Benefit claim

Angela230787

Hi everyone,

I lost my job back in June this was due to my own fault, due to health and depression and a lot of other things at work, I couldnt handle it anymore and had a breakdown when I left.

I put a claim in for job seekers which my local job centre recommended to me to do, and this was accepted and then stopped on July 24th due to how I left my job, and I am not getting it again until 22nd October.

I had a meeting today at job centre which they set up for me with a disiablity team memeber, and she has advised me to put in for hardship payment, and also to apply for PIP as I have a lot of health problems, which I normally just try and deal with but I am in pain everyday and the winter is worse due to having rods, plates and screws drilled into my spine, I still live at home and my mum has to help me sometimes get out of bed when it is bad, and also I have trouble using the oven due to not being able to bend, I also can't do food shopping or shopping on my own as I can't carry anything to heavy.

My question is how hard are these forms to fill in? the hardship one I did at the job centre so thats ok, I guess there is only the one form for that, but how hard are the PIP forms? the person at the job centre said she hadn't seen them.

I do have more health problems other then my back, I have stomach problems and I have started to have seizures but still dont know what causes them, and I am currently suffering depression and am under the doctor for that I have also been seeing a counsellor, and soon I will be seeing a pain mangerment team, I have seen them before and it didnt help, but I am giving it a go again.

Thank you for any advice.

benefitbaby

I would encourage you to seek advice from a CAB or DIAL for help with the form as they are trained to ask you more in-depth questions that are relevant to entitlement.

In addition... what about claiming Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)? You would not be subject to a sanction but you would need a sick note (Med3) from your GP to make a valid claim.
See: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/benefits_w/benefits_sick_or_disabled_people_and_carers_ew/employment_and_support_allowance.htm

rogerblack

Angela230787 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I lost my job back in June this was due to my own fault, due to health and depression and a lot of other things at work, I couldnt handle it anymore and had a breakdown when I left.

Have you been in contact with your doctor about this?
If so, it is possible they may be willing to backdate a sicknote till that date, and for you to claim ESA - employment and support allowance.

This would allow you to claim ESA backdated - the JSA you got would have been an overpayment, and will need returned - but that will be covered by the backdated ESA payment.

If you can't get backdating- then a normal claim without backdating seems appropriate.

The most obvious ground is if you have seizures more than once a week that affect your consciousness (you do not need to be completely unconscious) - then you are eligible for the work-related group of ESA.

Angela230787

Thank you for the replies, I don't have seizures that often, the main thing that effects me is constant back pain, which effects my sleep, I can't stand for more then about 30 mins at a time same as walking, sitting I'm ok with for about an hour or so, I can't lift anything to heavy due to a lot of pain in my right shoulder blade area.

I also have a lot of stomach problems which plays up about 2 weeks of every month, I have medication to help with this, but I still get pain, and cause they think strong pain killers trigger the seizures aswell I am no longer allowed to take anything stronger then paracetamol and ibuprofen which doesn't do anything for the back and stomach pains, so I no longer take them.

I have never classed myself as having a disability because I have lived with this all my life so have got use to it apart from the pain, I use a grappler thing to pick stuff up off the floor, and use my feet to pick clothes up if I don't have that around, that just comes normal to me which the lady at the job centre said is t normal for a person who is healthy so she advised me to help filling the forms out, because something I don't think I have problems with I might do, like in the mornings I cant always get out of bed without my mums help, and other daysi just have to lay there and think how I am getting out of bed without hurting my back.

Sorry for the long post

jacques_chirac

Have you been referred to the pain clinic? GPs are reluctant to give out stronger pain meds to those with complex conditions, but a specialist should be able to prescribe something stronger, or even suggest an alternative therapy?

GwylimT

I'm not completely sure what the PIP is like, my wife claims DLA and I doubt they differ greatly, there are a lot of questions but it is okay to fill in. If you do have health issues that are effecting your ability to work without support you may be able to claim ESA and have it back dated to the time when you left your last job.

Angela230787

Thank you again for the replies, I am currently waiting for an appointment at the hospital with the pain management team, I have seen them before when I was a child and it didn't help, but hoping it does this time.

I did work full time for 7 years, but I was in pain every day, and my boss knew my parents from when I was born and he was very good, saying I could take breaks when I wanted and have a walk etc to help me, but when a new boss started about a year ago that's when things changed, and I started to get more pain and more depressed, due to lack of sleep and pain.

It took me losing my job to go to my gp and get some help I must say the hospital saw me quick, but been waiting for the pain team since 9th July to make me an appointment.

Angela230787

HI everyone,

I had a letter today saying that I will recieve hardship payment, does anyone know how much this is? or does it depend on what they think you need?

I am waiting for the forms for the PIP application, also seeing my doctor next week about my depression and other health problems.