Hello one and all I am a disabled mum of a disabled little boy, and my husband is both our full time carers. I have M.E. and severe anxiety problems. I was on incapacity benefit since 2007 and recently changed over to contribution based ESA in April, placed in the WRAG group. I have my first work focused interview later this month. I can't think of any job that I could actually do if I was employed - I don't know how I'm going to feel from one day to the next. I suffer with severe fatigue and muscular pain and some days it takes my husband an hour to get me dressed. I was thinking of maybe starting to work from home doing something like selling breastfeeding bras and breast pumps, or Hiring out baby slings etc but I worry that this may cause more stress than it's worth. How would this affect my benefits and would I need to get insurance or do yearly tax returns? I ran a small market stall in 2004 when I was in my early 20's and I know the ins and outs of running a small business but since then I have obviously got ill and my health is not going to get any better. I need to be at home for my little boy too as he is still breastfed and needs a lot of help and constant reassurance from me. He is 3 years old next week (please no negative comments about breastfeeding). Any advice I would be grateful for. Thanks.

Hi All Thanks so much for the information on Redundancy. I thought I'd post the full story so you could give me some advice as I'm writing my final grievance letter and I'm sure you'll have points I should raise. I've been in communication with my employers about my workload since April 2011. At the time they agreed it was excessive and not evenly spread but that the other person in the department wasn't up to the job. I was asked to give them time to resolve it...I did. June 2011 I have am exemplary review. Another employee was recruited but the other member of the department was reduced to two days a week. I asked for the workload to be sorted and was asked to let the new employee settle in....I did. August 2011 I asked for help and a portion of my workload was lifted but extra procedures were introduced along with more responsibilities. The net result was extra workload. I was asked to "see how it goes". October 2011 I mentioned stress but in passing (think I hoped they'd help without me having to admit that I needed the help - I'm a very strong character and this is a total shock for everyone that knows me!). November 2011 I openly discuss I'm not sleeping and feeling stressed and need some time off. I book holidays to reduce my working week to 3/4 days a week. Jan 2012 I return from Christmas and discuss that I'd be really ill all Christmas with ulcers and coldsores and was really run down and obviously my immune system was suffering. I have my review - excellent comments but my payrise is a fraction of what has been promised! During the reivew they delay telling me the result of my payrise for 6 weeks ("we'll tell you Friday", I ask on Friday, "we'll tell you on Monday"..I subsequently spend the whole weekend worrying about it) which I tell them is adding to my stress and I'd like to help them minimise this if possible....falls on deaf ears. Feb 2012 I apply for flexible working hours. It is refused for business reasons. Everyone becomes very hostile towards me. I appeal the flexible working decision and formally tell them that this is making me feel very stressed. March 2012 My appeal meeting doesn't go well, they are very intimidating and hostile. After the meeting the atmosphere gets worse and worse by the day. I start to not be included in communications. At meetings I don't know the full information and start to look incompetent and unprofessional in front of clients. I bring this up with my Manager and he agrees he has 'forgotten' to include me in some communications. I don't get a response to my flexible working appeal by the required date but the following day I receive an email that they'll try to get back to my by the end of the week. ACAS advised that I inform them that I can now take this to employment tribunal but would avoid this if they are planning to uphold my claim...they tell me to take it to employment tribunal! By this point I've been to the doctors twice to discuss stress as I've virtually stopeed sleeping now and I'm feeling unable to cope. The next day I'm out on business and receive an email at 6pm asking for a breakdown of my day....alarm bells. I've never been asked this before so I list my day and ask why this is being asked and my Manager passes the buck to his Manager. That night I didn't sleep a wink, didn't feel capable of making my meeting the next morning and drove home to my husband and kids and slept for the first time in weeks. I just couldn't do it anymore. I got signed off by the doctor and was off in total for 3.5 weeks because of stress. When I returned no one would speak to me. It was annouced to the office that I needed to be interviewed because of my absense...I nearly cried. Finally my Manager asked to speak to me, attempted to deny I was overworked but then conceeded that he had failed me and reduced my workload immediately and told me to take it easy and he'd reintroduce work as and when we were both ready for it. I felt like a weight had been lifted. Then I had my 'return to work' meeting with my Managers Manager. He was so hostile, abrupt and bullying. I answered all of his questions then he informed me that I had never been overworked and that my workload would be completely reinstated in time. I asked for a timescale and he stated "soon maybe 2/3 weeks". When asked if I had anything else to say I asked that my medical problems are kept confidential and not annouced to the office....he stood and left the room without saying a word. He's refused to speak to me since then. On my desk I find a response to my flexible working request and I email my Manager to ask to discuss it as it does not reflect my request and isn't a workable solution. It also demotes me to a trainee....which I'm not. One week after my return I was asked into the boardroom to be informed I'm being made redundant. I'm informed within this meeting that my flexible working request is final but if I want to discuss the contents of the letter then they are fine with that. Next day I have a meeting re flexible working. There is no option to discuss anything as it is so hostile. All problems with the letter ie trainee are explained away as typo's. I ask to discuss the atmosphere in the office and state that its really not helping. I tell him that everyone ignoring me is horrible. He deny's he is ignoring me and will speak to the others. Day after consultation for redundancy. Opinions??? Advice on points to raise in grievance or consultation? I need to do both before I see my solicitor which isn't great, I'd prefer their advice first.

Hi first time posting in this particular forum. For the first time i will be applying for working tax credits and sent off my application form on monday evening but would have reached postman till tuesday. Unfortunately on top of dealing with payday loans, credit card charges and ppi claims my partner has decided to move out. Money is now very tight and i was wondering though i know the website predicts 21 days for a response if anyone has any experience of it being turned around any quicker than this? im just hoping for the quickest time possible. Also i've attempted to backdate my claim one month does anyone know how strict they are with this i started my current employment back in october last year but was unaware i could be claiming this working tax credit. Thanks.

Hi Everyone, I need some input please: HSE guide states working temp should be comfortable with no specific range. A consultation doc on the tinterweb quotes WHO recommendations of upto 23 C. I work in a open plan office. There are no windows and no fresh air flow inwards. The A/C is broken / ineffective. Measurements taken the past two days show 29 C and 33 C. This under the HSE guide is clearly not comfortable. The company have provided 2 fans, which just move hot air around. I have been vomiting and severe headaches, sweating constantly, non productive. Others (there are approx 20 of us here, with same amount of computers) have experienced the same. I intend to stay at home tommorrow, and will be contacting them as the working conditions are unbearable and unreasonable ? What, if any, consequence could I face ? We have asked for it to be repaired / checked - employer will not as cost prohibted. I am going to use the home insurance legal help if required, but is there any case law on this ??? Thanks N