33% income on basic energy, what can I do ?

satanloans

Spoonie_Turtle said:

satanloans said:

It's not that I don't want, its that I am beyond sick and tired of reliving what happened to me. I have done that probably 100 times since it happened. I wish that were some idiotic exaggeration but now I have severe panic attacks it is even worse now and I have to rebuild myself every time I have to destroy myself going through it and for nothing. I fell through the crack. How many more kicks while I am down I can take doesnt bear thinking about. 

Generally no personal questions are asked beyond financial and family circumstances (for advising about means-tested benefits), rather information given and it left to the person to share however much or little they want, and to make use of what information is relevant to them.

The benefits application process shouldn't need to explicitly ask you to relive it either, only giving specific information that's pertinent to how you have difficulties carrying out the specific activities.  (But I am aware that the reality is assessors far too often don't treat people as well as they are supposed to.)

Tell you what, I'll do the signposting here anyway then you can choose whether to look at the information or not.  Then if you have any questions or want clarification the benefits board is there for you to avail yourself of.

PIP:
These are how each activity is assessed and the scope of each one (long read but fairly essential, if you can manage it) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria
See especially the section on RELIABLY

A brief overview of how PIP is assessed, condensed - see especially the PDFs linked therein https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/how-decisions-are-made/

https://www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org/en/welfare-benefits/pip-mental-health-guide/help-with-your-pip-claim/how-to-fill-in-the-pip-form/
and
https://www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org/en/welfare-benefits/pip-mental-health-guide/challenging-a-pip-decision/


For UC the same principles of reliability and repeatability apply to the WCA.  The criteria are:
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/esa_criteria (scroll down for Support Group/LCWRA)

More in-depth https://www.advicenow.org.uk/know-hows/employment-and-support-allowance-esa-activities-and-descriptors-and-substantial-risk

The thing is, you say you fell down a crack.  But from the little description you've given here I'm not convinced you did fall down a crack, rather that the assessors failed you by not awarding what you are quite possibly entitled to. 
That's the entire point of wanting to give you information about entitlement, so you can see for yourself whether you should qualify and whether you got the correct decision or not.
If nothing else, it sounds like you may be at significant risk of harm having to carry out work-related activities (e.g. Jobcentre appointments) if going out causes you overwhelming distress.

I appreciate the energy, I really do. But every time I go through it all, I have to rebuild myself. It is soul destroying but so many people seem think that's an ok thing to keep going through for no actual reason ie a dead end outcome. "Ah but this time we will give it the old college try" or even like this next person commenting, talking down to me has been done repeatedly. Part of my face has been rebuilt. My mental health isn't something I can just keep playing with. It's amazing how many have no grasp on what mental health issues are, thinking they can just handle people any how they like. I can't keep pushing myself closer to the edge to then be left to fight my own way back with a "we tried to care" sticker. The problem is I am broken. But I am not officially or legally broken. I dont have to look for work, ever. But I also don't matter. And the energy sector is taking 33% of my income.  And that's ok too. 

Spoonie_Turtle

satanloans said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

satanloans said:

It's not that I don't want, its that I am beyond sick and tired of reliving what happened to me. I have done that probably 100 times since it happened. I wish that were some idiotic exaggeration but now I have severe panic attacks it is even worse now and I have to rebuild myself every time I have to destroy myself going through it and for nothing. I fell through the crack. How many more kicks while I am down I can take doesnt bear thinking about. 

Generally no personal questions are asked beyond financial and family circumstances (for advising about means-tested benefits), rather information given and it left to the person to share however much or little they want, and to make use of what information is relevant to them.

The benefits application process shouldn't need to explicitly ask you to relive it either, only giving specific information that's pertinent to how you have difficulties carrying out the specific activities.  (But I am aware that the reality is assessors far too often don't treat people as well as they are supposed to.)

Tell you what, I'll do the signposting here anyway then you can choose whether to look at the information or not.  Then if you have any questions or want clarification the benefits board is there for you to avail yourself of.

