18, unemployed, no qualifications, and a mental illness sufferer. Benefits questions?

Kimitatsu

BB - actually mental illnesses are being taken more notice of for the purposes of DLA, IB etc, the issue is the same as physical disability in that it affects everyone differently and that finding a way to assess the impact on someones life in a fair manner is a minefield.

Having said that, I do know of several cases that have been awarded DLA on the basis of mental health issues, but as has been said really you need to go and see a welfare rights worker who will be able to help you fill out the forms and get together the evidence that you need.

Go and see your doctor and tell them everything that has been going on - you can always ask for an appointment outside of normal surgery hours because 10 minutes for a normal appointment probably wont be enough! Ask them for a mental health support worker (those guys are superstars) and they will also be able to help you identify other sources of funding that will be able to help you get the skills you need and to get back into work.

Keep your chin up, it seems a mountain to climb at the moment but you seem really determined and one day you will look back and see how far you have come. :T

bargainbonkers

Thanks all who contributed to my question, it has really cleared up a few things for me and definately pointed me in the right direction. :j

dehaani

You're very welcome and best of luck to you.

kingfisherblue

Just to clarify something about DLA - it isn't the disability that qualifies someone, it is the effect that the disability has on that person's life, regarding their care needs and their mobility needs.

Physical disabilities can obviously restrict people in certain ways, but so can mental health problems. A detailed account of how those problems affect you needs to be written on the forms.

Dehanni, whilst a phobia is a mental health problem, it is unlikely that you would receive DLA for this alone. Many people have phobias and manage to live 'normally' (I use this word with care and I don't mean to offend anyone with its use). I think that for DLA purposes, mental health problems would have to be more severe than a phobia of buses.

dehaani

kingfisherblue wrote: »

mental health problems would have to be more severe than a phobia of buses.

The phobia is not of buses per se, it's travelling on buses. It's potentially quite restricting. Thanks for the feedback.

bargainbonkers

Dehaani I have read your other posts and it does contradict what you said to me, therefore I won't take your "advice" on board, as if you were so quick to warm to the idea of benefits after speaking about them in an opposing manner towards me, I'm not going be convinced by what was an insecure belief.

As far as your fear of buses is concerned, if you may lose your car, then unless your workplace is too far away from your home you could always walk.

System

bargainbonkers wrote: »

I do agree with you, but I'm looking for benefits not to grab for as long as I can but to serve as an aid with living costs, while I get the help I need through therapy so I can go and get a job, feel okay with it, and then be off benefits. I don't feel benefits are an excuse to not have a job.

I agree with you completely. I don't see benefits as a lifestyle choice, more as a go between. IMO i need thisd time to recover to the point where i am am able to work again. I hope to achieve this within the new year. Right now i cannot work, my condition is far too unstable, the slightest stress ends up with me suicidal amongst other things. Its better for me to take a small amount of time out of work to recover than it is to force myself to work when unable.

dehaani

bargainbonkers wrote: »

... unless your workplace is too far away from your home you could always walk.

Why didn't I think of that? :rolleyes:

LizzieS_2

kingfisherblue wrote: »

Just to clarify something about DLA - it isn't the disability that qualifies someone, it is the effect that the disability has on that person's life, regarding their care needs and their mobility needs.

Physical disabilities can obviously restrict people in certain ways, but so can mental health problems. A detailed account of how those problems affect you needs to be written on the forms.

Dehanni, whilst a phobia is a mental health problem, it is unlikely that you would receive DLA for this alone. Many people have phobias and manage to live 'normally' (I use this word with care and I don't mean to offend anyone with its use). I think that for DLA purposes, mental health problems would have to be more severe than a phobia of buses.

True with regard to DLA, but I can also see Dehanni's point that it could be more a phobia than disability - unable to work, left school early, unable to communicate but on the other hand can meet a strange man and move in with him.

To the OP, you don't know what you qualify for unless you try claiming.

bargainbonkers

My anxiety and panic attacks start up if I do anything alone. Stepping outside of my front door, travelling, getting from A to B alone I have very bad problems with, whether it is walking, bus, taxi, whatever, so I do spend most of my time inside. I've been to psychiatrists, even had residential rehabilitation paid for for me and none have stopped the fears from coming back. It is an issue that has developed from experiences in my upbringing and moving away from home kept me from committing suicide.
It's very embarassing to talk about but I know I have to in order to to get help. I think this is one reason why I avoided benefits for so long. I recently walked to the postbox alone which is a few strides away from my house, which is the only thing I have done alone since the anxiety got worse a couple of years ago. I also have some stupid beliefs, like whenever I see a road I feel like I could any second jump into the traffic, and if I'm on a path I think someone is going to jump at and well, kill me.

It's got to sound so ridiculous to others, but thats a few of the things that contribute to my mental health issues. If I don't recieve benefits then there's nothing I can do, but I will definately try.

Just to clarify, my boyfriend wasn't a strange man, he was my best friend since childhood!