Does anyone know about E.S.A,D.L.A, & working?

bex8844

Hi there, I'm not sure if anyone can help me but I'd really appreciate it if you could. I have suffered with depression/anxiety for a long time now, but have been receiving e.s.a for 3 years & welfare rights applied for d.l.a last year & it was successful at the lower rate (40 per week) I am very dysfunctional but doing everything i can to try & tackle this, I go to the womens centre & I'm receiving counselling. I see a well being worker every month & have just completed a post detox alcohol course because I used to binge on drink & drugs. I have been sober for 4 months. I recently moved down to the south west to get away from my abusive family. I am okay but feel lonely & don't know anyone at all down here. I live alone, in a very small private rented flat, which is 425 including bills, this is really cheap for the area but I have been really struggling financially as I have to pay my mum 54 a month what i owe her. I have had to go to food banks recently & the worry of lack of food is making my anxiety worse. I receive esa-198 fortnightly & dla 160 four weekly (but this 160 makes up the rest of my rent) as i receive 65 per week towards my rent, so i basically have 198 fortnightly to live off. I am paying back a social fund loan so the actual amount i receive is 175. My question is that I need to make some more money but i'm scare that if i get 10 hrs work or so per week, they will cal me in for a medical and use it against me straight away. If i ended up with no money down here i think i'd be screwed, or even if they put me back on job seekers 70 per week & i only receive 65 per week towards my rent, so most of my jsa would be swallowed up paying towards my rent. I'm really frightened & don't know what to do. Thank you for reading this & i really appreciate any feedback.

Indie_Kid

There is something called permitted work. You won't be called for a medical if you work for a few hours a week. But it would look a bit odd if you claimed ESA / DLA on the basis of one thing you can't do and your new job involves doing that.

bex8844

thanks for your quick response. Yeh I've heard of this permitted work, I asked the job centre & they sent me out some forms. How would they work it all out. My main thing is social anxiety, I sweat & feel self consious around people, but i would put myself through that to earn some extra cash. I will struggle with things but i really need the money. I'm also worried that if i can't cope with a job & i leave that they will stil hold it against me that i have worked or tried to work etc

GobbledyGook

Have you had a look at the old style board?

If you are not fit for work then perhaps the good folks on here can help you make your money go further?

pmlindyloo

This is a great organisation http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/local-minds/

who are very good at supporting people. Do find out where your local one is.

Permitted work is certainly an option but perhaps you could do some volunteering to start with. MIND might help with this.

Your main financial problem is your rent. Are you receiving the shared accommodation rate (for those under 35) and living in a one bed place?
Perhaps when your tenancy ends you could investigate moving into shared accommodation or becoming a lodger.

Have you tried to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment to help you with your rent? MIND would help you with the application.

bex8844

Thank you fr your responses. I'll look at the link for mind, I did apply for discretionary hb as i lived in a housing association flat before here & didn't know i would receive much less in help toward my rent. I received a ppi payment from a loan i was paying for 7 years when i was 19. This was my first months rent & deposit (here)
Yeh i receive the 1 bed rate, i would share but i have a pet bird & most ppl won't accept him, plus because i receive hb & most ppl say no to this. There is a man that has been painting downstairs who's been chatting to me, he wants to share with someone, but his friend said he fancies me so i'm not sure if this would be a good idea. I don't know him too well, but i generally get along better with men. I am 34 years old & he's 31 i don't know him very well, just know he's german & cornish & he works. Do you think this would be a good idea? he always suggest we go out for a drink, but i've told him 3 times that i don't drink, rekon he'd be drunk a lot, & i grew up with an alcoholic parent so this puts me off.

bex8844

The discretionary hb was refused as i wasn't 'willing' to move out (although i didn't say that i said that i have just signed a 6 month tenancy) & i wasn't priority or something...

bll78

Hi Bex,
DLA is not means tested benefit and I think about a third of people on it work. I have had to change occupation a few times as my condition has gotten worse, but I've always managed to stay in work and been on DLA for the past few years. Depending on what you find and if you work over 16 hours, have a look at working tax credit, your ESA would stop, but your wages and WTC should make you better off working.
You may find even if your not a penny better off, the psychological impact of working will help you feel better anyway. I don't suffer with anxiety issues, mine are physical, but I think sitting at home, staring at 4 walls would make me depressed, so it can't be helping your condition.
If you try and working is too much, you can reclaim ESA so you'll be no worse off for trying.
Good luck with the job search!

bex8844

Thanks for your post, yeh it prob would do me good, even though i may struggle with certain aspects of the job. I forgot to mention that where I live (cornwall) the work available is mainly seasonal, so I worry about going back on job seekers in the winter, i feel so confused.. so i would still receive my dla if i worked part time or full time?

StormyWeather_2

bex8844 wrote: »

Thanks for your post, yeh it prob would do me good, even though i may struggle with certain aspects of the job. I forgot to mention that where I live (cornwall) the work available is mainly seasonal, so I worry about going back on job seekers in the winter, i feel so confused.. so i would still receive my dla if i worked part time or full time?

DLA isn't means tested, so income doesn't affect that. Income could affect IS, JSA, ESA, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

bex8844

I have just been offered a job, but she said i'd have to do at least 4 days a week (long shifts) & my well being worker suggested i do 4 hrs max a day & part time. It's waitressing so not sure if this is a stressfull job, i'm even more confused now as i feel it might be too much too soon for me, but i don't want to miss a good opportunity. Any advice would be hugely appreciated