Trying to help a friend in a mess on JSA

skintchick

Hi everyone

I wondered if you could help me? I feel this is a bit of a lost cause really, but I have a friend who has been out of work for over a year and is now in a mess because her JSA is being stopped.

Now, I know it is partly or even mostly her fault, but she isn't entirely normal. That sounds awful, but she is definitely on the aspie/autie spectrum - she cannot read body language or non-verbal clues, she says the same things over and over again, she seems sometimes utterly incapable of understanding what you are saying to her, and she is baffled by technology. She is also really bad at talking on the phone for official things.

In terms of her skills, she is an NVQ III qualified nursery nurse, but due to two falls which led to osteoarthritis and two operations, she cannot work in that environment any more as dealing with that many children is too much for her physically in terms of lifting onto toilets, changing nappies, etc.

She would like to work as a nanny BUT she doesn't drive, and her limited social skills mean she just doesn;t get the jobs, as few of them as there are.

She lives in a room in a house with the owner and another person and pays £65 a week but is now 6 weeks in arrears and this morning was told by her landlady that she has to pay or leave.

She has also been sanctioned by the JobCentre for not applying for enough jobs.

In trying to help her sort this out, I discovered today that she had a sanction in November, and the (very nice) lady on the phone told me that each time the sanction time gets longer.

I have looked into benefits today and it seems she can only claim JSA in terms of benefits, although I was told today she has been entitled to HB for six months but no-one told her, she isn;t capable of finding that kind of hting out herself, and so she's been missing out.

I understand she can;t get it backdated, but I have got a form on its way to her in the post and will help her fill it in. I'm hoping her landlady will then let her stay.

She is supposed to apply for 3 jobs a week and says she usually manages that but sometimes it is only two and a couple of times it was none because she was ill. But by ill she means 'in a state' because something has upset her (this happens a lot) so it doesn't count.

I spent nearly four hours today making calls for her and trying to help her. I phoned a nanny agency but they said over 99 per cent of their clients want someone who drives.

I looked in the paper - there was a job at a school in a nearby village but there are only three buses there a WEEK, and they go from another town to ours, so it's not viable.

I also told her about two shop jobs in our town and told her to go get application forms but when she left myhouse she went home!!

SHe isn;t helping herself and I don't know what can be done.

She's not mentally capable BUT if I said that to her she would be mortally offended. She genuinely thinks she is intelligent and capable and she isn't.

She is doing a second IT skills course at the JC but she doesn't own a computer, or know how to use one, she only has a basic PAYG phone.

Basically, she doesn;t have the right skills for almost any kind of job.

She is great with children but because she isn't very good with adults, she is always the one who gets made redundant. Plus her health problems did really cause an issue for her workwise which she's never bounced back from.

This is long and rambling, I think I've probably done everything I can do without getting way more involved than I want to, but maybe I'm missing something?

Is there anything that can be done? Some benefit I don't know about?

Personally, I think she should apply for any basic type job on the trainline within 60 mins' travelling, but she just keeps saying she wants a job with children

kathy40uk

I have looked into benefits today and it seems she can only claim JSA in terms of benefits, although I was told today she has been entitled to HB for six months but no-one told her, she isn;t capable of finding that kind of hting out herself, and so she's been missing out.

I understand she can;t get it backdated, but I have got a form on its way to her in the post and will help her fill it in. I'm hoping her landlady will then let her stay.

When the form comes it should ask the question ;do you want this backdated; and have a space to give reasons. Explain the lady's mental condition and state she has been on JSA during this time but that due to her condition she could not be reasonably expected to find this out for herself, They may not backdate it but it is worth a try.

skintchick

kathy40uk wrote: »

When the form comes it should ask the question ;do you want this backdated; and have a space to give reasons. Explain the lady's mental condition and state she has been on JSA during this time but that due to her condition she could not be reasonably expected to find this out for herself, They may not backdate it but it is worth a try.

