Interview Dèsirée 34
On the way to job training/internship
Dèsirée never finished upper secondary school and lived on activity compensation for a long time. She was then refused sickness benefit and her finances have been difficult. She has also been shuffled around by different authorities and has not felt able to influence her own life.
Thanks to her coach in the Lumena project, she has been supported in dealing with authorities and is more positive about life and is being helped to apply for a remote internship at 25%.
What was your living situation before joining Lumena?
In the last year I've been working quite a lot, I've started physiotherapy and two years ago I went for treatment to get rid of morphine. I was given morphine for my pain with remautism.
What was your financial and housing situation before joining the project?
I moved almost ten years ago. At that time I had activity compensation, so I was doing pretty well because it's a decent compensation. I could afford to take care of myself and my cats, but then when I turned 30 I was refused sickness benefit. Then my finances got worse and then when the corona came and all prices were raised, it became chaos in my finances.
What have been the consequences for you?
I can no longer afford to take care of my cats, my parents do that for me. I also can't afford to eat food more than once a day. When I do eat, I have to make sure it's cheap protein. Because of my liver disease, I can't eat beans and things that are cheap so I buy mostly ground beef or chicken. I can't afford to buy a piece of meat, for example. I haven't done that for four years because it's too expensive.
Before the project, did you know what rights you had to different things, such as the possibility of coordinated support, or other interventions? Did you have any knowledge about it?
Not very much. I have social welfare, housing support and home care. Home care is also a problem, if I start working and earn more than SEK 12,700, I will have to pay for home care, which is two and a half thousand a month.
How did you learn that this is how it works?
Mostly Google. I've learned a little bit through the Trappan activity centre, and my housing support has helped me a bit. My mum has also helped me a lot with getting information.
How did your studies work out before you joined the project? You mentioned before the interview that you never finished high school?
No, I never finished upper secondary school and I was not allowed to study it at Komvux. I did a year of vocational training but had an extreme relapse in the second year and had to drop out. That was the last time that programme was available so I couldn't do it again the following year unfortunately. It was a UX programme that taught how to work with websites and how they are designed, and I especially wanted to go more into disability adaptation because then I could use my disabilities for something positive.
What opportunities did you feel you had to influence your own life before the project?
None at all, it was mostly "now I'm in this situation and have nothing to do". I have been very depressed and have several suicide attempts under my belt
Because of what you just mentioned?
Yes, partly that, partly the traumas I had been through. But it felt like the only way out of the situation.
I have been very depressed and have several suicide attempts under my belt.
So you felt that several agencies were telling you "This is the way it is" rather than telling you what the possibilities were, if I understand correctly?
It has often been nonchalant, "yes, you're just one of many". I've also felt that it's more important what the doctors say than what I say is happening in my life, there's nothing in-depth about how I feel or what I want to do. And when I've made suggestions about what I could try, it's "But that doesn't sound credible, it's not possible, it's not going to happen so you can give it up".
I've also found that it's more important what the doctors say than what I say is happening in my life, there's nothing in-depth about how I feel or what I want to do.
This question ties in a bit with what you've already told us, but have you felt listened to?
At social services I feel listened to, I have a great caseworker there. It was after the last time I was hospitalised in psych. Then they put in a lot of instances. Someone came to the clinic and then I got a caseworker at the social welfare centre in Sollentuna municipality. Then I found out about the Trappan activity centre and that I could start going there so I had something to do during the day. And my caseworker has been supportive and said that if I want to do something more, you can help with that.
How did you get involved in the project?
It was via the Public Employment Service and the Social Insurance Agency, the social worker was also involved. It was via a SIP meeting (Coordinated Individual Plan). That's when the issue of work training came up. They said it could be a fit because I have the difficulties I have.
Did you feel that you received coordinated support?
Now I only have contact with my coach in Lumena, so it feels good that I don't have to argue with the Social Insurance Agency.
Now I only have contact with my coach in Lumena, so it feels good that I don't have to argue with the Social Insurance Agency.
What has it done to your health?
It's much better now, my creativity has come back, I've started painting again. I've been so scared about the budget and how I'll manage.
Is there any particular event that made you extra seen and heard. I'm thinking about this with compassionate treatment?
"Yes, when I'm at the Trappan activity centre, the staff are very encouraging. If you're too tired, there's no pressure, you do what you can. They are just happy that you turn up and I think that feels very good.
It's the activity centre I go to now instead of working because I've been at home since I finished high school.
I thought it was boring before when I got activity compensation and asked "is there somewhere I can go when I can?" so I can meet other people instead of just sitting at home, I got the answer from the Social Insurance Agency "no, there is nothing like that for someone in your situation". It was a bit "no sit in your flat and do nothing".
How long have you been involved in the project?
Only two months but I think my job coach is working very well and she has suggested that I should apply for sickness benefit on 50% because I was only going to apply for 25% but she has said that I need recovery too.
Do you have a plan now that you feel comfortable with?
Yes, I will have a phone call with my coach tomorrow who will tell me a little about the places she has applied for internships in a little more detail. She has applied to some municipal contact centres and the like. Then maybe I can sit a little away from home and work if I have a bad day, I can still work.
What does the future look like if we talk about it?
I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel now. It feels like something might actually happen and that's really nice. I'm still worried about finances but luckily I'm moving in with my boyfriend next year. He says "if you can't work, I'll take care of it" because he earns so well.
I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel now. It feels like something might actually happen and that's really nice.
You feel a certain confidence in the future?
Yes, I feel that way, I have been struggling for a long time.
Praise for the project - is there anything you think could be improved?
The biggest carrot was if you could fix the compensation because it is impossible to get the compensation you have from the Social Insurance Agency.
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