Hi This is my first post so apologies if its duplicating issues already raised but I wanted to get advice or comments on the realities of finding part time work with no access to benefits. I'm 55 and was DX in 2007 and left my full time job on redundancy in 2013. Because I got a decent severance package I took timeout which with one thing and another flew by until last year when I decided to look for work and seek advice on what help was available.
That's when I realised my naivety in understanding the system.
My PIP application scored zilch (i think if you can answer the door to the assessor and offer to make a cup of tea for them - you may as well forget t).
OK well I thought ESA may help. Except living for a period on my redundancy and not claiming benefits or working meant that I don't qualify for ESA because I've no recent NI contributions (30+ years of work previously seemingly not counting for anything). The same applies to JSA too.
This experience stopped my job search as I got a bit down but now I'm trying to be positive about looking for part time work with PD as an uninvited 'addition' to my CV and being aware that for some companies, your application will be considered seemingly fairly (only for you to get 'pipped at the post' but 'thanks for helping with our equal opps stats').
Anyway I'm trying to be positive so any advice or experiences would be welcomed.