Wanting to move forward in life

LegacyUser

I'm turning 24 this month and I've only worked a few months when I was about 20 in retail. Got told there wasn't a job for me after a few months (was on a contract or something).

And since I've been stuck at home on Jobseeker's Allowance I haven't been seeing my friends in the last good while. But I'm not sad over not seeing them at all. They still do the usual go out, get drunk, meet drunk girls and do the same next time they go out. They all work and that'd be the only thing I'd be jealous of is they have jobs.

I've almost given up applying for jobs at this point since I have a slight medical condition with my legs but it's not serious enough to be classed as disability since it's stopping mobility completely. I mean I still do look for courses and jobs and stuff but usually the courses are only with fas and i've been told my many people that done them that they haven't help at all. And most jobs say no since I have no experience.

I completely ruined my leaving certificate but I can qualify as a mature student so that's nice.
But the idea of handling college is scaring me since I wasn't the best student at all.

I just want to move on since I don't think my friends are ever going to grow out of the club thing or the drinking half a crate of bottles just watching a footie match. But being really restricted in mobility is hard, even living in dublin city. I can't move out since rent rates are too high for someone on JSA.

I don't know if something is wrong that I'm not bothered about having no friends or at least not going out with them. I don't want to end up on JSA my entire life but I usually get this way every time it's coming to my bday.
I think I'm just looking for advice on what to do or if this sounds like something I should talk to a professional about like a doctor or something. I don't know since I don't feel sad exactly. I just feel kinda stuck.

diddley

Since you can qualify as a mature student like you say maybe that's the change in life that you need; New environment/meeting new people etc. Maybe look into doing an access course if you aren't sure that college would be for you, it'll give you a better idea of whether or not college would be right for you. Worth a shot though. Good luck

Scruffles

almost given up applying for jobs at this point since I have a slight medical condition with my legs but it's not serious enough to be classed as disability since it's stopping mobility completely.

am not sure if have understood this well,but if mobility is being completely stopped,that is significant impairment and will qualify for the legal definition of disability.

go and see citizens advice [or equivilent if they arent there],or see the benefits service of a disability charity because they will be able to write down all issues in a way that the disability people understand,if its anytihng like over here it will be all tick box stuff that is only good at matching simple criteria they will not understand more complex impairments or impairments which vary in severity like ME,so if they turn it down and appeals dont work-a tribunal woud be the best help at getting explanation across.
now this is assuming woud want disability benefit,am not sure what point is exactly from the OP.

have ever seen an occupational therapist to see if any equipment or mobility aids help at all? if so,there must be irish organisations that offer grants or fund raising for disability equipment.

woud say the trouble getting disability benefit woud be worth it because it will open up access to other things,as many stuff use disability benefit as a way to say the person is registered disabled and definitely in need of their services or lower costs.

for the education side,what about looking into something such as open university- http://www3.open.ac.uk/media/fullstory.aspx?id=23704 as it is done from home and is open worldwide?
before even getting a course coud do some free ones with them-
http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/?__utma=1.1986419918.1341702524.1341702524.1341702524.1&__utmb=1.2.10.1341702524&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1341702524.1.1.utmcsr=open.ac.uk|utmccn=%28referral%29|utmcmd=referral|utmcct=/&__utmv=-&__utmk=132208910
havent got a clue what the free ones are like am just browsing through the site now,am personaly taught an ASDAN towards independance course PT at home as we have our own tutor,and in september am going to go to special college to do a photography course.
have a look whats out there before committing to anything,plus if are itending on going to a physical college or uni contact them first about access issues to make sure it accessible.

Bajingo

Have you looked at job bridge internships? Some require very little experience and pay 50euro on top of your JSA. It could be an option.

omahaid

confused man wrote: »

I completely ruined my leaving certificate but I can qualify as a mature student so that's nice.
But the idea of handling college is scaring me since I wasn't the best student at all.

I was the same but haven't looked back since college, I'd be on the dole or worse if I hadn't gone back to study. Plenty mature students these days too

LegacyUser

I mistyped. It's not stopping mobility completely. It's just really bad pains I get most times i walk and the physio advised me to rest when it happens, and since nobody has any idea (I'm currently seeing a doctor in a hospital about it) someone told me it can't be classed as disabled since they can't name the condition under than "he tells us he gets pains but so far nothing shows up".
I got refered to a physio and his best guess is so far i just have tight muscles and nothing that the other tests showed up.

the problem with college is that i'd still have to walk and i know i sound like i'm making excuses but i can't get insurance on a car since itll cost to much and being in the city means most things is in walking distance. except i was told not to walk if i get the pain again and i should stop and rest.
so you can really see how it's hard to get a job and say "sorry, can't walk, got told to rest, call me in ten minutes".

plus with college i have no idea even where i want to start. i don't mind taking a year doing and access course or anything like that but wouldn't i need ot wait till next september since its to late to register?

what's worrying me is if i did try to see if i can be classed as disabled (at least for time being till the doctors make it better) is will the welfare say "oh you not disabled but you can't work, your claim is void" and i'm stuck with no money at all

Bajingo

confused man wrote: »

I mistyped. It's not stopping mobility completely. It's just really bad pains I get most times i walk and the physio advised me to rest when it happens, and since nobody has any idea (I'm currently seeing a doctor in a hospital about it) someone told me it can't be classed as disabled since they can't name the condition under than "he tells us he gets pains but so far nothing shows up".
I got refered to a physio and his best guess is so far i just have tight muscles and nothing that the other tests showed up.

the problem with college is that i'd still have to walk and i know i sound like i'm making excuses but i can't get insurance on a car since itll cost to much and being in the city means most things is in walking distance. except i was told not to walk if i get the pain again and i should stop and rest.
so you can really see how it's hard to get a job and say "sorry, can't walk, got told to rest, call me in ten minutes".

plus with college i have no idea even where i want to start. i don't mind taking a year doing and access course or anything like that but wouldn't i need ot wait till next september since its to late to register?

what's worrying me is if i did try to see if i can be classed as disabled (at least for time being till the doctors make it better) is will the welfare say "oh you not disabled but you can't work, your claim is void" and i'm stuck with no money at all

Have you tried any therapies? My Da learned how to walk again after a stroke, similar enough a friend did the same. Hydrotherapy worked in both cases and they were both in bad shapes.
You've said it yourself, you can't work if you can't walk. Don't give up on finding out what's wrong and getting better.