I actually think this could be a good idea. Some years ago I had to stop work, I'm a qualified social worker, and had to give up full time work, then part time work, but I found after a few months I was rested and could do another few months work. But it really was difficult as every time I needed to go back on benefits, it was really difficult to do the application again and took ages to process.
I also found employers very unhelpful, I was once interviewed 4 times for the job I was doing as an agency worker in a child protection team and each time I was turned down because they said I didn't come over as a qualified social worker. So I lost confidence each time I tried. I was already working in the job I was applying for on £25 an hour + an agency added on some. Apparently interviews for agency staff are not the same as for any other staff, even a short term contract that I was applying for.
My boss wasn't allowed to interview me, nor could they ask her for a reference until I was offered a job because of so called conflict of interests although she wanted to keep me in her team, so I stayed as an agency worked whilst having offered to work a 6 month contract for them for half price.
Meanwhile all the newly qualified social workers from university were interviewed and almost all passed because they had practice on interview technique but they couldn't be offered jobs because they didn't have the child protection experience, whereas I had.
Their policy had all the hallmarks of a plan that had been made in some office in County Hall by people with little contact with the real world. It was widely considered that it didn't garner particularly good social workers, but those that were good at interviews.
In the end I stopped work because it proved just too difficult & am now too poorly so now just sit on a foster panel from home.
But if there was an employment officer who specialised in disabilities like they have for people who have been out of work a long time it would have been a great help.
This is what I hope Labour will do, current plans are years old and well out of date. At the moment the only options are work or if you're too ill, stay at home. There are many of us who need a broad and flexible middle path, so they can make a contribution to society for longer.
I'm hoping this is what will be developed for those of us that can do something, & I recognise not all of us are well enough to work and some people need to have their benefits protected.
Do you think you know when you are going to die?
🦞 The Lockdown Gang still chatting 🦞
Unite the Kingdom and Pro Palestine marches Cup 16th May 2026


