benefits and supported accommodation

nicetomeetyou

It won't effect your severe disability premium if you how own tenency agreement.

sunnys8080

Thanks, I've phoned the jobcentre to send me a severe disability premium form. I'm going to tell the staff everything regarding how I live my life day. It's just that I hated the way the staff at phoenix futures treated me back in 2011/2012. They forced me to do volunteer work and courses. If I didn't do it I would get told off and get a warning. They also told me once I leave there the jobcentre would put me on JSA.

Ames

There are two different things going on here, and people (including MIND) are getting confused.

People in a care home aren't allowed to claim PIP. So when you're asking 'does living in supported housing mean I won't get my PIP', they assume this is what you're talking about. This doesn't affect you, because it's not a care home that you're moving to.

What you're worried about is that living on your own is going to affect how many points you'll get for PIP. When you talk to professionals you need to be clear that this is what you're talking about, not the rules about care homes.

What are Phoenix Futures? It sounds like they were some kind of work related activity provider, and that you were in the WRAG group of ESA? What group are you in now?

The Severe Disability Premium is just about basic facts - do you live alone? Does anyone claim carer's allowance? Do you get Daily Living PIP? Do you get means tested ESA? It shouldn't trigger a review of your PIP, and it shouldn't mean you have to go to the jobcentre.

sunnys8080

Thanks a lot. Phoenix futures was a supported accommodation and they were work related activity focused but the one I'm moving into this week isn't. I have an appointment with them today to have a look around. It's this Thursday I move.

I'm in the support group for esa and have been for years. Phoenix futures made the jobcentre take me off it and put me in the wrag. I hated it there.

I'm also off the alcohol now. This is my 5th day sober. I did it myself using diazepam I ordered off the internet. I'm going to tell the alcohol services this.

IAmWales

sunnys8080 wrote: »

Thanks a lot. Phoenix futures was a supported accommodation and they were work related activity focused but the one I'm moving into this week isn't. I have an appointment with them today to have a look around. It's this Thursday I move.

I'm in the support group for esa and have been for years. Phoenix futures made the jobcentre take me off it and put me in the wrag. I hated it there.

I'm also off the alcohol now. This is my 5th day sober. I did it myself using diazepam I ordered off the internet. I'm going to tell the alcohol services this.

Moving from one addiction to another is not the answer to your problems. Please speak to a medical professional about this urgently, benzos are not something to mess with.

No one forced the Jobcentre to move you to the WRAG. That decision will have been made based on your condition at the time.

Don't be surprised if your new support workers encourage you to work towards voluntary work, and over time towards paid work. That may seem daunting but that's the point of getting support, to help you move towards a level of independence.

Ames

sunnys8080 wrote: »

Thanks a lot. Phoenix futures was a supported accommodation and they were work related activity focused but the one I'm moving into this week isn't. I have an appointment with them today to have a look around. It's this Thursday I move.

I'm in the support group for esa and have been for years. Phoenix futures made the jobcentre take me off it and put me in the wrag. I hated it there.

I'm also off the alcohol now. This is my 5th day sober. I did it myself using diazepam I ordered off the internet. I'm going to tell the alcohol services this.

Well that explains why you're so worried about your PIP.

I don't know much about supported housing, but it doesn't sound right that they'd be officially work related activity providers. Do you mean that they worked with people to get them ready for work? It sounds like you perhaps weren't ready for the level of activity they were providing and that your new place will be better for you.

Phoenix Futures wouldn't have been able to make the jobcentre take you off ESA. Only the ESA department can do that, and they're not based in jobcentres. Did they actually take you out of the support group or did they arrange for you to take part in work related activity? If they took you out, how did you get back into the support group?

I'm sure you already know this, but buying medication on the internet is a really bad idea, especially when it's something like Diazepam. That's something that should only be prescribed by doctors because it's addictive and people taking it need to be closely monitored by their doctor. And as I Am Wales said, it's not dealing with your alcohol problems just replacing them with a new set of problems.

I think from what you've said you have a lot of appointments coming up over the next week, to do with accommodation and seeing your psychiatrist. Maybe you should work on a list of things to ask each person (I've got two hospital appointments this week, I write down all the things I want to ask because I always forget when I'm there).

sunnys8080

Thanks guys. I've been off the valium since Saturday. I only took it for two days and then didn't suffer withdrawal symptoms after that. I was also taking codeine which I was prescribed for pain a few days after and have been clean from that for three days.

My psychiatrist wants me to be clean a few months before prescribing new meds. At the moment I take Lithium (a mood stabiliser) and we were talking about taking antipsychotics.

I'm never touching alcohol or drugs again. Also the rehab accomodation phoned up yesterday and it's next Tuesday the 12th I'm moving.