Doctors note

Chloesnavy said:

Hello. I'm still ill, and have been for about two months now. Basically, I have a concern. I've recently been put on ESA, (employment support allowance) to help start up my business. I only get this money for six months. I worked so hard to get to where I am, I went to countless meetings and sorted out my business plan etc and finally got accepted. The problem is, I've been feeling so ******... that I haven't really been able to have the motivation to do anything. I work from home (I paint and sell on eBay, but I've only got two paintings up ATM

) but I haven't made much money at all...
will they stop my money? Will they be angry at me for not making the money I said I would? I was thinking maybe a doctors note... ah idk

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Don't surrender easily. If there is a will, there is a way.

What were the conditions you signed up to @Chloesnavy ? Do you have to make X amount of money a month? Do you have to spend X amount of hours a week working on your business?

And do you mean Enterprise Allowance rather than ESA, which is a disability benefit?

How has the diabetes been?

Is your illness making control more difficult....?

Chloesnavy said:

Yes enterprise allowance is what I meant haha. Well they're gonna check up on me soon I think. I had to estimate how much I'd make per month and I've barely sold anything :-( I'm just worried. I've woken up now and feel sicky and I just feel so exhausted even though I slept loads yesterday and last night

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Read the information you were given initially to see if you had to fulfil any criteria about making money.

If you do, then can you inform them, stop the Enterprise Allowance and swap to a more appropriate benefit/scheme now you're ill? That's what I'd do.

Give them a ring and see what they say. You won't be the only person this has happened to.

It's great to just do what you love without regard for finance yet when the two can be paired it's wonderful. There are a lot of ways of creating and distributing art. I don't do much of it, yet have friends who have local and Ebay art sales for certain works and then have a sort of sideline selling posters and pins and even silkscreened clothing for more of a mass-market price point. I'd be interested in seeing some of your work if you can post or PM a link. I believe fatigue is common for diabetes and for me anyway the solution is to go take a walk or a bike ride three times a week to keep my energy high. It's counterintuitive to be short on time and energy and need to spend time (exercise...) to then sort of make more time but....