Advice needed please

Youngwoman

I'm new here and not really sure what forum to put this in and need a little advice if anyone could help at all that would be fantastic

I am on employment and support allowance (the work related activity group) because i have agoraphobia and social anxiety. I also do get housing benefit and council tax. Also applied this week for disability living allowance because i cant go out alone. i am basically housebound apart from when my mother has a day off work and i can go out for the day with her.

Anyway i really need to get a car as i had a car over a year ago until it completely broke down and had to go and i feel it helped being able to go out in my car and at least get some kind of life and freedom back. now i know i won't get a loan because i don't have a job but is there any kind of help out there for me to beable to buy a little decent car?

Any little information or advice would be amazing. Thank you

dmg24

If you have been claiming IB ESA you 26 weeks, you could apply for a Budgeting Loan. However I doubt they will grant you anything, because claiming ESA for agoraphobia would contradict the need for a car.

[Deleted User]

if and its a big if you are awarded higher rate mobility component of DLA then you can exchange that for a motability car,otherwise i cant think of any other help towards buying a car.

Youngwoman

ESA already know my safe places are my house obviously and the car i use too have. They have no problem with that, i can't be in public places alone is the problem so i don't see why it would contradict the need for a car.

dmg24

Youngwoman wrote: »

ESA already know my safe places are my house obviously and the car i use too have. They have no problem with that, i can't be in public places alone is the problem so i don't see why it would contradict the need for a car.

I understand you can be in a car, but a car takes you to places, what will you do when you get there? They are not going to pay for you to drive round in circles.

woodbine, the only way the OP would qualify for HRM would be if they were deemed to be a severe mental impairment - agoraphobia/ social anxiety would not qualify.

Jowo_2

Look into something like a credit union which are set up for those on low incomes to see if they offer loans to those on benefits. Some have a criteria where you need to prove that you have the discipline of saving, before it will allow you to take out a loan.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/credit-unions

Youngwoman

I would beable to drive to my grandparents and see them instead of being stuck in my own house. i would beable to go and pick up my best friend and go to a shop.

It may come across as tiny things but too me doing things like that is a massive deal considering i'm stuck in my every day and evening of the week.

I start CBT soon and hopefully over time i will become better at doing tiny things on my own. But i feel the no transport is holding me back as i am 10 times worse this year without a car.

Oldernotwiser

Youngwoman wrote: »

I would beable to drive to my grandparents and see them instead of being stuck in my own house. i would beable to go and pick up my best friend and go to a shop.

.

How can you go shopping if you have agoraphobia?

welshmoneylover

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

How can you go shopping if you have agoraphobia?

Hmm, I was wondering that myself :think:

Youngwoman

Agoraphobia means i can't go out alone. It does not mean i can't go out at all.

If you go on the NHS website and type agoraphobia you will clearly see what agoraphobia means and those who don't understand my illness will understand what it means before judging me

Also i did not say shopping. I said to a shop.

DX2

Agoraphobia is a term that is used to describe a number of related phobias (irrational fears) that are connected to situations such as:

• leaving home
• entering shops
• being in crowds or public places
• travelling alone on buses, trains or planes

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/agoraphobia/Pages/Introduction.aspx