Similar, but different.
I took "voluntary" redundancy in 2007, I was struggling after a stroke and other stuff, my job was being outsourced and my building was closing, so it wasn't entirely voluntary. I thought I could get another job soon enough - how was I to know the crunch was about to affect world-wide industry?
Anyway, I signed on for job seekers allowance, but after signing for a couple of weeks, the job centre chap told me not to be stupid and switched me to Incapacity Benefit (Later ESA) I was already on DLA from the stroke, so my GP was only too happy to certify me as sick.Since then I've taken my works pension, but as I'm on max DLA, my ESA continued unchanged (It is reduced if not max DLA)
I've got the dreaded PIP assessment next week to move off DLA. There's been horror stories about these assessments - people have been told they're fit as they can walk their dog - when they haven't even GOT a dog!
A welcome consequence of being on disability bens is I get a free assistant to go to watch City.