Other B*ll*cks

I've been long-term ill. I am covered by DDA legislation. I've returned to work, and now I am being told by my employers that I am not fit to work full-time.

I went to discuss this with a Job Centre Plus Disability Advisor. She, bless her, did everything humanly possible to try and help me. I strongly recommend taking this step if your circumstances make it relevant.

I was trying to discover how I might cope with a significant and immediate drop in pay. Unfortunately, because I went back on a phased return I have lost the opportunity of claiming Working Tax Credits (8 weeks time limit on this). I might be able to claim some form of help with my mortgage, dependent on my eventual circumstances, but this would only cover (part?) of mortgage interest and my lender refuses to move me onto an interest only mortgage. (I am fighting this situation, with advice from Shelter and the Citizen's Advice Bureau).

I will earn too much if I go down to even two days part-time to make ESA an option.

If ESA were an option I'd need to attend a medical assessment. The medical assessors for ESA have recently been criticised for their poor handling of clients with mental health issues.

My employers, in their rush to 'look after me', feeling my health has deteriorated since I went back to full time working, have actually brought about a crisis thanks to the stress entailed in fearing I may soon find my home repossessed because I can't earn a full enough wage to meet my mortgage payments.

They should actually have acknowledged that I am one of the people best placed to judge my own state of health and should have listened when I originally told them I needed a longer phased return that they were offering. Too, I should have pressed that issue. My advice to others? Press that particular matter, but be aware of the 8 weeks limit on claiming Working Tax Credits if something does go wrong with your return to work. Hopefully with an adequate period of phased return you'll do okay.

I've also been advised to ring the Welfare Rights Benefit Hotline on 0800 074 9985 to discuss appealing their decision not to award me Disability Living Allowance. Apparently I was too... erm... well, apparently I made too small an issue of my real support needs when I first applied... Erm, guys...Low Self-Esteem --> Minimising your problems and considering yourself less worthy or deserving or entitled to help than others...Wake up and smell the bullsh*t

Good luck if you find yourself in a similar position, I hope it works out well for you. You have my empathic best wishes.

If anyone has experience of a similar position and wants to give any pointers, feel free to leave a comment.
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