What Benefits am I entitled to?

ModdedMotor

Hello all,

I was hoping that someone could help me out on these forums. I would like to know what Benefits I am entitled to. I was severely abused as a child and now suffer from Depression and Anxiety Attacks. I am undergoing counselling and taking a cocktail of medication.

At present, I have been out of work for a little over 12 months. I am suffering from Panic Attacks so severe that I cannot go to the shop around the corner alone. I cannot make it to Tesco's to complete a Weekly Shop and often buy my shopping online because of the fear of going out. My partner works full-time, but I am unable to cope without him. I cannot leave the house without him.

I am currently claiming:
Incapacity benefit
Childs Tax Credit

I am getting no other benefits.

My reason for asking is not greed or selfishness. I am struglling to keep up with my Mortgage Repayments and pay bills. I was hoping that someone could help me or point me in the right direction. I am wanting to go back to work, but at this moment in time am unable to do so. I have to attend many meetings or interviews from different people with relation to the Incapacity Benefits, but using Public Transport causes me to have major attacks, and my partner has to take days off work - many unpaid because we have used all his holidays up.

I also have 2 small children (9 and 8) and have a Mortgaged Property.

Please help me.

Damzel_In_Distress

I think you are claiming everything you are entitled to,as far as i can tell there is nothing else.

dmg24

Welcome to MSE ModdedMotor,

Does your partner live with you?

Have you considered applying for Disability Living Allowance?

ModdedMotor

Thanks,

My partner does live with me yes. Without him it is a major struggle. I will look up the Disability Living Allowance now.

dmg24

Here you go.

Is your husband a high earner? If not, if you are eligible for middle or higher rate care on DLA it may be worthwhile him giving up work (or greatly reducing his hours) and claiming Carers Allowance.

Damzel_In_Distress

I have removed this post and am going to contact the DWP for further information,as i may have been informed incorrectly.

feelinggood_2

Damzel_In_Distress wrote: »

And you cannot claim disibilty living allowance or carers allowance for someone with depression/anxiety etc... i know this as i suffer from pretty much everything the OP said in her first post. It is not a disibility and they dont give you benefits for it .

I claim DLA (lower rate care and lower rate mobility) for Depression and Anxiety due to Childhood abuse.

OP - the forms for DLA can be a bit daunting, they are quite long and not all of it is relevant, so if you have a CPN, Care Co-ordinator or Support Worker, it might be worth asking for thier help to fill out the forms. I know that when I'm low I struggle with concentration and getting overwhelmed with things, and a Support Worker was very helpful with the form.

healy

Damzel_In_Distress wrote: »

I cannot belive you are advising people to give up work to claim benefits :eek: and during a resession

Clearly you have a strange view of the benefits system and why it is there if you think people should be giving up work to claim . :rolleyes:

And you cannot claim disibilty living allowance or carers allowance for someone with depression/anxiety etc... i know this as i suffer from pretty much everything the OP said in her first post. It is not a disibility and they dont give you benefits for it .

There are many people who claim DLA for depression and anxiety if it is severe enough. Have a search of this forum and you will see it has been mentioned many times.

You are giving alot of misleading and incorrect advice at the moment and that is not helping people who are in genuine need of assistance.

bestpud

Damzel_In_Distress wrote: »

I cannot belive you are advising people to give up work to claim benefits :eek: and during a resession

Clearly you have a strange view of the benefits system and why it is there if you think people should be giving up work to claim . :rolleyes:

And you cannot claim disibilty living allowance or carers allowance for someone with depression/anxiety etc... i know this as i suffer from pretty much everything the OP said in her first post. It is not a disibility and they dont give you benefits for it .

It is a disability and I can assure you people claim DLA for it, as I have in the past.

There is a difference between feeling a bit stressed and/or low, and the symptoms the OP describes. There is also a big difference between minor and major depression.

If you had truly experienced this, I am sure you would not deny it is a disability.

OP - I agree it may be easier if someone can help you fill in the application, but do apply as it seems you are eligible.

alwaysonthego_2

To the op book an appointment with your local cab who will be able to help you fill out your DLA forms.

Do not listen to the poster Damzel-in-distress, she clearly does not know what she is talking about. You have a good chance of claiming DLA. If you get awarded the middle rate or above of the care element then someone can claim for carer's allowance. It may be worht asking the cab if they can do a quick benefits check so you can get an idea of what you would be entitled to if your husband became your full time carer.

BookJunkie

ModdedMotor wrote: »

Hello all,

I was hoping that someone could help me out on these forums. I would like to know what Benefits I am entitled to. I was severely abused as a child and now suffer from Depression and Anxiety Attacks. I am undergoing counselling and taking a cocktail of medication.

At present, I have been out of work for a little over 12 months. I am suffering from Panic Attacks so severe that I cannot go to the shop around the corner alone. I cannot make it to Tesco's to complete a Weekly Shop and often buy my shopping online because of the fear of going out. My partner works full-time, but I am unable to cope without him. I cannot leave the house without him.

I am currently claiming:
Incapacity benefit
Childs Tax Credit

I am getting no other benefits.

My reason for asking is not greed or selfishness. I am struglling to keep up with my Mortgage Repayments and pay bills. I was hoping that someone could help me or point me in the right direction. I am wanting to go back to work, but at this moment in time am unable to do so. I have to attend many meetings or interviews from different people with relation to the Incapacity Benefits, but using Public Transport causes me to have major attacks, and my partner has to take days off work - many unpaid because we have used all his holidays up.

I also have 2 small children (9 and 8) and have a Mortgaged Property.

Please help me.

Hi ModdedMotor

Sorry to hear about your situation, I hope things get easier for you and the counselling helps.

My situation is similar to yours, i suffer from anxiety & panic attacks possibly from my past post traumatic stress which has led me to not be able to go out on my own, like you i also have panic attacks even going to the corner shop without my partner. This has now been confirmed as agoraphobia (as you can also suffer from the condition when you are unable to go out alone but able to with support) so thought it might be of help to you knowing what i claim for. I claim for:

* Disability Living Allowance - only the mobility component as i do not need 'care' but just help with getting out and to the shops etc as i do not go out alone and help with making phone calls - this gives an extra 17.75 a week - it is the lowest rate.

* Income Support - for both myself and my partner as my partner is currently unable to work due to illness. I'm not sure if you could apply for this solely whilst your partner is working but maybe your partner could be entitled to working tax credits if your total income together is low. Dont take my word for it though, phone up and ask or there is more info about this here

I also could have claimed Incapacity benefit (my medical proved i was entitled to this but i had not paid enough NI contributions as i had been suffering with this for the last few years and unable to work. during this time i did not claim for anything - my partner supported me from his wages - but stragely this has now gone against me and i thought i was doing the right thing by trying to get support from just my family and not getting help until i was absolutely struggling.

I found out what benefits i could apply for by my partner phoning up JobCentrePlus and explaining our situation and they were very helpful, but i also have heard that your local citizens advice can assist in advising you in what you are entitled to so it might be helpful for you or your partner to phone them. there website is here

My counselling starts next week and i hope it will lead onto cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as this has been a help to me in the past and i hope to be able to get back to work as soon as i can - good luck with everything

Hope this helps.