Advice Needed - income support

GlasweJen

Also DLA is not an out of work benefit, it's for people who need help with personal care and with mobility. You can't claim the mobility component of DLA if you don't go outside. DLA does not usually involve a medical.

ESA is for people who need support to work, it is an out of work benefit and does involve a medical. The Work Related Activity Group of ESA involves up to 6 meetings with someone from the job centre which discuss how you'd be able to get into work. They can send you on courses or encourage you to volunteer. These meetings can be done by phone but I'd imagine they would be aiming for the latter ones to be at the JCP as you progress towards work.

LadyMorticia

GlasweJen wrote: »

Where did anyone say you shouldn't have children?

I am trying to understand but even meeting your partner online doesn't make sense, surely it's more nerve wracking to go and meet a total stranger than it is to have a regular appointment? Your partner could have been an axe murderer or anything! Also unless you had all your dates in the house then I'm stumped.

Quite a few posts have been deleted, so that would explain the "Shouldn't have children" comment.

LadyMorticia

OP, I know you said that you've tried CBT for the Agoraphobia, but how about Exposure Therapy? It's hard going but surely anything is worth a try? The therapist could even visit you at home.

Are you under the care of your local mental health team? Alot of mental health teams have a sort of support worker (I think they're sometimes called Recovery and Support Time Workers or something to that effect) who could help you work towards managing your Agoraphobia and learning to go to unfamiliar places etc.

I used to have severe Agoraphobia so I do know what it's like. I still have to have my husband with me when I'm out as I have severe Anxiety but at least now I can actually go out the door, albeit with my husband. I know that your situation is slightly different but it's about working towards something and it feels like such a big achievement when you've managed it. I know that people might think I'm still not that better as I have to have my husband with me (but I'm also physically disabled so need him with my for physical support too) but I have come a long way from not being able to go out the house to at least being able to go out (when physically able that is).

There is help out there for you.

Faith177

I had panic attacks whilst suffering with depression and it is the most horrible feeling in the world so OP i feel for you.

I could be fine in a crowd of people at a gig but go into tesco with 30 ppl in it at 7 or 8 am and I would freak out couldn't walk through the doors couldn't breath ect.

Be able to get on the bus to town in the morning not be able to get home as I couldn't get on the bus to go home an hour late.

These attacks vary every time sometimes a situation you have been perfectly fine with the previous 20 times will suddenly become unbearable.

I still have the nervous feeling on a regular basis but i have learnt to deal with this when it happens and OH know warning signs ect and can get me calmed down or talk me through it and this is 3 years later!

FBaby

Surely trying to go to the job centre is the way forward. If you manage that will be a fantastic step forwards allow you to claim benefits and be closer to considering employment. It would be the boost your self esteem needs. If you really can't manage and suffer panic attacks there that will be medical evidence to support an esa claim. the biggest mistake to make with your condition is to assume you will with certainty not cope with a particular situation and therefore avoid it when past experiences have shown that you do at times cope.

LadyMorticia

OP, you've said that you have a chaperone to take you to unfamiliar places. Would you be able to have a chaperone take you to the job centre for however long it takes for it to become familiar to you?

mikey_bach

If you are not fit for work claim ESA then.
Get a fit not from the doctor and take it from there.
If your I.S ceases your HB will straight away there is no run on.
But you should inform HB yourself if I.S closes
If you are awarded ESA you will get HB, but if your partner does move in it will effect everything