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When OCD puts a stop to a career


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Hi, 

I feel beside myself with grief at the loss of my career that I have worked hard for over many, many years. But, OCD is getting too in the way for me to continue. I do work, but not really in my chosen career as I have had to give this up. It's not possible to get the support I would need to continue in my career because of the nature of the job (believe me, I've looked into this). So, unless I can get my OCD under much better control, my career has come to an end. I don't know if benefits are open to me and if so, would they expect me to work in any job as long as it's a job? As I said, I do work, but it doesn't bring in enough money so I need something else. Could anyone help me to understand the benefits system a bit more please? I get so confused when I research it. I've got to accept that I can't continue in my career, but does that mean I have to do jobs that are completely different? Would I be entitled to benefits if I can't work in my career, but I could work in other jobs that I might not like / be interested in? But from the government's perspective, it doesn't matter whether I like it or not, if I can work in something then I assume that's what they expect me to do?

 

Thanks in advance for any info.

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I believe that if you are deemed fit to work you would be expected to do any job that was available to you. I'm not sure how they assess fitness to work with regards to mental illnesses such as OCD. Perhaps someone with a bit more insight on this will be able to advise. 

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Hi LondonTown,

I am sorry to hear that you have had to stop your chosen career. I can relate to having OCD effect things so badly that it leaves us feeling unable to perform at work. 

to my knowledge of benefits you would be expected to take any job you can irrelevant of if you wanted that particular job or not. if you are deemed able to work. that in itself I think can be a tricky way to assess things. I have never been through the that particular process myself. 

the government just wants us off their books if you like so we can be paying into the tax system sadly they don't really care what that job is such as zero hours or high pressure jobs for minimum wage etc. 

I think most benefits now are rolled up into the universal credit payment but again I am not familiar with how this works. maybe if you check the OCD UK website they may have some info on there?

 

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Hi LondonTown,

I'm sorry to hear things are so awful and have had a huge impact on your career. I remember a similar feeling of 'grief' when I had to give up my University course (I had mostly A grades) part way through third year due to OCD- it takes a long time to adjust afterwards! 

Unfortunately for 'Employment Support Allowance' and 'Universal Credit' to be deemed incapable of work, you need to be incapable of all work. However there is another benefit 'Personal Independence Payment' (PIP); which you can receive whilst working (or if out of work), provided you have a disability or long-term health condition. 

For PIP you either have to have 'Care Needs' (they define this as difficulty with one or more everyday tasks, which include washing; using the toilet; getting dressed; making decisions about finances; interacting with other people and/or reading and writing AND / OR 'Mobility issues' (for example you might qualify if you have great difficulty leaving the house alone or are only able to go specific places because of panic attacks/anxiety). Why did you give up your previous career? If it's related to interacting with other people; reading/writing or any other activities of daily living then that might help your claim.

Here is some info about PIP: https://www.gov.uk/pip 

 

Edited by BelAnna
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Hi London Town

There is good advice in this thread. I would add that a good site is Work and Benefits. They provide detailed advice on the various benefits and a very useful forum. It is worth joining. Belanna recommended it to me.  I too left early from a very demanding professional job. I was fortunate in being a member of a professional body/trade union. The two overlap to a substantially degree in some sectors. And it provided good advice. Are you a member of such a body? I would look at ESA and PIP.  One half of ESA is incorporated in universal credit and the other part is not. And in each part there are a further two categories depending on your national insurance history. It is complex, so look at the Work and Benefits site and read their guides on ESA and PIP. If you still have on operating advice centre in your area it would be worth booking an appointment. Good luck. Keep in touch.

Edited by Angst
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20 hours ago, LondonTown said:

Hi, 

I feel beside myself with grief at the loss of my career that I have worked hard for over many, many years. But, OCD is getting too in the way for me to continue. I do work, but not really in my chosen career as I have had to give this up. It's not possible to get the support I would need to continue in my career because of the nature of the job (believe me, I've looked into this). So, unless I can get my OCD under much better control, my career has come to an end. I don't know if benefits are open to me and if so, would they expect me to work in any job as long as it's a job? As I said, I do work, but it doesn't bring in enough money so I need something else. Could anyone help me to understand the benefits system a bit more please? I get so confused when I research it. I've got to accept that I can't continue in my career, but does that mean I have to do jobs that are completely different? Would I be entitled to benefits if I can't work in my career, but I could work in other jobs that I might not like / be interested in? But from the government's perspective, it doesn't matter whether I like it or not, if I can work in something then I assume that's what they expect me to do?

 

Thanks in advance for any info.

 its really difficult to get on the sick, on universal credit, you have to be presenting with severe anxiety or symptoms, for them to take you seriously, basically they will maybe put your requirements down on looking for a job but that still means you get a standard rate, that jobseekers get which depends on wether you live with parents or have your own place, living as a single person with no housing benefit, you get about 300 pound a month, what happens if you are ill, is they will put you forward for an assessment if they think you cannot even look for work whatsoever, you will fill in a uc50 form, and then they put you forward to the assessment if you are deemed unfit for work you get around 600 as a single person. But you are looking at almost 3-4 months before you get that money. its a long depressing process and if you can work, probably easier to just work.

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23 hours ago, LondonTown said:

Hi, 

I feel beside myself with grief at the loss of my career that I have worked hard for over many, many years. But, OCD is getting too in the way for me to continue. I do work, but not really in my chosen career as I have had to give this up. It's not possible to get the support I would need to continue in my career because of the nature of the job (believe me, I've looked into this). So, unless I can get my OCD under much better control, my career has come to an end. I don't know if benefits are open to me and if so, would they expect me to work in any job as long as it's a job? As I said, I do work, but it doesn't bring in enough money so I need something else. Could anyone help me to understand the benefits system a bit more please? I get so confused when I research it. I've got to accept that I can't continue in my career, but does that mean I have to do jobs that are completely different? Would I be entitled to benefits if I can't work in my career, but I could work in other jobs that I might not like / be interested in? But from the government's perspective, it doesn't matter whether I like it or not, if I can work in something then I assume that's what they expect me to do?

