Life IS Hard
I realise that is an obvious statement to make. Of course I am not the only one finding it hard, but I cannot speak for everybody. Each person's experience is just as hard, how we deal with it may make the difference. Nor do I want to make this a sob story.
With the recent political events it seems that the benefit system is about to change, Will this be a help or not. For me, I suffer from M.E. for those who don't know what it is, it affects the Brain, the nervous system and the Muscles.
This is very real and is not in the head and is incurable. With a lot of help and luck you can lead a normal life.
Before I was diagnosed I was working as a plumber, and enjoyed my job. But over the years my health started to get worse. Until the point came when I could no longer have the energy or physicality to work. Things then downhill from there. This however is not about my illness, but the hardship that comes with not working. And not forgetting the affect it has on the whole family. For me, I am married with two young girls, eight and five.
So do you do, well you have to start by informing the relevant government departments to get financial help. All of which we entitled to, but how do you know what you are entitled to? Exactly, this is the point. It is hard work to find out in the first place. Yes we were advised to go to the citizen’s advice bureau. The trouble is, there are so many people waiting to see them, which it is nay on impossible to see them, you cannot book a time for a first interview. You have to turn up as early as you can and hope. It takes many phone calls, not forgetting a bit of luck that you speak to the right person do you get somewhere.
Of course it does not get any easier, it is then a case of waiting for the forms to arrive and then complete. And boy are they hard, made even harder when you are self-employed. Unfortunately for my wife she had to complete them as I couldn't.
There comes a point when you have completed so many forms, you end up not knowing whether you are coming or going, and who wanted what and who you have sent it to. To cut the story shorter, it then takes weeks and sometimes months to get any sort of reply, and even then they are likely to want more information. The upshot is, it is stressful just applying for benefits, not to mention the time it takes to get an answer, and then to finally get the money. Like I said this all takes months. Baring in mind that you have not been earning anything in the meanwhile. So with the strain of copping with an illness and getting you entitlement, already leaves you on the edge. There is also the small matter of going to a centre to be assessed which is about 40-45 min drive from where I live, twice. And to cap it all for six months you have to see someone from the Job Centre about getting back to work.
So now you have your benefits, you can see the right people and get back to health so you can work again. Nope I wish, more forms come a few months later, several cock ups (on their part) and then more assessments. I have seen more government appointed people than heath care ones. Hmm does that sound correct? You work it out.
What then is the big question? How on earth do other people manage to get away with screwing the system, not to mention how they know how to do it.
Yes life is hard, but with so little help out there, and I do mean professional help, life is much harder. We are on the brink. What can we do. Most working from home jobs are a scam. My wife is a full time carer to me, So where does that leave us. Up the pre verbal creek without a paddle. Can we get out of it, yes we can. But seeing that light is not near
Are we unique? It feels like it, but of course we are not. Do I want sympathy? No I don't, so why write this then? Why not?
