Back on the ESA merry-go-round

Dunroamin

DepressedInsomniac wrote: »

Are you for real?? Since when can a student afford to contribute to household finances when they have their own term time living expenses to cover?

I'm not discussing this with you anymore because yes, you are nitpicking, and you've contributed nothing of value to this thread. You're here purely to try and pull me apart but it hasn't worked. Goodbye.

As you said that they lived with you, I assumed that they went to a local university and lived at home, which was why I suggested that they pay for their keep. What you actually meant was that they're away at university and come home for the holidays, which is rather different.

I'm afraid that your miscommunication is causing these problems, not my attitude, which has been helpful all the way through.

princessdon

I do agree with Dunroamin

If they lived with you whole year - then the money they currently pay for digs/board etc could be paid to you. A helpful suggestion - as they don't it's not an option but people are not mind readers and your wording did suggest they lived at home.

DepressedInsomniac

princessdon wrote: »

Actually just a random thought here (may not be of use though)

Is your course full time or part time?

As it's 2 days a week if it is under 16 hours and part time you are then eligible for HB on a low income

I know different courses have different classifications and you may be doing some "work from home" etc to make the hours up - but if it is part time - then do enquire about HB

Just trying to give you a plan B (in case ESA doesn't work)

I already get HB and will continue to do so as long as I'm still in receipt of ESA. That isn't an issue.

DepressedInsomniac

princessdon wrote: »

I do agree with Dunroamin

If they lived with you whole year - then the money they currently pay for digs/board etc could be paid to you. A helpful suggestion - as they don't it's not an option but people are not mind readers and your wording did suggest they lived at home.

Actually, I never referred to them in my OP as they have absolutely no bearing on my situation so the information wasn't necessary. I also wasn't asking for financial advice yet Dunroamin decided I couldn't afford to live in my home and suggested I move to cheaper accommodation.

When I explained why this isn't possible, he/she kept pushing for more detail in an attempt to back up their erroneous assumptions and also giving advice which was clearly wrong even if his/her assumptions had been correct. There would have been no need to do any mind reading if he/she had stuck purely to the facts that were presented as these are all that are relevant.

princessdon

DepressedInsomniac wrote: »

I already get HB and will continue to do so as long as I'm still in receipt of ESA. That isn't an issue.

*if* it is part time - then AFAIK you would STILL get HB even if you lost your ESA. (worst case scenario)

I am not 100% - I was just thinking of a student of mine who moved to HE this year - she lost her JSA due to loan income but still got her HB as it was classified as part time.

DepressedInsomniac

princessdon wrote: »

*if* it is part time - then AFAIK you would STILL get HB even if you lost your ESA. (worst case scenario)

I am not 100% - I was just thinking of a student of mine who moved to HE this year - she lost her JSA due to loan income but still got her HB as it was classified as part time.

Oh, I see. I'm not sure about that. My course is full-time anyway and I can only claim HB whilst I remain in receipt of ESA, although just looking at the direct.gov site again it states "have a disability, and qualify for the disability premium, severe disability premium or income-related Employment and Support Allowance" so now I'm wondering whether I would still be eligible if I lost ESA but still retained DLA.

But then I wouldn't be eligible for JSA as I wouldn't be available for work, therefore wouldn't be able to claim any disability premium. So confusing

princessdon

Ah that's why I asked about PT or FT - hers was 2 days a week but classed as 16 hours (part time), it was the difference between her keeping her HB and losing it. She got it due to low income (as opposed to a passported benefit) as PT students are allowed to claim.

earthbound_misfit

FBaby wrote: »

I sometimes wonder whether some people start suffering from depression and anxiety because they don't have things going their way and they lose control. Surely if you can't get ESA and go to Uni, you can work some other plan and still deal with your depression/anxiety in other ways, and then, maybe when you are better and regain employment, you will be able to reconsider going to uni?