The problem is that my friend doesn;t think she has a mental condition

I'm very happy to give it a go and I love your term 'reasonably expected', but I'm not usre how to word it so it gets past my friend?

dandelionclock30

Perhaps it might be an idea to encourage your friend to go to the DRS and ask for a mental health assessment.Then she might get some appropriate support for her needs.From the symptoms you describe she could have a variety of issues, it might not be autism but depression/and she might be having some type of breakdown.

If your friend says that there is nothing wrong all you can say is that you think there is because of what you have said here and offer her support with going to the DRS. If she refuses then you cant do anymore. Also you need to think about yourself and make sure you dont get bogged down with her issues.

miduck

If you ask for backdating due to a mental condition/ learning disability, they will expect evidence. I do agree that a visit to the doctors is needed, but don't assume she is on the spectrum, it could simply be that she isn't very bright.

From what you have said I really don't think she is a suitable candidate for nannying - her lack of awareness would make me concerned that she would not recognise a dangerous situation. Also, a nanny has a role to play in the child's development, and it doesn't sound like this is something she could contribute constructively to.

As much as some do not like it, she sounds like someone that could benefit from a referral to the Work Programme. She needs to develop some basic employability skills, and this is something they can help with.

skintchick

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

Perhaps it might be an idea to encourage your friend to go to the DRS and ask for a mental health assessment.Then she might get some appropriate support for her needs.From the symptoms you describe she could have a variety of issues, it might not be autism but depression/and she might be having some type of breakdown.

If your friend says that there is nothing wrong all you can say is that you think there is because of what you have said here and offer her support with going to the DRS. If she refuses then you cant do anymore. Also you need to think about yourself and make sure you dont get bogged down with her issues.

Thank you. What does DRS stand for? I am happy to talk other about it. She would definitely accept that she is depressed.

skintchick

miduck wrote: »

If you ask for backdating due to a mental condition/ learning disability, they will expect evidence. I do agree that a visit to the doctors is needed, but don't assume she is on the spectrum, it could simply be that she isn't very bright.

From what you have said I really don't think she is a suitable candidate for nannying - her lack of awareness would make me concerned that she would not recognise a dangerous situation. Also, a nanny has a role to play in the child's development, and it doesn't sound like this is something she could contribute constructively to.

As much as some do not like it, she sounds like someone that could benefit from a referral to the Work Programme. She needs to develop some basic employability skills, and this is something they can help with.

That's the work she's done for years and children love her. I trust her with my child. I think maybe she is having a bit of a breakdown as has been suggested. She's very aware of dangers and is very conscientious.

But I think part of the reason she's so good with kids is she is rather childlike herself.

dandelionclock30

skintchick wrote: »

Thank you. What does DRS stand for? I am happy to talk other about it. She would definitely accept that she is depressed.

The Doctors.

Hope your friend gets her issues sorted.

skintchick

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

The Doctors.

Hope your friend gets her issues sorted.

Lol. I googled and found something called the disability rating scale and thought you meant that!

skintchick

THanks again everyone. Today I have spent time online finding out about agencies, looking at what jobs they have and printing out suitable ones, and making a list of those that need to be looked at regularly and registered with.

I texted my friend while she was at the JC today and told her to find out about training to use the internet and she has replied saying she's going to the nearest big town library on Monday to get some help with that.

There do seem to be some jobs out there which she had no idea about because the JC never picked up that she has no clue about getting online.

I assumed the JC would have dealt with that and helped her access websites, so I'm really cross they have just left her hanging like this! No wonder she can;t apply for enough if they didn;t help her get online!

I'm hoping now we can find enough jobs for her each fortnight to apply for, and that she will get a job.

I can only help so much but I will help her appeal against her sanction because I feel they have not helped her, and I plan to get our MP involved too as she can;t be the only non-technical person the JC see.

saintjammyswine

Have you applied for a carer's allowance as you are doing a lot for your friend?