I need some advice here

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Im on Jobseekers allowance and I hope to be starting a computer course next week but im at a cross roads at the moment. I have had an awful cough since August, Iv had to go to my local GP numerous times and finally I was sent to the hospital where I was kept over night and was sent away with some medication which didnt work. So I was sent to a respiratory Specialist and have found what the trouble is but the 5 medications havent worked and I was due back to him today but he cant work today.

I had everything crossed that I could get better before the course started but its not looking good. Some people may say its only a cough but its extremely loud cough. Is it unfair that I go to the course even thou I have this cough?

My worry is that once im off job seekers allowance, I wont beable to get back on it if I leave the course early because of illness.

StillWaters

Im one of the ones who will say it's only a cough. If you are not ill with it, and it's just an annoying cough which will abate, I would go on the course.

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To give you an idea what its like, its like a whooping cough

leeomurchu

If you have to leave the course early for medical reasons you'll need to have it certified at the least.

Is the cough hindering your carrying out a days work or is it just an annoying cough.

If it's just an annoying cough pull up your big girl pants and go on the course.

If your doctor advises you to not go on the course(doubtful) then he'll cert you off.

Sounds like you're looking for an excuse to avoid doing the course and keep your benefits to be honest. Another one playing the system.

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"Sounds like you're looking for an excuse to avoid doing the course and keep your benefits to be honest. Another one playing the system."

what absolute rubbish, what garbage. How dare you judge someone when you have no idea the state they are in.

I absolutely want to do the course but I was warned on the phone when I was talking to the person over the course about my cough. I have no problem going to the course but im worried about putting the other students and teachers off their work. My doctor has left the choice to me, he thinks that I should do it but also sees the cough being a nuisance to others.

mp22

If your gp says you are fit for work you can go on the course.If you are ill on JSA.
If you are not entitled to pay for sick leave

If you are not entitled to sick pay from work you may get Illness Benefit if you have enough (PRSI) social insurance contributions - see 'Rules' below. If you do not have enough social insurance contributions, you should contact the Department of Social Protection's representative (formerly known as the Community Welfare Officer) at your local health centre. The Department's representative will assess your situation and may give you a Supplementary Welfare Allowance.

leeomurchu

"My worry is that once im off job seekers allowance, I wont beable to get back on it if I leave the course early because of illness."

You sound really worried about putting off the students alright???

If you're fit and able to do the course then there's no reason for you not to.

Do you honestly think a welfare officer will understand you not going on a course because you think your cough might be annoying to others.

I mean come on a bit of common sense surely, go on the course and if there's compalints about your cough then seek a solution.

If you were as eager as you make out I can't see any reason for you asking the initial question anyway as surely you'd just go on the course.

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leeomurchu wrote: »

"My worry is that once im off job seekers allowance, I wont beable to get back on it if I leave the course early because of illness."

You sound really worried about putting off the students alright???

If you're fit and able to do the course then there's no reason for you not to.

Do you honestly think a welfare officer will understand you not going on a course because you think your cough might be annoying to others.

I mean come on a bit of common sense surely, go on the course and if there's compalints about your cough then seek a solution.

If you were as eager as you make out I can't see any reason for you asking the initial question anyway as surely you'd just go on the course.

How can I seek a solution when even doctor, specialists are having trouble diagnosing the problem. Actually talking to a welfare officer today and they saw for themselves the cough and were very understanding.

I think you see me as a time waster but im the total opposite. I just dont want to be pushed out of the course and then be off jobseekers allowance.

I was warned by the fas worker over the course about my cough, they said somthing along the lines of being irresponsible of me to do the course with my cough

username123

leeomurchu wrote: »

I mean come on a bit of common sense surely, go on the course and if there's compalints about your cough then seek a solution.

Exactly, a bit of common sense needed.

A cough will be interruptive to teachers and other students alike.

If the OP goes off Jobseekers and then has to leave the course, the wait time to get back on Jobseekers could cause them massive financial strain, something that will only be exacerbated by the fact that its coming into winter now and heating costs are higher for all of us.

Your health is the single most important thing in this life. All else comes second to it. Look after your health, you dont need to prove yourself to anyone here, do whats best for you, stress wont help your health either.

confuseddotcom

leeomurchu wrote: »

If you have to leave the course early for medical reasons you'll need to have it certified at the least.

