Pretty Urgent - Need advice what I can claim before 4pm on tuesday :/

Harold_2

Right, I'll try and make this as concise as possible.

I'm 19 and I've been deemed unable to work since an admission to an acute phyciatric ward last june. I made a claim for DLA and Incapacity benefit. Both were accepted. (DLA at lowest rate care component).

I was asked to attend a medical assement last december. 3 weeks later I recieved a letter saying my incapacity benefit wouldn't change. On the 5th of january I got another letting saying I failed my assement and as I was well enough to work I'd be unable to claim IB or income support.
I showed the copy of the assement to my phsyciatric nurse who said it alot of it was wrong and in a couple of cases, the doctor said the opposite of what I had.

They've said nothing about my DLA, but according to the assment questions I don't think I'd still get it. I haven't heard anything about it, but I've not recieved any payments either.

She contacted my local jobcentre (who dealt with my claim) and they told her that whilst she makes my appeal I should claim JSA.
I filled out the forms and made sure to let them know I was medically unable to work and I'd been told to claim JSA whilst my appeal went through.
When I went to the jobcentre to sort out my claim they were just downright patronising and answered my questions by pointing out the semantics of the word 'jobseekers'.
So they've told me that I have to accept any part time job they offer and I have to prove that I'm actively seeking work.

I have borderline personality disorder, so social interaction and stressful situations aren't my forte. I did the wrong thing and accepted it out of desperation.

I realised my mistake, I was supposed to see my phsyciatric nurse today and I was hoping to ask her what to do. But she's had to cancel and I can't contact her, my physcologist or my phsychiatrist.

Right so sorry for the long read. My question now is are there any benefits I can claim? I'm going to the jobcentre tommorrow and telling them I made a mistake and I'm not willing to sign on (because there's no way I'm committing benefit fraud).
I literally have no money in my bank account, and as I'm recieving no benefits, I have to pay for my medication and therefore have no money to pay the prescription. And not having any anti-phsychotics isn't particularily enjoyable.

Are there any other benefits I could claim in the duration (All the doctors I see agree I'm unable to work) or are there any financial options I have?


Sorry for the long read and thanks for any help you can give

Loop

Oh lord, sorry Im not really any help, but I DO know what you are going through I have Bipolar (which has similar traits to BPD) and just wanted to offer you support!

Hope things work out for you, the CAB were very good when I was feeling like you are and confused about my benefits.

Lou xx

alien9211

Hello Harold

Apply for Income Support with disability premimum. Tell them you have been advised by Job Centre to go for JSA if you can not get Incapacity Benefit. Please make sure that you ask for disablity premimum as well. It will add another £24.50 in your income support.

Good Luck

Alien

Emmylou_2

Sorry I can't help much either. I'm another one with bipolar and have recently been awarded DLA at the high rate for care and low for mobility.

Have you been in touch with your local branch of MIND (http://www.mind.org.uk/) or your local DIAL (Disability Information and Advice Line) (http://www.dialuk.info/).

Although you say your CPN has cancelled your appointment and you can't get to see your psychiatrist, do you have an "emergency" number to call - if not, just call your normal number and let them know what a state you're in.

Remember though, if it gets to the point where you can't cope again, just head off to A & E - they can get you seen by someone on the Crisis Team really quickly!

Hope things get better for you soon...

healy

As an alternative to JSA you can claim reduced rate Income Support (reduced by 20% ) while you wait for your appeal.

Harold_2

Loop wrote:

Oh lord, sorry Im not really any help, but I DO know what you are going through I have Bipolar (which has similar traits to BPD) and just wanted to offer you support!

Hope things work out for you, the CAB were very good when I was feeling like you are and confused about my benefits.

Lou xx

I hadn't though of CAB, and having just checked their website my local branch specilises in benefits information!

Hello Harold

Apply for Income Support with disability premimum. Tell them you have been advised by Job Centre to go for JSA if you can not get Incapacity Benefit. Please make sure that you ask for disablity premimum as well. It will add another £24.50 in your income support.

Good Luck

Alien

Thanks, I've just had a look over the cover letter they sent about my medical assement, it says I won't be entitled to income support because I 'have to be availible for work'.

Sorry I can't help much either. I'm another one with bipolar and have recently been awarded DLA at the high rate for care and low for mobility.

Have you been in touch with your local branch of MIND (http://www.mind.org.uk/) or your local DIAL (Disability Information and Advice Line) (http://www.dialuk.info/).

Although you say your CPN has cancelled your appointment and you can't get to see your psychiatrist, do you have an "emergency" number to call - if not, just call your normal number and let them know what a state you're in.

Remember though, if it gets to the point where you can't cope again, just head off to A & E - they can get you seen by someone on the Crisis Team really quickly!

Hope things get better for you soon...

I'd not thought of MIND, and I hadn't heard of DIAL I'll get in contact with them and hopefully they should be able to help!

Thanks alot everyone, I didn't expect replies this fast!

Loop

Yes CAB usually have a walk in session too, so you should be able to see soemnoe today or tom. They were good, they know alot about mental health issues too, and see DLA claims turned down left right and centre, I suspect if you had been to the CAB from the start you *might* have won your appeal as my local CAb has about 80% sucessrate of winning on appeal or review.

I have been too ill to even get my head round my claim form, and when I sent the DLA off eventually they lost it, so I have never claimed, and failed miserably to do it agian.

Hey ho! Thinknig of you xx

Fran

You won't get Income Support with disability premium if you are not receiving DLA.

It is preferable to get JSA because of the reduced amount of Income Support. Tell them your limitations.

You could claim IS (reduced) if you are appealing.

The specialist benefits person at your CAB will be able to help with the appeal. You have a month in which to appeal.

mummymania

Have a look at https://www.entitledto.co.uk too.

Your local jobcentre should have a 'disability advice' worker who should be sympathetic to your situation. They are employed to advise people with MH probs. Im a CPN and am often at the jobcentre with my patients and they get great advice and help. Ask to see one of these workers, or ask your CPN to help you make an appt to see one.

HTH
Una x

cattie

If you can't afford the prescription for your med's then can you ask your cpn if it's possible for you to have a depo?

You need to talk to someone at your CMHT as soon as possible, as they won't want to hear you are having to go without your meds.

If you can't get hold of your cpn then there must be a duty nurse you can see. You may have to wait a few hours to be seen, but in an emergency they should be able to see you.

Kazzea

Even if you are on no benefits - if you have a low income you can claim exemption from prescription costs, dental costs etc through an HC2 certificate - and as long as you get the proper receipts you can claim back what you have already paid out up to 3 months ago.
http://www.ppa.org.uk/ppa/low_income.htm