Out of work due to ongoing illness, what benefits can I claim? Need urgent advice..

LeChatNoir · 29 May 2014 at 11:41AM

Hi all, first time poster but long-time lurker! Hopefully you can offer some advice on my situation.

I haven't been working for over a year now due to mental illness, and feel unable to take on a job. I have been diagnosed with depression by my GP, and it has been an ongoing problem since around 2008 but gotten worse recently. I don't know if it makes any difference, but I feel I should mention that I am not on any medication or receiving any particular therapy at the moment (although I have taken prescribed medication in the past for several years).

Up until this point I have been living on my savings, but they are rapidly running out and I'm not sure what to do. I am living in rented accommodation which means that my outgoings every month are quite high, despite not doing much of anything in particular (I don't go on nights out drinking, etc.)

I am not in receipt of any benefits, and prior to leaving work had been working either part- or full-time since around 2008. I have never claimed any benefits either, not even JSA during any short periods of unemployment.

The problem I have is that my lifestyle is becoming unsustainable and it's causing me a lot of stress and worry. I know I can't get back into work right now, but I fear that the money I have left is only going to last me the next three months or so maximum. I want to move to cheaper rented accommodation in a nearby city to save money, but because I'm out of work estate agents won't give me a look-in. I know I could potentially claim Housing and Council Tax Benefit, but landlords/agents that accept DSS where I'm looking to move are few and far between. I'm worried to apply for any kind of Housing Benefit where I am now because I took on my current flat when I was in work, and I fear that I might not be able to continue living here if I am in receipt of DSS. Obviously there have never been any problems with me paying the rent on my current property, so the letting agent is unaware of my change in employment status.

Can anyone please advise on what I should do?

Thank you so much in advance for any help.

LeChatNoir · 29 May 2014 at 11:46AM

Sorry mods, just realised I posted this on the wrong board! Please feel free to delete and I will copy it over to the Benefits board (got confused between my browser tabs).

Thank you!

Podge52 · 29 May 2014 at 12:00PM

I was in the same situation as you are a few years ago. Have you put in a claim for ESA? As regards HB your landlord need not know. Have the award paid into your own account and continue to pay your landlord as normal.

LeChatNoir · 29 May 2014 at 12:15PM

Thanks for the advice Podge, I really appreciate it. I haven't put in any claims whatsoever, although I have been looking into PIP and it seems like it might be appropriate for my situation - what do you think?

I'm living with a close friend at the moment who is looking for work, but has basically been my carer for a while now. Would me receiving HB affect her in any way if she was working or not? We are desperately looking for a new place to live in a nearby area which would be better for both of us, if I was in receipt of HB when we moved would I need to declare it to the new landlord? It would be a different city so not under the same council.

Thanks again

Podge52 · 29 May 2014 at 12:33PM

I'm afraid I can be of little help. I know next to nothing about pip and when I claimed HB I was claiming as a single person.

I think most private landlords now will want to know if you are in receipt of HB but if you can manage to find one who doesn't I don't think there is a need to tell them if you don't want to.

Is there a chance you could qualify for social housing? It may be worth looking into.