I was recently referred to a new work programme after finishing my stint with Remploy. I had to rearrange my first induction as I had a migraine on the day. When the next appointment came, I had pulled something in my back and was unable to move around for three days. Again, I called ahead and asked to have my appointment rearranged. So, Saturday before last I get a letter from the job centre saying;
"We have decided that you did not comply with the requirements of the {Work Programme} and that you did not have sufficiently good reasons for doing so."
They informed me they were not paying my benefits for one month as a result of this decision. As it arrived on a Saturday, I had two days where I could nothing about it, and access no help. This sent me plunging back down into depression. My Disability Employment Advisor and therapist had been encouraging me to go back on ESA for some time now, as I am not well enough to be on JSA. But I resisted. I was determined not to loose any of the progress I had made. I did not want to be back in the mental state of having to prove I was ill.
After the letter from the job centre and the subsequent fall in health over the weekend, I accepted the advise to return to ESA. I am now attempting to apply for ESA and once again return to proving my illness and incapability to work. Who knows how long it will take for me to get my ESA money started. This leaves me without any money, two weeks before Christmas when I will be home alone for a week.
I went to my re-arranged induction which turned out to be a group meeting. Two minutes later and I was having a panic attack. When I went back a week later for a one-on-one induction, the man from Seetec told me "The only way off the work programme is, well, death." This has all made the following video that much more difficult to watch. I feel totally, and utterly fucked. Ironically, before this all happened, I was actually starting to feel excited about making plans to get back into work. Well done DWP, well fucking done.
Mind's recent WCA video