What are the benefits of a colostomy?

I have a little more than £25 Disregard from Benefits... What about a Paper Round?

• Hi there, I have been told by the Job Centre that I am allowed to earn a around a little more than £25.00 before my Benefits are affected. I get Incapacity Benefit + an Income Support Top-Up and D.L.A. Please don't tell me about 'Permitted Work' of less than 15 hours and also around £100.00 (P/Week) because I am well aware of this. If I do 15 hours work, I lose my Income Support + Premiums and also Housing Benefit. I have been told that I am allowed to earn £26.57 (P/Week) before my Income Support starts getting reduced. I have Mental Disorders including Schizophrenia and slight Mobility Problems. I can't be on my feet for long periods of time. My Mobility is not severe enough to warrant High Rate MOBILITY on D.L.A but I do get Low Rate MOBILITY and High Rate CARE. I do hope that I can go back to work in the future and doing a job that is only a few hours a week will ease me back into it. But I see it pointless in having my Income Support stopped by earning more than £75 in Wages rather than Income Support + Premiums thus having Housing Benefit Stopped. Its like robbing Peter to pay Paul. What they give with one hand they claw back with another. I have to make the best of my situation and that is to stick within the threshold. What about a Paper Round? They get between £20.00 - £25.00 (P/Week). Local News Agent currently employs a School Kiddy so if they leave I could possibly be next in line if I put my name forward. I cannot walk such a distance delivering News Papers but I can go on my Mobility Scooter which would be perfect. Has anyone got any other ideas about other jobs that would be ok and earning around £20.00 - £25.00 (P/Week)? If I was to do this would I automatically be expected to get a job and be found "Fit For Work" when migrated from I.B and I.S to E.S.A and I know of failed medicals and that they can put you on J.S.A in a heart beat. Advice please? Please no scrounger comments. I don't wish to be on Benefits forever and am merely seeking advice on this matter. I hope to be off of Benefits at LEAST by the time Universal Credit comes into place. I want little to do with the U.C. Many thanks, Lin. x

• Answer:

  I think perhaps a newspaper delivery round might be difficult in more ways than one. You need to start really early and papers are delivered to houses before 8am. It will depend very much on how you can cope and manage with getting up and out the house in time. But the major problem is going to be getting to the letterboxes and getting the papers in the door. Many peoples kerbs and paths will be an obstruction rather than a help. I know you would not manage to navigate my path in it. Rather than looking at actually earning and possibly compromising your benefits have you considered contacting your local volunteer bureau and seeing what is available in you area. It can be done on benefits and it will possibly open doors to other opportunities later in and give you a CV item.