What are my options for benefits if my GP refuses to allow me to work?

EltonJohnFan

Good afternoon everyone,

I recently had a very bad flare up of my MDD (Major Depressive Disorder) and was admitted to a specialist care unit (at my own insistence) for a few days until I felt well enough to return home again. I've had a lot of horrible things happen in my life and these have stuck with me no matter how hard I try to forget them and I was also feeling very low because of not having a job and being desperate to work as I'm deeply ashamed of being unemployed as it's only in the last year or so that I've been having problems work-wise. I was also fed up of being disabled (a full-time wheelchair user) and just generally feeling shut off from the world and I'm now liasing with my GP, Mental Health Nurse and other health professionals who've stated that I must go and stay with my parents again for my own safety and that's exactly what I've done and it's definitely been a wise decision for things are so much easier here for me and to have my parents around means a great deal.

I feel a lot more comfortable here and I can relax without things bothering me too much but I'm trying to get everything sorted out and though I'm not sure what will happen next I don't want to let things worry me too much incase I take another turn for the worse again as I feel very fragile and as much as I try I can't stop worrying about silly things. My mum's telling me to just forget about things and rest but I'm due to sign on at the Jobcentre on Monday and I don't want to get in trouble for not attending. My GP has stated that he will not allow me to work and that I must sign off from Jobseekers Allowance but I generally feel that I have no energy to do anything and just haven't go round to this yet.

I'm due to have a visit from my Mental Health Nurse again on Monday morning to make sure I'm coping a little bit better than I was but I need to know that they'll not stop my Disability Living Allowance, Housing and Council Tax Benefit or my Jobseekers Allowance because if they do then I won't be able to pay for my home and I'm afraid I might lose it altogether. I'm not sure what benefit I'll have to claim as my GP didn't state this at the time but he did mention that under no circumstances was I to work and that he'd check back to see how I was on Tuesday morning. What do I do from here? can you tell me what sort of support is available for someone in my position? I have a lifetime history of being badly disabled and having mental health problems and this is about the only place I feel comfortable asking for advice without being judged. Thank you very much for your help and many apologies if all of this is just a little bit confusing as I've tried my hardest to explain it as best as I can.

tcr_3

As said before, you need to apply for Employment & Support Allowance instead of Jobseeker's Allowance. That way you might be able to better concentrate on your health instead of worrying about signing on & looking for a job.

ESA claim lines are open Monday to Friday, from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm.

Contact 0800 055 6688

EltonJohnFan

Thank you very much.

I was told by my nurse to completely forget about my benefit situation as that's the least of my worriies but I'm the sort of person that worries about everything all at once and that means I can't settle when something's on my mind. I'll see what she says on Monday morning, really appreciate the telephone number and hopefully I can take things from there.

Thanks again and enjoy your evening.