Work
Many people find work a fulfilling and worthwhile use of their time and skills. You may have given up work due to mental illness and now feel ready to get back, either in a full-time or part-time capacity, or you may just be looking for something to do with your time and the ability to earn your own money and respect.
You can get help in answering these and other work related questions by contacting your local Jobcentre Plus . They now have a scheme called 'New Deal' for getting people back into work.
In practice the people you will deal with (known as 'brokers') who will guide you around job seeking may not have any experience of mental illness which means you may have to make them aware of how your illness affects you and what problems you expect in the workplace.
Work Options
When you are thinking about what work would suit you, these are your your options to choose from:
Voluntary work
Voluntary work may lead to improved chances of getting a part-time or full-time job. You are allowed to do voluntary work while claiming income support and incapacity benefit. Usually you will have your expenses paid for. For some people voluntary work is a suitable alternative to work because you are able to keep your benefits.
Employment projects
The work done by employment projects varies but is usually done in a sheltered workshop and will usually be largely people with mental health problems. Some projects are very basic e.g. doing a simple task such as stitching mail bags, which may or may not suit you. There will be ongoing support from a professional caseworker. You should check beforehand but this type of work is unlikely to affect your benefits.
Supported work
Supported work is more flexible than employment projects. You could be working in a sheltered workshop but you may also be working in a large organisation. You will be supported while you work and may have opportunities for additional training. The Jobcentre Plus scheme New Deal has a supported element.
If you apply for New Deal for Disabled People the Job Centre will offer you training and support while setting you up in a suitable position. The support may include a counsellor. They may not however have a great deal of experience in dealing with people with mental health problems. You might like to talk through the pros and cons of supported work with your GP before you talk to the job centre.
However, the money that you earn from such work may affect means-tested benefits that you are claiming. Remember too that out of that you will probably have to pay costs for lunch and travel.
Part-time work
Part-time work has the advantages that you will be able to ease yourself into work more than if you took on a full-time role. Part-time work may also leave you with the flexibility to go to therapy appointments during the day, do some additional training or look after your children.
However, you should get some expert advice about how work will affect your benefits. Remember you will have to pay for lunch and travel out of the money you earn. The Citizens Advice can do a calculation of whether you will be better or worse off.
Full-time work
For many, part-time work is not an easy option because of the difficulty in coming off benefits and into work. If you are returning to full-time work after a period of illness ask yourself what were the stressors that caused your mental illness. If any of these were work related try to reduce them. For some people a change of role or job would be advisable.
Once again, you should consider the money you have coming in on benefits and what the benefits cover, the change in benefits once you start working and any additional costs associated with work. The Citizens Advice can calculate whether you are better or worse off.
Applying for a job
Applying for a job with a mental health problem need not always be a negative experience. Having lived with mental illness, you may have developed skills which will be valuable in your work role, such as
Problem solving.
Ability to work with and relate to different sorts of people.
Tenacity.
Diplomacy.
Creativity.
Make use of your experiences in writing your CV and in interview. You do not have to refer to mental illness, just the skills that you have developed of a result of it.
The application form and interview
On most application forms there is a space for declaring if you have a disability. There are many pros and cons for deciding whether to tell you prospective employer that you have had or have mental health difficulties.
Pros
If you declare that you have a disability you may be automatically given an interview as many organisations are trying to increase the number of disabled people working for them.
If you disclose that you have a disability in that you have a mental illness you will be covered by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) which means that it will be illegal for the prospective company to discriminate against you.
Disclosing you have a disability means that under the DDA the prospective company must make reasonable adjustments to enable you to do the job. This may mean additional supervision for someone with a mental health problem. Admitting to having a mental health problem allows you to control how this is presented to your employer. For instance, you may have particularly strong interpersonal skills or problem solving skills if you have had mental health difficulties and you could tell them in this way.
Admitting the difficulties you've had and highlighting the ways you have overcome those difficulties shows maturity and determination. Employers may be impressed by these qualities.
