The Post I Actually Came Here To Make
Following November's medical, the DWP have taken me off the "Work-Related Activity" Group (where they are hoping to be able to get you back to work at some point). Unlike the last medical, where they didn't give me enough points to be on benefits at all and I had to go to appeal, this time they've put me in the "Support" Group.
When I first signed up for "Employment Support Allowance" (ie Disabilty/Invalidity benefits) I was told that Support Group basically means there is no hope for you, for example, if you are terminally ill or something. The actual statement is, "The ESA support group is for claimants who the DWP consider to have such severe health problems that there is no current prospect of their being able to undertake work or work-related activities."
It's useful, because it imposes no requirements on me and it is therefore unlikely I will get put on sanctions. At the same time, realising that an independent assessor, who is under pressure to find me fit for at least some "work related" activities, thinks I'm *that* badly impaired by my mental and physical health problems... is pretty freaking depressing. As if I wasn't struggling with Depression badly enough already.
On the other hand, looking over the last year's worth of posts and seeing how very many times I've set or signed up for a monthly target and failed to meet it, or posted Depressed/Anxious, or posted that I need a hiatus from the internet... yeah. I'm not fit for work in any capacity, am I?
I've failed at everything I wanted to achieve in the last year - my GYWO wordcount, FINISHING *any* of my fics... everything.
Maybe it's time to give up on writing and fandom and LJ and all.
I still haven't heard from St Thomas's after the tests in October and November.
When I first signed up for "Employment Support Allowance" (ie Disabilty/Invalidity benefits) I was told that Support Group basically means there is no hope for you, for example, if you are terminally ill or something. The actual statement is, "The ESA support group is for claimants who the DWP consider to have such severe health problems that there is no current prospect of their being able to undertake work or work-related activities."
It's useful, because it imposes no requirements on me and it is therefore unlikely I will get put on sanctions. At the same time, realising that an independent assessor, who is under pressure to find me fit for at least some "work related" activities, thinks I'm *that* badly impaired by my mental and physical health problems... is pretty freaking depressing. As if I wasn't struggling with Depression badly enough already.
On the other hand, looking over the last year's worth of posts and seeing how very many times I've set or signed up for a monthly target and failed to meet it, or posted Depressed/Anxious, or posted that I need a hiatus from the internet... yeah. I'm not fit for work in any capacity, am I?
I've failed at everything I wanted to achieve in the last year - my GYWO wordcount, FINISHING *any* of my fics... everything.
Maybe it's time to give up on writing and fandom and LJ and all.
I still haven't heard from St Thomas's after the tests in October and November.