Help Please, Regarding Signing Off and back on JSA

boa_girl22

Right this one is very awkward, so need peoples help as to what to do.

My partner cannot work because she suffers from stress, agoraphobia and SAD (Social Phobia)

Because of this we very rarely go out anywhere where there will be any amount of people.
The furthest she will go alone (without me) is walking the dog down the street, she has to take a sleeping tablet before we do the weekly shop, just to calm her down enough to go.

The people at ESA refuse to acknowlege this as a disabillity or impairment, so we have to claim JSA.

Despite the fact that she often has panic attacks and makes herself sick with stress, often for days after, we still go to the JSA sign ins every week / fortnight.

Now they are trying to push her into work, forcing her to go to interviews for things she would never be able to do, though as I've explained to the advisors, as my partner can only manage to answer questions and basic converstation, she is just not able to deal with the amount of people and stress involved with working, they do not care.

So now we are having to sign off Jobseekers.

Now what can we do?

Though I would happily work myself, there is no way, even full time, that I would be able to support both of us and pay the rent etc. especially as I am too young to get tax credits and other support.

Despite the fact that we've read the point system for ESA, and my partner adds up to more than 15 points, she was not awarded any by ESA, they would not even consider her claim, stating stress was not an impairment/disabillity.

Our only option is to sign off JSA for a certain amount of time and try and live off our savings and the help from our parents, until we can start JSA again as a new claim, but how long do we have to wait before we can start a new claim with JSA?

marcusmarcus

i thought stress was a factor in the esa paperwork?

Vader123

boa_girl22 wrote: »

My partner cannot work because she suffers from stress, agoraphobia and SAD (Social Phobia)

Because of this we very rarely go out anywhere where there will be any amount of people.

Just before I (and others) offer advice.

Can I check that this is the partner that went with you :

1) on a cruise :

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2600221=

2) Sea life centre blackpool

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2585285=

3) Thorpe park :

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/34009321#Comment_34009321

4) Holiday "anywhere"

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/33942821#Comment_33942821

Given that all these places will involve people,crowds, queues, whats the deal with not being able to accept a job offered with people?

I suspect I will get grief for "looking at past posts" and judging the circs here, but something does not ring true?

Are you getting the full story from your partner?
Can she deal with the crowds of a theme park, the bustle of an airport, or the confines of a cruise, yet can't work in a office.

If nothing else, I hope you see my point?

Vader

FBaby

Sad, so sad, just helping to brew cynicism every time you read about someone considering themselves victims for not getting benefits despite suffering from severely delibitating mental health problems...

Loopy_Girl

May I suggest online shopping...no need for the drama to get a weeks worth of messages in.....

Loopy_Girl

And can I just say it before the OP comes back....


those previous threads will relate to a different girlfriend 'natch;)