Quit work to care for G/F with mental health issues or carry on with SSP??

DEBTMONKEY1A

Just to say she seems better 2day & because its the 1st single episode-bought on by stress-the docs are 100% sure that once gone (will take time!) she should be fine with the correct help... with a 90% chance of no recurrence....Have to say though the most frightening thing to see-especially her in hospital after being sectioned! Hardest thing to go through...all the best tatie! Will keep thread updated re:what goes on....

tatiepot

Pleased to hear, things are improving.My best advice is to keep talking, don't get frightened by everything you read or in the case of our lovely Mental Health hospitals, what you see. Keep helathy, you need to be strong, at times for the both of you !! Stress is a difficult commodity to handle but be positive, human beings are really amazing, we can overcome. Atleast that is what i tell myself everyday. You will get there , time helps.
Hugs to you both.....

DEBTMONKEY1A

Hi all,

Well.... mammoth DLA form filled in! As well as the help from you guys the local Councils Benefit Advice Guy (same office as CAB) was brill & went through form with me. Just to be safe I'm contacting a welfare office at MIND (the mental health charity) on Monday who can also make sure form is properly worded-as mental health is such a hard thing to describe!

One quick question...other 1/2 is signed off sick till 21 June & her contract ends 20 May. Obviously on 20 May I'll put in for housing benefit. ESA will need to be claimed & council benefit guy said even though she's been on her work sick pay (1/2 her wages) we'll need an SSP1 form from her payroll department to send with ESA claim? Is this correct-I'm a bit confused. Also-to keep claiming ESA will she need another sick note on 21 June?

DEBTMONKEY1A

bump bump!

sue1953

Thank you Penny

DEBTMONKEY1A

bump bump! Anyone?

angus1

Hi, I've just claimed ESA because of mental illness aswell. I received sick pay through work too and yes, had to provide a SSP1 form to ESA. This came automatically from my payroll dept when my sick pay ended. (I did email them about 2 weeks before it was due to end to remind them that I would need it as soon as my sick pay finished).

I do still need to provide sick notes to ESA - I think you have to do this until they tell you otherwise (possibly after you have had a medical assessment by them).

DEBTMONKEY1A

Thanks for that Angus. See my previous posts re G/F illness. Angus-did they put you through horrible medical examinations/make you see a doctor etc...straight away?

She had a serious psychotic episode in Jan-so bad that she was sectioned for 2 wks-now she SEEMS better (& am happy with progress) but she's still recovering & any anxiety/stress could kick this off again (she did try & go back to work 4 weeks ago-managed 4 days & then the intrusive unwanted thoughts started & doc signed her off for 8 weeks).

Bearing in mind this was/is a quite serious mental illness (even though at the mo she SEEMS fine/better)-will she have to attend docs/intervies/have people coming to the house? She would find this stressfull. We can get letters from her key worker to confirm if needed. Any ideas?

angus1

Hi debtmonkey, it sounds like you've had a really distressing time and I can understand you wanting to protect her. I've had a pretty awful time and go between episodes of feeling better then awful again and then better. For me, each time it doesn't take quite so long to get through it and I know that I will get through it and will eventually get better.

Anyway, i'm not an expert on ESA only know from my own experiences. I haven't had my medical assessment yet. Most people have one and it happens within 13 weeks of when you are first awarded ESA - the first 13 weeks are called the assessment phase. You also usually have to go for a work assessment interview. They will also, where appropriate, get information from your own medical workers. (I've only been receiving ESA for a few weeks).

At the end of the 13 weeks, if you are still entitled to ESA, they put you into either the work group or support group. If you are in the work group you attend meetings and get help and support to prepare you to get back into work, at your own pace and with no pressure. If you are in the support group, because the illness is so severe, they leave you alone although you can ask for help if you want it.

I personally hope that I'm put into the work group because I desparately need to feel useful again, just for a few hours a week. After being sat at home for 7 months I need routine back and to feel worth something. I have just had my employment from the job I loved terminated because of my illness.

My occupational therapist says not to worry about the process, they are much better and more understanding now and that just take each little bit of the process at a time. She also said that if there are any problems she would contact them for me. I am sure that no one comes to your house.

Hope that helps. Try not to worry, I'm sure it will all go fine.

DEBTMONKEY1A

Angus-wish you all the best. She's SO frustrated & wants to be back at work! But-her last 'relapse' (allbeit not as serious as being sectioned but distressing!) was partly caused by going back to work too soon & generally 'walking before you can run' (!)....also she was on risperidone which caused some symptoms, ie restlessness & muscle rigidity, etc that added to the anxiety. She's now on one small dose of olanzapene each night & prozac-touch wood it's going fine so far. As this was her 1st episode bought on by extreme stress hopefully will be her last. I'm off work too with stress & high blood pressure to look after her & am getting some grief now from my work. As she's from overseas (allbeit been here for a good few years) her friends are abroad & she has no-one in the UK within 150 miles of her to make sure shes ok-so it's all down to me.

I wish you good luck! The mind-hard to beleive what it can do!