No Income and apparently not entitled to Benefits, what can I do?

rierie81

I broke my leg in January, leaving me unable to work, in August my sick pay ran out, but I did get a bit of holiday pay owed for a few weeks after this, I applied for DLA and ESA (Income Support replacement) in August, I have just received letters stating I'm not entitled to either, I understand the DLA as my condition is improving albeit slowly.
However I am appealing the ESA decision as they decided I can do things that I was never asked if I could do and never asked to do either.

While I await the appeal however I have no income, I know I can't get a crisis loan because I have no money and wouldn't know when I could pay it back.
I can't apply for Jobseekers Allowance because I'm unable to work, I've looked at other benefits but I don't fall into the right criteria, is there anything I can do to get a bit of money while I await the outcome of the appeal, which if the last 6 months are anything to go by, could take until June.

Any help at all will be much appreciated. I'm lucky as I have family who can help me out, but they're starting to have problems of their own now.

computershack

Did you terminate your employment or did your employer let you go? If you don't qualify for ESA, you're going to have to claim JSA. You've only got a problem with your leg so there's a whole raft of jobs you're more than capable of doing.

dmg24

Were you declined ESA following a medical? If so, you can continue to claim the assessment rate whilst appealing the decision.

Fire_Fox

Why are you unable to work? You might be unable to do the same job as previously, but it doesn't necessarily mean you can't seek alternative employment.

sulkisu

Can you clarify your employment situation. I read your post as saying that you are still employed, but no longer receiving sick pay from your employer? Is this correct?

rierie81

Yeah I ONLY have a problem with my leg where I'm using crutches and scared to go out anywhere alone.
I'm still having physio treatment from the hospital because my leg can't bend or straighten completely.
My employer hasn't yet terminated my contract, but I have a meeting on Friday when they will discuss it, as my Dr. has said I can't work, that's why I have a sick note and am unable to work.
I live a bus ride away from the nearest town and I have no income which means no bus fare, I can't use stairs, which means I can't go to the toilet in the majority of places I would be able to reach if I had an escort to help me.
Which is why I was asking for help, not someone just saying oh you're fine go and do a job.
I can't carry things as I have my hands full with my crutches, I can't kneel or squat, I can't walk without difficulty and I can't go anywhere without someone I trust.

I haven't been given anything from ESA except one payment, because they keep saying I need to provide medical evidence, which I have done 3 times and yes it was after the medical assessment, where they decided I could kneel, squat and go out alone without even asking me if i could, which is why I am appealing.

dmg24

Are you saying that you have mental health problems that are stopping you from working?

rierie81

No I have physical health problems that are stopping me from working, not mental health, unless you count me being scared of falling over after a fall a mental problem.

Dunners

Your employer could try and find you alternative role at work if you ask for this.

Sorry but I agree with the above poster - having a bad leg does not stop you from working - there are plenty of people who are disabled and manage to find sustainable employment that suits them.

Why not start looking at your situation positively and assess what you can do, not what you can't?

dmg24

rierie81 wrote: »

No I have physical health problems that are stopping me from working, not mental health, unless you count me being scared of falling over after a fall a mental problem.

Being scared of falling over is not sufficient grounds to stop you from working. Is there any reason why you cannot work in an office/ call centre environment?

I honestly do not think that your ESA appeal will succeed.

rierie81

OK I can walk around the house myself, I can just about carry half a plastic cup of water if I take it really slowly using one crutch.

As soon as I get to the front door I need someone with me, so I'll need someone with me to the bus stop, on the bus and anywhere unfamiliar to me, which means I can't work unless it's from home or someone can be with me all the time.
There is no work I can do at my current place of employment because I can't get up the stairs to the job and they have no other way of getting up there.

Do you really think my employer hasn't asked what they can do and tried to get me back to work, because they have and it's been decided that they can't offer me anything and will be terminating my contract due to ill health.

I asked for help, not judgement by people who have no idea what it's like.