This is not about anyone I interact with online

[quantumcupcakes]

There are many people who are unable to work because of a disability, because of a mental health condition. I know this, and my Lucy is one of those who is not fit for work - she's a lot healthier than she was a few years ago but she's still classed as not able to work and is on disability benefits.

What annoys me is those who are able to work yet are happy to claim disability. There is a woman who Lucy knows who is claiming benefits for her mental health yet spends about 40 hours a week doing volunteer work and runs her own small business on Etsy.

I'm sorry but if you're able to work a full work week and more besides, then you are perfectly capable of getting off your ass and getting a damn job.

Comments

[angelofthenorth]

We need a way of supporting people who are in that zone between illness and wellness. At the moment the cliff is huge and I've certainly been too well for benefit and too ill for work before now. Part of the problem is consistency where I can be fine one minute and come crashing the next and I can't predict what will trigger it.

I want to see a way for people with disabilities to become as self sufficient as they can while still having a safety net.

[wendelah1]

I'm sorry but if you're able to work a full work week and more besides, then you are perfectly capable of getting off your ass and getting a damn job.

We don't know all of the circumstances that led to Lucy's acquaintance becoming qualified for disability based on mental health. In the USA, it's very difficult to qualify for long term disability benefits but perhaps that's not the case in the UK? Volunteering doesn't carry anywhere near the amount of stress or responsibility that even a low level job does here in the USA. Depending on the severity of her symptoms, she can take time off her volunteer gig when she needs to and for as long as necessary without penalty, which certainly isn't the case if she were to resume working.

I don't understand why hearing about this particular woman has upset you to such a degree.

[tigerweave]

That would shit me off too. You can report people, apparently.

On the other hand a volunteer job often has less responsibility and pressure etc, which especially with mental health, might be the make or break. Or she might be able to go home whenever she wants, even if all her hours add up to 40, but a real job that would be 'unemployable'. Also Etsy ... sitting at home doing things online is a huge difference to doing things irl.

So hey... it could be perfectly ok, but it could also just be ... she's rorting the system. :-(