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From: The Socialist issue 879, 18 November 2015: No to terror, war, racism

Search site for keywords: Disability - Incapacity - Mobility - Housing benefit - Stress - Disabled - DWP

My struggle for an income I can live on

"Please Sir, can I have a job?"

Photo Dan Moyle (Creative Commons) (Click to enlarge)

Steven Green, London

I have multiple disabilities that include mobility post-traumatic stress disorder and dyslexia. After a long period of mental illness, I reflected on what I would like to do with my remaining 21 years in the workplace.

After much deliberation I decided to re-enter full time education to train as a teacher in the post-16 sector. Anybody who has completed teacher training or a PGCE will tell you it's a long, hard slog.

Throughout my training I kept my incapacity benefit for my disabilities. I need a very complicated operation on my spine - and even that may fail to take away the pain I experience.

Agencies

Upon completion of my PGCE, I entered the minefield that is the job market - the reams of paperwork and compliance checks, all of them necessary so that I can go out into a classroom and teach.

I wasn't confident that I would find work, being middle aged and disabled. I applied to work through agencies but I became jaded with their promises.

It made me realise how it must have felt for the stevedores and others who queued up to be chosen to work for a day in the 1920s.

Time passes by - days turn into weeks. But before they can turn into months, I receive a call - there is a job for me, with hours to suit. It was like winning the lottery I was so pleased.

I knew I would have to contact the DWP as I had found a job - I did, and told them of my part time hours. I was told it would have to go to the 'decision maker'. I waited and waited. In the meantime I had to miss the dreaded medical because I was scheduled to teach at that time.

One day I came home from work and there was a letter explaining that my incapacity benefit would be stopped from November. The issue is whether I was carrying out 'permitted work' - but this had never been mentioned to me.

They sent me a form to fill in - more fun for a dyslexic! I'm broke - physically, mentally and financially. I have had to reclaim housing benefit.

I find myself on one hand a highly valued teacher, but on the other marginalised and under scrutiny. Not for the first time in my life, I'm in a position where I could find myself homeless.

I'm still available for work, should any arise that I can do with my disability. Please Sir, can I have a job?

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.