Cons
Admitting if you have had or have a mental health problem can lead to unfair treatment when applying for a job. For instance, you may not be given an interview or may not be offered the job. While you are covered by the DDA, often it is hard to prove that this is because of your mental health problem instead of that you did not make the grade. You must be aware however, that if you are called to interview and you do not have an obvious physical problem you may be asked the nature of your disability. You may feel that your mental health difficulties have no direct affect on your ability to do the job you've applied for and so do not want to declare it. You may be worried about the stigma associated with mental illness and how this might affect you in the workplace if your employees know about your mental health difficulties. You should be aware when deciding whether to disclose that you have a mental health problem that many application forms ask specific questions about your health. If you give false information and your employer finds out then they would be in their rights to dismiss you. Also, if your medical condition has any health and safety implications then you are legally obliged to tell your employer. For example, if you take medication that makes you drowsy it could be a health and safety hazard to you and others if you operate machinery.
If you choose to do so there are different ways of disclosing your mental illness to an employer. You may wish to tell them on the application form, or on a covering letter. Alternatively, you may wish to wait until the interview.
Try to put your difficulties in a positive light as to what you have gained and remembering why you think you can do this job regardless of your mental health difficulties.
Medical forms and examinations Before you are given a contract most organisations will give you a medical form to fill out. The purpose of the medical examination is to ensure that you are well enough to do the job and to find out what support you need. If you declare your mental illness you will most likely to be required to undergo a medical examination.
The doctors involved in medical examinations tend to be GPs with little experience of mental illness. It may in this case be beneficial for you to take along a letter from your psychiatrist and provide this to the employers, explaining about your illness and your fitness to work.
If you still fail the medical examination you should ask for the full details of the examination and why you have not been accepted for the job. If however, you decide not to declare your mental illness you may be sacked should it come to light while you work for the organisation. This is a risk that must be weighed up against the risk of discrimination
Under the DDA, employers should be prepared to make adjustments for the employment of a disabled person. The reasoning that the organisation cannot support or supervise someone with mental health problems is unacceptable. If in doubt, contact the Disability Law Service .
They can provide you with the full details of the DDA and how it applies to employment as well as advise you if you have a case against the employer.
Work & Benefits
Starting work may affect your right to benefits or the amount you get. The benefits system is very complex and this presents only a brief summary of how you may be affected if you choose to start work.
If you are on benefits you should contact a benefits adviser such as the Citizens Advice to calculate if you will be better or worse off.
Voluntary work - You are allowed to do voluntary work if you get Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance or other incapacity-related benefit as long as you are not working for your:
parent (in-law or step-parent)
son or daughter (in-law or step)
partner of the above.
You must not be paid for your work but you can claim expenses such as travel. There is no limit on the number of hours you can volunteer.
Part-time and full-time work - Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance are payable whether or not you are working. However, starting a job may suggest that your care or mobility needs have changed and your benefit entitlement could be reconsidered.
There are permitted lower limits and higher limits while claiming Incapacity Benefit, Income Support, Housing Tax Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. For up to date details see the section on Benefits.
There is a maximum number of hours per week you can work, which should also be checked.
You must also tell the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) that you have started work within 6 weeks of doing so.
The sort of activities or tasks you are able to do, whether they are connected with the work or not, could be taken into account when deciding whether you pass the incapacity assessment. When you start work, the decision maker may, in some cases, decide to refer your case to a DWP doctor for an opinion and you may find yourself subject to another medical examination.
Other benefits to take into account - If you have decided to work you may be entitled to other benefits.
Firstly while you look for work you will be entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or income-based JSA.
If you are working less than a certaion amount of hours a week you can still claim JSA.
You can earn a certain amount while you look for work (check Benefits for further details).
If you get income-based JSA you will automatically qualify for help with prescription charges.
If you have been on Income Support or JSA, you may be able to claim a one-off payment if you move from part-time to full-time work and come of these benefits.
You may also be able to claim Extended Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit payable for the first four weeks of work.
Finally, when you start work you may be able to claim Working Tax Credit if you are on a low enough income. It contains an extra element for if you are disabled.
However it is important to note that if you qualify for Working Tax Credit and your income is increased you may no longer be eligible to claim for Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
Access to work, Travel to Interview and Social Fund budgeting loans may help you fund expenses while you are looking for work.
There are additional benefits you may qualify for if you decide to go to work, for full details on the benefits above and others that you may claim please contact your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau.
