Back on the ESA merry-go-round

Pippin12

I know you said studying with the OU is out but I've studied with them in the past and the support they give to disabled students (including those with a mental illness) is unparallelled.

DepressedInsomniac

Dunroamin wrote: »

I think you're being deliberately obstructive with this information and very negative in your attitude.

Whilst I appreciate that this may be because of your mental health issues, it's worth remembering that people are trying to help.

Why am I being obstructive/negative? You implied that I should move somewhere cheaper and I told you that there is nowhere cheaper and that this is also my family home so no way would I even consider it. What, give up a secure tenancy to do what exactly?

It has absolutely nothing to do with my mental health issues, moving house just isn't an option. I find your questioning to be rather rude and intrusive if I'm honest.

DepressedInsomniac

Dunroamin wrote: »

Surely your family aren't going to be concerned whether or not you have a degree before offering you employment in the family business?

As much as I'm sure they would love to do this, there are some professions that you actually need to be qualified in before you can be employed, hence the degree!

DepressedInsomniac

Pippin12 wrote: »

I know you said studying with the OU is out but I've studied with them in the past and the support they give to disabled students (including those with a mental illness) is unparallelled.

Maybe so, but they don't offer anything in the line of field I will be studying unfortunately.

Just to to clarify to everyone. I'm studying a particular degree at a particular university and it's non negotiable. My support network is already in place and I will not be moving house. I appreciate the advice but I wasn't actually looking for alternative pathways. The one I'm on is set in stone.

Face1992

DepressedInsomniac wrote: »

That's right, I live in MY family home.

Do you live in your family home by yourself or are others living there with you?

DepressedInsomniac

Face1992 wrote: »

Do you live in your family home by yourself or are others living there with you?

Yes, my family live with me, i.e. my children. Why the fixation on who/what/where I live when it's not even an issue. I've already explained moving house isn't an option. If the ESA stops then there will be no university. I can't see how I can myself any more clearer.

Apologies if that sounds rude but I feel as though I'm being scrutinised here now and that's not something I need in light of the stress I'm facing with this assessment.

Face1992

DepressedInsomniac wrote: »

Yes, my family live with me, i.e. my children. Why the fixation on who/what/where I live when it's not even an issue. I've already explained moving house isn't an option. If the ESA stops then there will be no university. I can't see how I can myself any more clearer.

Apologies if that sounds rude but I feel as though I'm being scrutinised here now and that's not something I need in light of the stress I'm facing with this assessment.

Sorry, I got the impression you were renting from family and were paying them £120 a week for it.

FBaby

DepressedInsomniac wrote: »

You're very fortunate, they are few and far between. My only hope of returning to employment will be within the family business, hence why I'm hoping to complete university and get my degree. This is why it's so vital I keep my ESA now as my long term plans are my only hope of living a reasonable life and one which I can support myself. If they pull the rug from under me now I face spending the next 20+ years languishing on ever reducing benefits and scrutinised every few months. That's no life at all, at least one not worth living

I think this message reflects the attitute of many claimants who feels harrassed by the DWP. Benefits are not in place to fit around YOUR plans, or anyone's for that matter. They are rules and YOU need to fit around them.

If you go with the attitude that if you get ESA, you will get to study, you will get to work, and you will get to support yourself and your family, but if you don't get ESA, you can't study, you inevitably will never be able to work and therefore you will inevitably be on benefits all your life, then you will face a lot of disappointment in your life because it doesn't work like this. It's good to make plans, but you have to be prepared for unforceable change and to adapt your plans around these.

If you can't get ESA, then you will have to review your plans. It doesn't mean that your intention to go to Uni are doomed forever, even less your change to get a job and support yourself, you will just to go about it a different way. The DWP do not owe you to decide that you are entitled to benefit to make your plans easier to accomplish.

Dunroamin

DepressedInsomniac wrote: »

Yes, my family live with me, i.e. my children. Why the fixation on who/what/where I live when it's not even an issue. I've already explained moving house isn't an option. If the ESA stops then there will be no university. I can't see how I can myself any more clearer.

Apologies if that sounds rude but I feel as though I'm being scrutinised here now and that's not something I need in light of the stress I'm facing with this assessment.

If you'd said most of this earlier, you would have had fewer questions; you never mentioned having dependants and, obviously, if you live with a partner, that will make a difference to your student funding as well.

If your partner is working, your student funding will be based on their income but, if they aren't, you will be able to claim additional financial support for them. Your initial post didn't mention anything like CTC and led people to believe that you were going to have to manage solely on ESA and your student funding package.

You can't get proper advice by giving people limited information and then getting shirty about it doesn't help.

ETA

I don't wish to hammer the point but you said earlier

"My ESA is reduced by student grant/loans for the period Sept 1st to May 31st. I still receive approx £20 a week as an applicable amount. If I were to completely lose ESA then I would only have £150 per week to live on and £120 of that would have to go on rent. I can't feed myself, travel to uni and pay all my household bills on just £30 a week, it's impossible "

I can't see how anyone could advise you on your finances when you say this when, in fact, you have children (and a partner?) living with you, making a totally different financial situation with both student funding and benefits.

DepressedInsomniac

Dunroamin wrote: »

If you'd said most of this earlier, you would have had fewer questions; you never mentioned having dependants and, obviously, if you live with a partner, that will make a difference to your student funding as well.

If your partner is working, your student funding will be based on their income but, if they aren't, you will be able to claim additional financial support for them. Your initial post didn't mention anything like CTC and led people to believe that you were going to have to manage solely on ESA and your student funding package.

You can't get proper advice by giving people limited information and then getting shirty about it doesn't help.

ETA

I don't wish to hammer the point but you said earlier

"My ESA is reduced by student grant/loans for the period Sept 1st to May 31st. I still receive approx £20 a week as an applicable amount. If I were to completely lose ESA then I would only have £150 per week to live on and £120 of that would have to go on rent. I can't feed myself, travel to uni and pay all my household bills on just £30 a week, it's impossible "

I can't see how anyone could advise you on your finances when you say this when, in fact, you have children (and a partner?) living with you, making a totally different financial situation with both student funding and benefits.

I have neither a partner nor dependents. My Student Finance is already sorted as are my benefits, I wasn't asking for financial advice, hence having absolutely no need to go into any further detail. The facts are as I stated them.