Claiming job seekers allowance with depression and anxiety

Shelly12

stevemLS wrote: »

If you are only being offered six sessions of counselling, the clinical view of your symptoms is that you are suffering from mild depression.

That was what the "short" interventions are designed to deal with.

That doesn't fit with your description. Courses of counselling for more severe depression can last up to two years and the benefits of continuity of therapist are well know - as are the risks of dependency.

I think you need to have another chat with your GP.

That's all the NHS fund, is 6 sessions. If you wanted longer you would have to pay for it. The counselor I had the first time helped me to look for other places, which is where I just went that was with a youth club though. They only did 6 sessions but the counselor gave me 10 instead.

Shelly12

Scully38 wrote: »

When I came off ESA and onto JSA I told the job center that I was only looking for part time work (30 hrs per week) because of my disability, and there wasn't an issue with this. I know it was a couple of years ago before all the crappy changes, but if you have a disability and can only work a certain number of hours, you can't be forced to work full-time if you're not physically able as it goes against the equality directorate.

Shelly 12, I know you're finding it hard to go into the job center, but bring it up with your GP and ask at the job center to speak to the disability advisor, I did, and it did help and there wasn't that pressure for me to do full time.

I'm on jsa so they are expecting me to look for full time jobs, if I don't then they would stop my money as I'm not doing what is in my agreement.

I have social anxiety which makes these things harder to do, which why I'm finding it hard to do it. Even speaking to my gp is hard, the job center will just be even harder which is just stressing me even more

stevemLS

Shelly12 wrote: »

That's all the NHS fund, is 6 sessions. If you wanted longer you would have to pay for it. The counselor I had the first time helped me to look for other places, which is where I just went that was with a youth club though. They only did 6 sessions but the counselor gave me 10 instead.

That's not true.

I work in the NHS, two year courses are routinely funded where the patient needs them.

That is why I made the comments I did.

tomtontom

Shelly12 wrote: »

So do I need to ring up the job center to do this, if looking for less hours was possible then I would do that, but then I'd still need less pressure put on me, which I can't see them doing as they want to force you into work even if you don't want that job.

What pressure are you concerned about? Claiming JSA does not need to be difficult, you are given a list of tasks that you must do each week and as long as you complete them, you will not have a problem. It is that simple.

What kind of job do you not want to do?

tomtontom

stevemLS wrote: »

That's not true.

I work in the NHS, two year courses are routinely funded where the patient needs them.

That is why I made the comments I did.

Unfortunately in some areas long term therapy is non existent, even for those eligible under s 117. The OP may be better contacting MIND or independent therapsts who may offer a heavily subsidised rate.

Poppie68

Shelly12 wrote: »

When my mum and dad were living together they had their own business, but this was like 13 years ago, since then he was previously looking after me and my younger brother. Any job he had before that was like 20/30 years ago something like that.

How has your father been paying a £1000 per month mortgage for the last few years without a job?

tomterm8

Shelly12 wrote: »

So do I need to ring up the job center to do this, if looking for less hours was possible then I would do that, but then I'd still need less pressure put on me, which I can't see them doing as they want to force you into work even if you don't want that job.

When you are at your advisor meeting take the letter with you and ask him or her to refer you then. If he refuses you write to the manager of the job center.

tomterm8

stevemLS wrote: »

That's not true.

I work in the NHS, two year courses are routinely funded where the patient needs them.

That is why I made the comments I did.

I have a relative who was and is very seriously depressed to the point that I think she is suicidal, and she only got 6 sessions.

In theory the NHS will fund more but that's hardly guaranteed.

Shelly12

stevemLS wrote: »

That's not true.

I work in the NHS, two year courses are routinely funded where the patient needs them.

That is why I made the comments I did.

I live in a town, and that's not available here. I think it depends on the area in a city it might be different. There's no where here that does counselling apart from the place I went to, and then the one at a youth club.

Shelly12

Poppie68 wrote: »

How has your father been paying a £1000 per month mortgage for the last few years without a job?

Not very well, my mums has had to pay part of it, or the other bills. All his money literally goes on bills, we just about have food here, but that's hardly ever.