What happens to my benefits and council property if I go into respite care?

EltonJohnFan

Hi everyone,

I'm having a really hard time of things and I'm seriously thinking about going back into respite care for a while because my MDD (Major Depressive Disorder) has resurfaced again and I just don't know how to cope with things because I feel extremely low and my GP visited earlier today and said that he can arrange everything for me if that's what I want. I have a whole range of disabilities and those along with being unemployed (for over 8 months now) has left me quite isolated from the world. I'm also a full-time wheelchair user and this has really started to get to me too as I feel really restricted in whatever I do. I'm worried that I'll do something stupid and I just can't trust myself to not put myself at risk beause I've done things in the past and that is why I made the call today. My mother is coming over to visit me soon but as silly as this will sound I'm worrying about what will happen to my benefits and home if I go into respite care? I currently receive Disability Living Allowance and have an active claim for Jobseekers Allowance and I'm concerned that if I do go and seek the help I feel I need then I could come out to a whole lot of problems... missed appointments, no Housing and Council Tax Benefit and reminders/demands and other stress that could quite possibly tip me back over the edge because I feel like I have no hope and don't particularly want to live anymore.

I'm deeply embarrassed and ashamed by my situation and also to be claiming benefits because I have a very strong work ethic and would rather be employed but unfortunately, that's just not meant to be right now and I need to get myself sorted out before I can even think about returning to work. This has been a very hard decision for me but I'm sure it's the right one, know within myself that something's not right and my GP said it would probably be best to seek help. I'm not sure what will happen next but this will most certainly be my last post for a little while as I don't want to be here and need to get my head straight. I do, however, want you to know though that I really appreciate the help and support of everyone in this community and thank you very much for that. I'm worrying about everything all at once right now but the benefit situation is really getting to me and I can't stop thinking about it. I last had a flareup of MDD in 2008 and that entailed a long stay in hospital but when I came out I was immediately put on Income Support/Incapacity Benefit at that time but I understand everything's different now? It's all just too confusing for me and I can't concentrate on it right now and so I would appreciate your help so I know I can have this sorted out and just concentrate on getting well again. Thank you very much and have a great New Year.

welshmoneylover

EltonJohnFan wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I'm having a really hard time of things and I'm seriously thinking about going back into respite care for a while because my MDD (Major Depressive Disorder) has resurfaced again and I just don't know how to cope with things because I feel extremely low and my GP visited earlier today and said that he can arrange everything for me if that's what I want. I have a whole range of disabilities and those along with being unemployed (for over 8 months now) has left me quite isolated from the world. I'm also afull-time wheelchair user and this has really started to get to too. I'm worried that I'll do something stupid and I just can't trust myself to not put myself at risk beause I've done things in the past and that is why I made the call today. My mother is coming over to visit me soon but as silly as this sounds I'm worrying about what will happen to my benefits if I go into respite care? I currently receive Disability Living Allowance and have an active claim for Jobseekers Allowance and I'm concerned that if I do go and seek the help I feel I need then I could come out to a whole lot of problems... missed appointments, no Housing and Council Tax Benefit and reminders/demands and other stress that could quite possibly tip me back over the edge because I feel like I have no hope and don't particularly want to live anymore.

I'm deeply embarrassed and ashamed by my situation and also to be claiming benefits because I have a very strong work ethic and would rather be employed but unfortunately, that's just not meant to be right now and I need to get myself sorted out before I can even think about returning to work. This has been a very hard decision for me but I'm sure it's the right one, know within myself that something's not right and my GP said it would probably be best to seek help. I'm not sure what will happen next but this will most certainly be my last post for a little while as I don't want to be here and need to get my head straight. I do, however, want you to know though that I really appreciate the help and support of everyone in this community and thank you very much for that. I'm worrying about everything all at once right now but the benefit situation is really getting to me and I can't stop thinking about it. I last had a flareup of MDD in 2008 and that entailed a long stay in hospital but when I came out I was immediately put on Income Support/Incapacity Benefit at that time but I understand everything's different now? It's all just too confusing for me and I can't concentrate on it right now and so I would appreciate your help so I know I can have this sorted out and just concentrate on getting well again. Thank you very much and have a great New Year.

I have nothing to add benefit wise... but I think your priority is to get well and to start enjoying life again. Being employed isn't everything, having your health and your happiness is.

Good luck and happy new year, I hope 2011 brings you better fortunes

EltonJohnFan

Thanks for that. I'm trying to not think about things while I wait for my mother to come and visit me and being here helps because it's taking my mind off all the horrible thoughts that are racing through my mind right now. I'll probably go and stay with my mum and dad for a while as being there helps me too and I had a really horrible time of things with the snow recently which frightened me greatly as I was stranded in my home and couldn't get out and I think I should maybe think about moving back home permanently as everything would be so much easier that way. It's very embarrassing to admit to people that I have these sort of mental health problems but I recognise that they're harming me and that is why I need to take the help I receive and I'll see what happens after I speak with my mum as we're very close and I love her lots. I'm hoping to get through the New Year without any sort of major event and I think that by being around my parents I'll be just fine as they help to keep me calm and in order with stability. I desperately need to sleep and eat but I can't sleep and don't feel hungry even although I've barely eaten in days. I think my parents can provide me with the proper support I need and my limited mobilty means that having others to help me is very important and the only people I really trust are my GP, the team at the centre, my parents and my grandparents too because I don't have any friends here as I'm quite a bit out from where my parents live and all the people I used to know.

dawyldthing

i'm not too sure about what would happen about benefits, but to help you with gaining skills how about volunteering? I know a family member volunteered with Oxfam a few days a week and it helped give him employment skills as well as an up-to-date reference as well as friends and got him out of the house, so it could help and you can volunteer while on benefits and to my knowledge shouldn't affect them.

