Disability Employment Advisor

[reallymadwoman]

I have been off work due to long term health problems for over 3 years. Prior to that the only time I claimed benefits was when I was on maternity leave, and then only for a very short time. Despite receiving the highest rate of DLA care and lower mobility, I have been forced to have a 'work focussed' interview and have been given an appointment to see a Disability Employment Advisor, and I am seriously worried that they are trying to force me back in to work and will stop my benefits if I don't co-operate.
I have been trying to get back in to work by myself, but doing something that I can cope with - i.e. limited and very flexible hours, working from home. I am actually in the process of trying to start my own business as an editor and proofreader, but I haven't actually started work yet and am unlikely to make anything other than 'pin' money because of the hours I am able to work, but at least it would make me feel as if I'm doing all I can.
What I am really worried about is that if I even mention the possibility of starting work, DWP will do their usual trick of suspending everything whilst they investigate and then decide I should no longer get incapacity benefits and force me to go and sign on or something.
Does anyone have any experience of dealing with Disability Employment advisors? What do they actually do? Any suggestions as to how to handle this?

[reallymadwoman]

Hi Dave
Many thanks for your very helpful response, but I have a couple more questions if you can help.
I've had my 'work focussed' interview, over the phone about two weeks ago. I do understand that they are compulsory, and once they stopped insisting that I go to the jobcentre, I didn't mind doing it. I did tell them I cannot and will not ever be able to work full time, and any conventional job is unlikely to provide the sort of flexibility I need - I don't know how I'm going to feel each day until I get up, so I don't know in advance if I will be able to do anything other than sit on the sofa - but they still insisted that I see a DEA although they did agree to come to me. Are they able to insist even though I've done the interview?
What is really worrying me is that I have heard (from a usually reliable source) that the very suggestion that you might be able to work is often enough to get your DLA reviewed and reduced, and I had such a battle to get it in the first place! Is this something you've heard of?
There genuinely is absolutely no chance of me getting a job outside the home unless my employer is prepared for me to not turn up with no notice on a regular basis, nor is there much chance of me being able to earn enough to replace benefits, much as I would love to stop getting what I still feel is 'charity', even though I know I've paid my NI so am entitled. Apart from my fluctuating health, I really shouldn't be out of the house on my own, so who would take me to work? Even getting me to my hospital appointments is a major undertaking meaning that my son has to book a day off work or one of my parents has to come over and take me, and they live 50 miles away.
Getting more positive, if I did try to start a business, would they be able to help with e.g. start up costs? And how would income support cope with an unpredictable income? Would I have to reclaim every week based on how much I'd earned?

[reallymadwoman]

Just an update in case anyone else is reading this because they are in the same situation.
Thanks to David's excellent advice I wasn't nearly as worried by this interview as I could have been, and it all went really well. If anything the DEA has made things even easier as my GP was getting 'twitchy' about giving more sick notes, but she believes that as I have been on the full rate of Incapacity benefit for over a year, I don't actually need to send in any more sick notes. She also made it clear that I should stay on IB whatever the GP thinks about me going back to work as there is far more help available then. She's getting some more specific information for me and is going to contact me again next week. In particular she is going to look at what might be a reasonable number of hours for me to work - probably a maximum of 10 - and how that will affect my benefits. I am unlikely to be better off financially, but I know I will feel better if I am doing some work.
Thanks again David.

[Bookworm]

Thank you, Davjoh, for giving such great advice, and NMW, I am glad that you've managed to get reassurance here, and that it all went well.

Small anecdote to make you smile, I hope: when my son got awarded DLA, our Job centre advisor was roght on the ball offering help and assistance if he wanted to try and find work, and not to hesitate to contact her, etc... that was very kind of her, if somewhat premature, as my son was only 7 at the time.

[patdavies]

Originally Posted by Bookworm

Small anecdote to make you smile, I hope: when my son got awarded DLA, our Job centre advisor was roght on the ball offering help and assistance if he wanted to try and find work, and not to hesitate to contact her, etc... that was very kind of her, if somewhat premature, as my son was only 7 at the time.

Chimney sweep??

[Kerrie78]

This is good to hear. Myself and my hubby have both always worked except for when I have been on maternity leave. Last year however, my husband suffered a serious unexpected illness. Basically his work kep him on sick pay for as long as they possibly could, but since May he has been on IB.
we had bought our house only the month before, and due to me being off work on extended maternity leave we were worried sick.
He has been signed off work until at least next June, and although he has forwarded notes etc, he too thinks he will get one of these work related interviews fairly shortly.
Our mortgage protection now runs out on Oct 1st, and we are worried sick that our home will be taken away.
We are currently receiving IB with a carers rate for me looking after him. CT benefit, and CTC for our 3 kids.
As of next month, we will have to try and pay our mortgage out of this money but it will be hard.

Of course, I don't think it's nice to find others in the same situation, but at least it makes me think that we're not alone.