 

Thanks in advance for any info.

Just to add also LondonTown that in order to claim PIP you need medical evidence so it's a good idea to either wait until you are having appointments with a CBT therapist or Psychologist before applying; as they can provide a report in support of your claim; OR ensuring that you see a helpful GP who can write a supportive letter.

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Hi, 

Thank you all so much for your replies including helpful information and signposts, I really appreciate it. It seems I was on the right track in terms of how the benefits system would treat my situation and that is what scares me. I absolutely do not want to sound ungrateful as a job is a job and when needs must, and at the same time I am so deeply upset at losing my career to OCD, I don't feel able to do anything else at the moment. I can just about make my current work sustainable, but it can't be a long term thing unfortunately, so perhaps I will revisit this at a later time. Thanks again. 

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31 minutes ago, LondonTown said:

Hi, 

Thank you all so much for your replies including helpful information and signposts, I really appreciate it. It seems I was on the right track in terms of how the benefits system would treat my situation and that is what scares me. I absolutely do not want to sound ungrateful as a job is a job and when needs must, and at the same time I am so deeply upset at losing my career to OCD, I don't feel able to do anything else at the moment. I can just about make my current work sustainable, but it can't be a long term thing unfortunately, so perhaps I will revisit this at a later time. Thanks again. 

That's so difficult LondonTown and you don't sound ungrateful at all. You've worked at your career for years and don't expect to have to take any old job just to get by. 

Do keep in mind that you can claim PIP whilst working- if you have any difficulties with daily living tasks then it is worth applying. 

I hope that your OCD improves over time and that some new opportunities open up to you.

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London Town

Under disability law you are entitled to something called ‘reasonable adjustment’ whereby your employer can be expected to amend  your work circumstances so as to make it easier for you to work at their premises. This covers both physical and mental disabilities. For this you need a diagnosis and to think through what alternative arrangements need to be made. I did this will the help of a senior clinical psychologist who was also a senior lecturer in clinical psychology. But this was a few years ago.
 

You need professional advice on reasonable adjustment as disability and employment law change rapidly. Because we have a system of common law /case law where decisions in higher  courts and tribunals set precedents. (The Work and Benefits site is good because it is up to date on case law on disability benefits but not on employment law.)
 

If you are a number of a professional association or trade union they might be able to offer advice. It is interesting that over the past 10 years the number of cases going to employment tribunals has fallen dramatically. This is not because of improvement in employment relations but because of the hike in fees going to an employment tribunal and the lack of legal aid in this sector of law. I am not suggesting that your employer will not be amenable to changes in your work environment,  but indicating that any recourse to the law, if the employer is not amenable, will be quite expensive. That is why advice is needed. But if you are thinking of leaving anyway, then perhaps you have nothing to lose by requesting a reasonable adjustment. Do you have an occupational health department at work? 

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Thanks BelAnna :)

Angst, I am a member of a professional body and a union, but I have left the job and rather abruptly due to major spike in my OCD. I regret the way in which I left, because I think I have lost any possibility of looking at reasonable adjustments. Having said that, it wasn't under awful circumstances and bridges could be made. However, the wider question is whether I can do the job and the answer (after much mental wrestling) is usually no, and certainly not without major adjustments which I know go way beyond what is reasonable. So, even if I could build bridges and return (and that's a big IF), I don't think I can do the job. I'm at the stage where I think I must start to let go of my career and move on, but it's so difficult and upsetting. I keep crying about it and find myself staring into space. I have looked into various support pathways and the general advice (as I have understood it) is that I should apply for a job, then mention OCD. I have never mentioned OCD to any employer and that's predominantly because the nature of my job and the themes of my OCD really don't go well together, and I would need adjustments way over and above what is reasonable. I do regret leaving my most recent job the way I did and so quickly, but I experienced a huge spike of anxiety and panic and I suspect it would happen again, and again and again if I went back. The nature of the job cannot be changed, it is what it is and I can't cope with it. I used to be able when I started out but over the years it has become a big source or anxiety for me. I feel hopeless about the future because this is all I'm qualified to do, all I want to do, but I can't. I don't know what other jobs to do, where to start and I'll have to start at the 'bottom' because I'm not qualified for anything else. I know skills are transferrable, but still my CV is very specialist and I'm sure I'll be asked questions about why I'm applying for something so different to everything on my CV. The frustration I feel at not feeling able to do the job is eating away at me and I don't know how to let that and the job go. I'm deliberately being vague about my job because I'm paranoid about revealing my identity. But, suffice to say it's a professional role which required a lot of training. I'm able to work and wouldn't be eligible for benefits. I do work, I work full time - it's related to my professional career in a way and I really enjoy it, but it's not financially sustainable. I really appreciate the dialogue. It's been a long time since I was last on the forum and I'm grateful that someone (let alone several people) replied :) 

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It is good that you left your previous job on good terms. Therapy or time might change things. And of course you need to get good references for most jobs. It is sensible not to reveal your identity. It is not paranoia, as you do not believe that there is an organised conspiracy against you. You might be entitled to PIP, so it is worth exploring. Though my instinct is that it is unlikely. A switch from a rewarding professional career to another career is difficult. You might have high mortgage payments for example. So you might need to do some tough budgeting and think about your housing arrangements. 

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