please can someone help (SSP)

hundreds_of_shiny_buttons

Since late May 2011 I have been off of work and have been receiving SSP from my employer.

I was diagnosed with Social Anxiety and Depression and have trouble with all sorts of everyday tasks, and this seems to have been getting worse rather than better recently. I’m now starting to become a bit stuck which is causing my anxiety to become worse in many situations to the point where often I find it difficult to leave the house.
My doctor initially diagnosed me in October of 2010 with depression, which is a condition I have been suffering with for much longer. Due to the high levels of anxiety I found it difficult to admit to myself that something wasn’t right and even more difficult to admit it to others much less health professionals and those I work with. Eventually my flat mate took me to the doctor’s surgery and made me speak to him about it. Since then I’ve been on various medications and have been struggling to find one that actually makes me able to function.

In May when I was last at work I was finding it more difficult by the day and would often go to the toilet and sit in there crying for no real reason, or I’d sit at my desk fighting with the tears and feeling trapped. The environment I work in is very high stress and I am part of a small team of women who are all very vocal about how unsympathetic they are towards those suffering with mental illnesses. Whilst I’ve been there I have seen a colleague practically bullied out of her job and have been witness to a lot of name calling and gossiping behind peoples backs. Although this has all been mentioned it is often dismissed as hearsay or useless without evidence.

My doctor referred me to both a therapist and a local ‘fit for work scheme’ neither of which I feel have helped me at all. I find therapy difficult because I find it confrontational and after a number of sessions where I became extremely upset I stopped going. Each week I had the intention of going but I found myself still sitting on the sofa worrying about it way past the appointment time. This social anxiety has also lead to me having difficulties with things like claiming housing benefits. I get to the stage where I manage to motivate myself to get to the office but then I get there and it’s all too much for me. It’s noisy, it smells and there are people in there swearing and acting aggressively. They seem unable or unwilling to help me if I contact them on the telephone and I’m getting to the point where even making a phone call or opening my mail causes me to cry, shake and eventually I just don’t do the things I need to do.
I’m now getting to a point where I just can’t avoid these tasks anymore; because my rent is overdue all of my bills are late. I’m racking up bank charges and more than anything I can hardly afford to eat, let alone even go and fetch my prescription or make a doctor’s appointment.

Are they any organisations that can help me or advise me what I can do? Does anyone know of any other money I can claim? SSP doesn’t cover the essentials let alone the extra prescription charges and other medical expenses I have (no free prescriptions on SSP).

MrsManda

Hi I haven't read your entire post because I cannot cope with solid blocks of text. However as far as I can tell your question is regarding whether you can get any extra support while receiving SSP.
If this is the case, the answer is yes you may be able to receive other benefits.
If you don't feel able to go to the council office to fill out a housing benefit/council tax benefit form then call them and ask for the forms to be sent to your home.

It's also worth calling the benefits helpline at the DWP to see if you can claim Income Support while on SSP.


You may be able to recieve help with paying for your prescriptions via the NHS low income scheme.
You need to fill out a HC1 form which you can get from your doctors surgery, pharmacy, request one online or call form filling service and get them to fill out the form over the phone.

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1130.aspx

https://apps.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/LISWebAppStaticData/orderLISForm.do - to order online

Form Filling Service

If you need a hand making your claim, call us on 0845 850 1166. One of our advisors will be pleased to help. We can even fill the form in for you and send it to you to sign and return to us.

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Documents/PrescriptionServices/Help_with_Prescription_Charges_etc_v2.doc - opens into word document.

Muttleythefrog

You're really having a bad time of it. I'd follow the advice above. It might also be worth thinking more long term... about your future. At the moment you're trying medication so there's still plenty to play for in terms of possibilities. Unfortunately like you I seem to suffer for these medications... after trying the SSRIs I have been prescribed a tricyclic and it is taking me down like a lead balloon in terms of function. It sounds like talking therapies might have limited use if indeed you may find such encounters too demanding or confrontational. But long term your job you may decide is not suited if the high stress is a driver for the anxiety and depression... so perhaps think about alternative work or ultimately the last chance saloon.. life on long term sickness benefits.

It might be worth you looking into Disability Living Allowance as a non means tested (i.e. not dependant upon hoiw much income you have or whether you work or not) benefit for those meeting specific tests of mobility and care needs. Social anxiety and depression could potentially give rise to day to day effects that can result in awards of both care and low rate mobility... but it helps to have good factual backing from your GP or a specialist involved in your treatment... and often the help of Welfare Rights or the like to help with the application form.

If you were to lose your job or run out of SSP you'd probably be looking to ESA for income. But you're not at that stage yet.. follow advice in previous post.

Good luck.

hundreds_of_shiny_buttons

Thank you for the advice bot of you. I'm sorry about the block of text. I had typed and formatted in MS word but the formatting didn't seem to show on here.

Just called the housing benefit people and the lady who answered the phone to me was extremely rude to me asbecause I live in a shared flat she told me that I don't qualify as I'm not on the tenancy agreement. I explained why this is (there are only two of us and the letting agent allowed just one of us to be on it to save us on fees). I explained that the I have been paying rent and that I have claimed before in the same situation with a letter from the person I sublet from (although some years ago). She offered no sympathy and basically insinuated that I'm lying.

It's not even 9am yet and I am devistated by this news and I've just found out that I haven't been paid any SSP today and I don't know why. I have a terrible headache and I had every intention of trying to sort everything out today but I don't think I'll be doing more than getting back in bed again and trying not to think of the situation.