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18, unemployed, no qualifications, and a mental illness sufferer. Benefits questions?
bargainbonkers
Posts: 25 Forumite
Hi,
I've been so confused with what to do as far as benefits are concerned. Everyone has been going on at me left, right and centre to be on benefits, but I've always been unsure about it!
I've suffered with panic attacks and depression since I was 14, the illnesses led me to leaving school early with no qualifications. I also had family problems so I had to leave home. I am renting now with my boyfriend, but I'm unemployed, still stuck with the illnesses and I'm not contributing to anything. My boyfriend pays half, and my mum pays the other. Recently she has been hinting that I definately need to stop asking her for money for me to live, and I know deepdown that is my most wanted intention, but because I live in fear jobseeking has been a real problem for me... In fact, just leaving the house has, as I do need someone with me if I am alone out of the house. It is only recently that I have starting reassuring myself that I'm not likely to have a panic attack in my home.
As this illness is really running my life, I have obviously considered counselling but my main question is benefits. I was wondering about disability benefits? Do they take the depressed and the anxious into consideration? And then there's housing benefit.. Would I be eligible for that? As for jobseekers, I've avoided this since my boyfriend tried it when he was made redundant a while ago - It seemed like it wasn't something I could do because down to my fear I had limitations - You had to apply for so many jobs a week or month and I wanted to stay as close to home as possible with the fear of walking alone so I wasn't able to just apply for anything, and I'm still not now.. therefore I wouldn't have been able to keep to their terms.
My only job was with my father, one which I quit because of the low pay. I've been unemployed for 10 months now and I'm thinking I need to take action.
Are there any benefits I may be entitled to?
I've been so confused with what to do as far as benefits are concerned. Everyone has been going on at me left, right and centre to be on benefits, but I've always been unsure about it!
I've suffered with panic attacks and depression since I was 14, the illnesses led me to leaving school early with no qualifications. I also had family problems so I had to leave home. I am renting now with my boyfriend, but I'm unemployed, still stuck with the illnesses and I'm not contributing to anything. My boyfriend pays half, and my mum pays the other. Recently she has been hinting that I definately need to stop asking her for money for me to live, and I know deepdown that is my most wanted intention, but because I live in fear jobseeking has been a real problem for me... In fact, just leaving the house has, as I do need someone with me if I am alone out of the house. It is only recently that I have starting reassuring myself that I'm not likely to have a panic attack in my home.
As this illness is really running my life, I have obviously considered counselling but my main question is benefits. I was wondering about disability benefits? Do they take the depressed and the anxious into consideration? And then there's housing benefit.. Would I be eligible for that? As for jobseekers, I've avoided this since my boyfriend tried it when he was made redundant a while ago - It seemed like it wasn't something I could do because down to my fear I had limitations - You had to apply for so many jobs a week or month and I wanted to stay as close to home as possible with the fear of walking alone so I wasn't able to just apply for anything, and I'm still not now.. therefore I wouldn't have been able to keep to their terms.
My only job was with my father, one which I quit because of the low pay. I've been unemployed for 10 months now and I'm thinking I need to take action.
Are there any benefits I may be entitled to?
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Comments
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When did you leave education?
Does your partner work? If so, how much does he earn.Gone ... or have I?0 -
I left education when I was 15... and my partner gets £1040 net p/m I think!0
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its a tough one, im a year older you and i too have mental health issues (bipolar)
first thing id recommend is to get a support worker, mine helped me alot i didnt know the first thing to do
of course due to your fear of panic attacks it wont be easy to go and see one, but im sure they could come to you
sorry i cant help more but i thought id give my 2 cents0 -
Thanks Dave :beer: Do you have to pay for a support worker?0
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If you're assessed as needing one you should get it through the NHS.bargainbonkers wrote: »Thanks Dave :beer: Do you have to pay for a support worker?
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/HealthAndSupport/MentalHealth/DG_10023439
I think your first priority is getting yourself down to your doctors and telling them everything. Then, and only then you should start thinking about benefits.
It depends on if your fit (and availible) to work amongst other things. If your GP doesn't think you should be working they will issue you with a sicknote, if thats the case you'd then be looking at applying for employment and support allowence. BUT if he doesn't giove you a sick note and thinks oyu'd be ok to work then you'd need to apply for jobseekers.
Both of those might be affected by your bf's income (you'd be assessed as couple for benefits purposes) but i'm not 100% someone else will have better advice,
If you feel you have care and/or mobility needs due to your mental health problems you could try applying for Disability Living Allowance. My advice would be ask for help filling in those (and in fact all) of the forms. You can get this help from a support worker (if allocated one) or from CAB, or a local charity (MIND/Rethink/DIAL etc)
As for the question "do they take the depressed...into consideration", yes they do but it can be a bit hit and miss with the system. Plenty of people onhere will tell you how hard or near impossible its been to claim help, but i seem not to one of them, i have depression and bpd and was put on ESA (support group) and DLA (MRC,LRM) +HB and CTB with no problems.This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com0 -
yes they take depressed and anxiety into account for benefits. you should apply for them, they won't force you to apply for jobs if you are too sick to be working. there's no stigma attached to being on benefits, a very large percent of the population are on them from MPs huge benefits expenses down to people claiming child benefits and working tax credits.Martin has asked me to tell you I'm about to cut the cheese, pull my finger.0
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dave4545454 wrote: »yes they take depressed and anxiety into account for benefits. you should apply for them, they won't force you to apply for jobs if you are too sick to be working. there's no stigma attached to being on benefits, a very large percent of the population are on them from MPs huge benefits expenses down to people claiming child benefits and working tax credits.
unless you post in the discussion forum in the arms....
This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com0 -
OK, you will not qualify for payments under ESA CB or IB. However you may still claim it in order to keep your NI Conts up to date.
You may claim DLA based on your care and mobility needs. If you are new to claiming benefits, you would be best to get someone to help you with this form.Gone ... or have I?0 -
How can I claim benefits?
If I were on benefits then I could get my teeth fixed, get the glasses I need, arrange favourable payment terms for my debts and save a fortune on council tax. If I didn't own my flat then I'd be claiming for rent too.
I've had panic attacks and I feel that I shouldn't be working because I'm unsociable and that's a clear personality disorder. I am absolutely terrified of travelling on buses for some reason and I'm certain that I'll lose the means to run my car soon. Are these grounds for benefits?
My personal opinion is that a lot of people need a kick up the proverbial and get on with doing something. I work with people who can barely communicate intelligibly but they can stack shelves and clean. Some of them can't keep a thought in their head for more than a minute but they still perform basic tasks effectively under supervision.0 -
This all sounds a bit confusing as I'm new to benefits. I'll make an attempt at getting disability allowance.. Bit worried about being rejected but all I can do is hope! Would I be able to get housing benefit on top of this?0
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