Which benefits?!? HELP!!

sjb83

Hi, I'm looking for some advice regarding which benefits I might be able to claim for...

I have recently (for the nth time) been signed off from work due to anxiety and depression. I have suffered from this for years on and off but it has recently struck again and am now in a position where I am currently receiving Statutory Sick Pay until unfortunately I am going to have to give up my job as the illness means I can no longer reliably turn up to work on a regular basis.

So, I went online to see what kind of benefits I might be able to claim for when my job runs out. I was met with a mass wall of information, which I can't really make head or tail of! From what I could make out, I 'may' be eligable for any number of the following:

• Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Tax Credits
• Disability Living Allowance
• Housing Benefit

My current situation is as follows: Living with parents, aged 28, not working at all.
Is anybody able to advise on which of the following I may be able to claim for?

Many thanks in advance,

sjb83

Sam____2

Your receiving SSP at the moment yes?

housing benefit- no as you live with your parents

DLA - doubtfull, you need to have suffered with your condition for at least 3 months and that it will continue for at least the next 6 months. and have care/mobility needs.

Income support- again doubtfull as your not a single parent or a carer

ESA- possibly but only once your SSP has run out from your current employer

Tax credits- not if your not working and have no children

sjb83

Sam___ wrote: »

Your receiving SSP at the moment yes?

Yes, until my employment finishes shortly...

Sam____2

sjb83 wrote: »

Yes, until my employment finishes shortly...

Have you had official notice from your employer that they are going to end your employment?

sjb83

Sam___ wrote: »

Have you had official notice from your employer that they are going to end your employment?

not as yet

maginot

You could apply for ESA after your employment finishes, however if they consider you to be able to work in another type of job, you may only be able to get JSA
If you are not working or have children you also won't get tax credits.
You may able to get DLA if you have extra costs associated with your illness and care and is long term.
No housing benefit available as living with parents so no rent costs.

MrsManda

Don't give up your job, if your employer wants to dismiss you on capability grounds they have to follow procedures, during which you'll still receive SSP.
If you just leave you will no longer receive SSP and may be sanctioned from claiming Employment Support Allowance (I'm not sure how it works with sickness benefits but voluntarily leaving employment often means a JSA claim is sanctioned).

Once you're no longer entitled to SSP either because you've been claiming for 28 weeks or you are no longer employed you can put in a claim for Employment Support Allowance.

serious_saver

DLA - this may well depend on your specific diagnosis. If you have a long term condition that requires certain treatment then you may be able to get something but you won't if they believe it is a bout of depression that you will get over.

Otherwise I agree with the other posters

McKneff

The worst thing you could do for/to yourself is resign from your job.

Wait till the company lets you go.

Hope things go well for you.

Muttleythefrog

Yeah some good advice above. I wonder what medical advice you're getting or support. That help may give some idea what the future could look like. I'd probably advise not quitting work.. let them dismiss you if needs be. When SSP or work ends it is worth looking at the possibility of claiming ESA (out of work benefit for those 'unable to work') and at any time DLA (benefit for those with 'care/mobility needs')... the backing of medical professionals around you could be helpful for both. Probably you will have to decide whether the mental health problems can be gotten around with treatment or a different work environment or job type and thus your next train of thought could be towards new career/job or change of role... or if they are so serious that you're not going to be able to reliably hold any job down in which case medical treatment and sickness benefits may unfortunately be the sensible option in the short/medium.. perhaps even long term depending on how treatment works/your conditions fluctuate.

Good Luck.

sunnyone

serious_saver wrote: »

DLA - this may well depend on your specific diagnosis. If you have a long term condition that requires certain treatment then you may be able to get something but you won't if they believe it is a bout of depression that you will get over.

Otherwise I agree with the other posters

Wrong, DLA has nothing to do with diagnosis its about how you condition (which dosnt even have to be a diagnosed condition) affects you on a daily basis, the condition must have been present for 3 months and be expected to continue for at least another 6 months for DLA to be applicable but it dosnt mean that an award will be made though.

Dont give up your job OP, thats the worst thing that you can do.