Hope things get sorted soon

[Deleted User]

OP i`m sorry to hear things arent great for you again,I hope that things improve in the new year,tbh i`m not sure about benefits in relation to respite care so wont try and offer advice in case im wrong,but the main thing is to get the help you need and i hope that happens.
Please keep us updated if you can,many of us on here care genuinely about those who seek our help,you will be in our thoughts.
John

clemmatis

Hello EltonJohnFan,

really sorry to hear things are so bad but glad your mother will be with you soon. As Welshmoneylover says, put your health and happiness first.

I hope you can keep us updated -- only if it isn't too difficult, of course,

take care

popxcore

not sure how respite care relates in terms of the rules about going into hospital

but when you go into hospital housing benefit and council tax benefit can continue for up to 52 weeks as long as you plan to return to the property

and i think jobseekers stops after 2 weeks and you'd need to claim esa

Kimitatsu

Hi EJF

You should be fine up to a period of 52 weeks under this rule:

<H2>Temporary Periods of Absence:

In certain circumstances, housing benefit may be paid for a period of up to 13 or 52 weeks where the claimant tenant is temporarily absent from the property they usually occupy as their home but they intend to return to it within that time period. Typical examples of a short period of absence may be where the claimant is detained in custody pending sentence or is serving a short prison sentence, or the claimant may remain entitled to housing benefit where they are detained in custody on remand pending trial or undergoing an extensive period of hospitalisation for up to 52 weeks.

</H2>

If you are hospitalised you may be entitled to benefits for your living costs under these rules:

Being excused from Jobseeker’s Allowance rules
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There may be times when you can’t meet all the rules for getting Jobseeker’s Allowance. You should speak to us if this happens – in some cases we may excuse you from meeting the rules so that you can still get your Jobseeker’s Allowance. This could be if you’re ill or have an emergency to deal with.
You can apply to be excused at any time in your claim. You should talk about it with your adviser.
What Jobseeker’s Allowance rules can I be excused from?

You may be excused from the following Jobseeker’s Allowance rules:

• being able to work for at least 40 hours a week
• looking for work
• having a jobseeker’s agreement
• living in Great Britain, or
• not being in fulltime education, on some occasions.

How do I apply to be excused from the rules?

If you don’t think you can meet all the rules for getting Jobseeker’s Allowance, you may need to fill in a form. Tell your adviser if you can’t meet all the rules or your circumstances change. We’ll tell you if we need any proof. You must let us know as soon as possible because it could affect your benefit.
How long can I be excused from the rules?
Jobcentre Plus will tell you when this will start. How long you will be excused depends on your circumstances. For example, students might be excused until their course ends. [FONT=ZMQHF E+ Helvetica Neue,Helvetica Neue]
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,

So your home would be safeguarded for you to return to (if you have a community warden it would be best to get them to keep an eye on the house for you and the council will board it up if you ask them). Before you leave respite care, you would then be able to do a rapid reclaim for JSA if you cant get excused andyou felt up to it or apply for ESA if you were deemed best to minimise your work for a while.

Had you thought about trying to move closer to your parents? With your illness, and ties to their local area, you should get up the list quite quickly, especially with the support of your medical team.

Its always a difficult time of year, so please take care of yourself, and take one step at a time. It was Martin Luther King who said "Take the first step in faith, you dont have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step"

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tcr_3

You need to prioritise your health, EJF, all else can wait.

That being said, JSA will stop if you're not available for work. And you can't really be available for work if you're in respite care, can you ? I know you don't want to, but you're going to have to think about claiming ESA instead of JSA. No-one will think badly of you for doing that. It's what it's there for, after all. And once you're feeling better in yourself and your general health improves, only then should you start thinking about the world of work & getting back into it.

I hope you have a better 2011 than this past year gone by.

Indie_Kid

DLA stops after 28 days.

GlasweJen

DLA will stop after 28 days while you're in respite but your house will still be there for up to a year. If you're going to be away for that length of time you'd be best getting someone to pop in and maintain it through the year for you - your parents if they are up to it?

When you come out of respite you can claim ESA which is like the new incapacity benefit. You'll have a medical with ESA at some point but if you fail it you can choose to appeal or go back onto JSA.

I hope that in terms of your home the above is reassuring. Please don't let the finances stop you from accessing proper care, a house is just bricks and money is just paper. Your health (mental and physical) is the most important thing you have, you need to make that number 1 priority.

I hope all goes well for you EJF.