Is the cough hindering your carrying out a days work or is it just an annoying cough.

If it's just an annoying cough pull up your big girl pants and go on the course.

If your doctor advises you to not go on the course(doubtful) then he'll cert you off.

Sounds like you're looking for an excuse to avoid doing the course and keep your benefits to be honest. Another one playing the system.

If someone has a proven/obvious blatant smoker's cough, usually it's just a case of put up with it and get on with things. If someone is sitting beside you with a really annoying excessive un-bearable consistent sniffle; - when you get to the stage of having put up with it for long enough, you would tell them to either go home to bed or go to the Doc. and get it sorted out. Poster is prepared to go to the Course with the cough but is just looking for views about such a cough having to be put up with in class. Not everyone is out to "play the system," despite your type usually always in-correctly assuming so and because of this making it harder for those people who aren't.

O.p. you haven't given much to go on about the actual cause of your cough, but I would see what the Doctor advises to do, after all he/she would be the person who knows best. contrary to Going on what you have said, in my own humble personal non-medical opinion; - it appears you're in the "finding treatments" stage after finding out that something IS wrong, so, this would equate to you being ill and unable to "actively seek work" so this may rule out receiving a *Jobseeker's*-type Payment. Hope you can work things out.

leeomurchu

username123 wrote: »

Exactly, a bit of common sense needed.

A cough will be interruptive to teachers and other students alike.

If the OP goes off Jobseekers and then has to leave the course, the wait time to get back on Jobseekers could cause them massive financial strain, something that will only be exacerbated by the fact that its coming into winter now and heating costs are higher for all of us.

Your health is the single most important thing in this life. All else comes second to it. Look after your health, you dont need to prove yourself to anyone here, do whats best for you, stress wont help your health either.

In a perfect world that's exactly how it would work but it's well known if you don't show up for a course. You end up back at square one.

OP I in no way think you're a time waster and you're cause for concern is refreshing as usually these courses are only used as a means to extend benefit payments.

Only recently i was in the same boat as yourself and witnessed many a scam and time waster so appologies for taring you with the same brush.

I'm lucky enough to be back earning a crust now and probably a bit bitter with the system for not even being offered the opportunity of a course.

In your case I'd say go to the course or if possible apply for a similar course that you can do from home there's plenty of these on offer although not sure what would suit ya.

Good Luck with anyway hopefully it'll be a means to an end.

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username123 wrote: »

Exactly, a bit of common sense needed.

A cough will be interruptive to teachers and other students alike.

If the OP goes off Jobseekers and then has to leave the course, the wait time to get back on Jobseekers could cause them massive financial strain, something that will only be exacerbated by the fact that its coming into winter now and heating costs are higher for all of us.

Your health is the single most important thing in this life. All else comes second to it. Look after your health, you dont need to prove yourself to anyone here, do whats best for you, stress wont help your health either.

Thank you username123. That is defiantly somthing to think of

I have a plan tomorrow to go to my local fas worker who im friendly with and get their advice. I desperately want to do the course and iv looked for the same course at a later date but no luck and infact this computer course was nearly terminated since they couldnt find the instructors so its possibly now or never on this course tbh

My other hope is that I do the course and maybe ill get back to health during it but ill have to take time off the course since they'll must likely have to put a camera down my chest

Tombi!

Just go for it. Once you just explain to the instructor and do your best to pass your tests and learn the stuff even if you miss a few days, they'll be fine with it.

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I had to cancel the course. Im gutted tbh. I would have to take days off during the course to meet my specialist and possibly hospital visits so it wouldnt work unfortunately. The same course will be on next year so hopefully ill be okay for that.

username123

Headshot wrote: »

I had to cancel the course. Im gutted tbh. I would have to take days off during the course to meet my specialist and possibly hospital visits so it wouldnt work unfortunately. The same course will be on next year so hopefully ill be okay for that.

Sorry to hear that but your health is more important.

On a practical note, my husband kept being put on a waiting list for a FAS course that got cancelled once, then the next free place was months away etc, after weeks of faffing about it turned out it was also available as an online course (naturally no one in FAS had told him) and he was able to start it the same day.

So maybe see about online FAS course options?