Have you heard of "the straw that broke the camel's back"? For someone already struggling silently with depression/anxiety (though they may not identify it as such), going to uni to get qualified in something they are actually interested in, in order to work in that field, may be their last ditch attempt to try and sort their life out. If that doesn't work out then it can be "the final straw" so to speak. Everyone finds a menial, boring, low-autonomy job harder than one they are even slightly interested in, so it's reasonable to assume that someone who already has a lot on their plate and struggles might find this the difference between being able to keep a job or not.
How are you to know that if someone seems to "lose control" they are already struggling and have already tried plans A, B, C and D, only to find plan E isn't working out either? People with mental health problems often try to hide them as much as possible - plenty of people I see regularly have no idea how bad my problems are unless they happen to have been there at a really bad time.
I'm not making excuses for everyone, I think a certain amount of creativity and perseverence are needed in life - but please do not heap blame on those already feeling like failures. Also, it is incredibly hard to get treatment for mental health issues (IAPT willl pick up some now thankfully, but not 'complex cases') so people are left untreated and deteriorate.
Oh, and so many employers wouldn't even look at someone who's been off work for mental health issues (especially if they're still receiving treatment/not fully better) so re-training or doing a degree may be the only way to break into a field you will do well in (esp. professional degrees like nursing).

FBaby wrote: »

I have reread the posts and I do apologise as indeed, I have somehow only read about the depression and anxiety, not that you had more severe mental health problems.

Please try to undertand how debilitating severe depression and anxiety can be. Also, there is a big difference between "feeling depressed" and actually having depression, as well as another huge gap between mild and severe depression.
In "complex cases" depression is often the primary diagnosis, indeed often the only diagnosis that definitely fits and as such is used for DWP etc. However there may be complex issues/trauma causing the depression so it takes a lot longer to unpick everything and recover from, as well as causing symptoms like flashbacks, paranoia, dissociation from reality etc. (brief periods of dissociation do not get you the "psychosis" label.)

earthbound_misfit

Did you get ESA after the assessment last time, or did you have to appeal? Did they recommend a time for you to be reassessed in the assessment report?
This may have a bearing on whether you get it this time.
Also, are you currently receiving treatment and so can get evidence from psychs etc?
Tbh, I think you are in with a good chance of getting ESA again, although may have to go through appeal.
As for the ESA50 form and the assessment itself (if you have to have one) I would try to avoid mentioning uni. I guess you'll have started by the time you are reassessed so it'll probably come up - just make sure you can explain how much support you have at uni and why you can go to uni but not work at present.
I'd also suggest having a 'plan B' in place, just in case.
Good luck!

DepressedInsomniac

earthbound_misfit wrote: »

Did you get ESA after the assessment last time, or did you have to appeal? Did they recommend a time for you to be reassessed in the assessment report?
This may have a bearing on whether you get it this time.
Also, are you currently receiving treatment and so can get evidence from psychs etc?
Tbh, I think you are in with a good chance of getting ESA again, although may have to go through appeal.
As for the ESA50 form and the assessment itself (if you have to have one) I would try to avoid mentioning uni. I guess you'll have started by the time you are reassessed so it'll probably come up - just make sure you can explain how much support you have at uni and why you can go to uni but not work at present.
I'd also suggest having a 'plan B' in place, just in case.
Good luck!

Thank you :A

My last assessment form was sent in November last year as a result of being moved over from IB. I was in a pretty bad way at the time under a crisis team and barely filled in any of the form, explaining that it was far too difficult/stressful but briefly outlined my illness and the medication I take etc. I even sent it back late in January.

They replied within two weeks to say I'd been found unfit for work and they me placed straight into WRAG without having a medical. The accompanying letter said I wasn't expected to be fit to return to work within 18mths and it was thought this would be an indication of when to expect to go through it all again, but obviously this isn't the case.

I'm no longer receiving regular psych treatment, haven't for several years now, just support from my GP but he can/will refer me in times of crisis. As there appears to be a delay of several months for medical appointments, I'm thinking along the lines of not mentioning uni on the ESA50 form. If/when I get called for a medical I'll hopefully be in a better position to judge how well I'm coping with it and, if necessary, have the evidence to show them how/why I can cope with all the support in place, which wouldn't be available in a workplace.

I also need to clarify the HB rules so will give the housing office a call tomorrow because I might be worrying unnecessarily after all. If I can retain HB without ESA then I'd probably scrape through. Would be tight but could just about do it, and I'd have my overdraft and credit cards as back-up