Employment Support Allowance

Sash_2

Hi,

I work for the statutory sector supporting adults recovering from mental health difficulties.

In order to provide support, I feel I need to get to grips with the new Employment Support Allowance; previously Income Support and Incapacity Support, (Not sure if that is right).

Nobody has approached me with any concerns as yet, but clearly I need to know how it all works if I'm going to provide reassurance to service user's who I fear will become more anxious and pressured about returning to work.

How will this new benefit affect our client group?

GlasweJen

there's info on the directgov website. Basically instead of saying "I can't do x, y and z so i can't work" the applicant will be assessed to see what they can do and then be encouraged to do a suitable job. So if your mentally ill client can't work in a group he will be expected to find work in a non-group environment etc.

allydowd

Have you read this thread?

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1249501

allydowd

Mind, the mental health charity, have this on their website:

ESA

Also you might consider this...The CAB run trainings all the time for their own staff and are likely to be running courses about the new benefit. I would call your local one and ask if you could attend. When I worked for the CAB would would occasionally let outsiders sit in for a very small fee. Might be worth asking.