PIP:
These are how each activity is assessed and the scope of each one (long read but fairly essential, if you can manage it) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria
See especially the section on RELIABLY

A brief overview of how PIP is assessed, condensed - see especially the PDFs linked therein https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/how-decisions-are-made/

https://www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org/en/welfare-benefits/pip-mental-health-guide/help-with-your-pip-claim/how-to-fill-in-the-pip-form/
and
https://www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org/en/welfare-benefits/pip-mental-health-guide/challenging-a-pip-decision/


For UC the same principles of reliability and repeatability apply to the WCA.  The criteria are:
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/esa_criteria (scroll down for Support Group/LCWRA)

More in-depth https://www.advicenow.org.uk/know-hows/employment-and-support-allowance-esa-activities-and-descriptors-and-substantial-risk

The thing is, you say you fell down a crack.  But from the little description you've given here I'm not convinced you did fall down a crack, rather that the assessors failed you by not awarding what you are quite possibly entitled to. 
That's the entire point of wanting to give you information about entitlement, so you can see for yourself whether you should qualify and whether you got the correct decision or not.
If nothing else, it sounds like you may be at significant risk of harm having to carry out work-related activities (e.g. Jobcentre appointments) if going out causes you overwhelming distress.

I appreciate the energy, I really do. But every time I go through it all, I have to rebuild myself. It is soul destroying but so many people seem think that's an ok thing to keep going through for no actual reason ie a dead end outcome. "Ah but this time we will give it the old college try" or even like this next person commenting, talking down to me has been done repeatedly. Part of my face has been rebuilt. My mental health isn't something I can just keep playing with. It's amazing how many have no grasp on what mental health issues are, thinking they can just handle people any how they like. I can't keep pushing myself closer to the edge to then be left to fight my own way back with a "we tried to care" sticker. The problem is I am broken. But I am not officially or legally broken. I dont have to look for work, ever. But I also don't matter. And the energy sector is taking 33% of my income.  And that's ok too. 

If we thought it was okay then we wouldn't bother trying to help people fight for the right benefits decisions. 
Equally, if we thought it was okay then we might tell people to fight indiscriminately without giving any information about how the benefits are assessed to help them see if it should be worth it.  But we don't because we understand the enormous effort it takes and how detrimental it can be, so providing information is the only responsible thing to do.  One active member in particular won't mind me saying they have severe mental illnesses to the point that his benefit reviews can endanger himself and others.  We're not ignorant to how harmful the process can be and there are many people who suffer during the process.  [I'm well aware my minor breakdown and now being bedbound for nearly three weeks (so far) since my PIP review pales into comparison against people who are severely mentally ill and deal with much worse setbacks from the process.]  The ultimate question is whether the right outcome would be worth the cost, which is where having the information to make that decision comes in.

If my comments at any point have sounded like I'm saying you should apply then I apologise; my meaning was that it sounds like you probably should qualify but here is all the information for you to decide for yourself.


If we thought it was okay charities wouldn't be fighting for DWP and the government in general to treat disabled people better (which is beyond the remit of this entire forum, but worth mentioning in the context).

If we thought it was okay then we'd not bother trying to find out information to try and give help or advice about energy usage or potential avenues to increase your income.

It's obviously not okay and you do matter otherwise nobody would be trying to find any way to help.  
If what can be offered anonymously on the internet isn't sufficient then maybe you need accredited help e.g. from the Citizens' Advice Bureau or another local agency https://advicelocal.uk/find-an-adviser

I do feel for you because to be subsisting off the basic rate of UC with no prospect of being able to work to increase your income is no way to live, and nobody should have to.  I'm going to leave it here because I truly don't want you to feel I'm trying to pressure you into anything, but just know the door for advice here is always open should you wish to look into any of the info provided and have any questions.

QrizB

Looking at the energy bill question, on page 2 of this thread it was suggested that you could switch to one of the smart tariffs like Octopus Agile or Tracker. They've been cheaper than the standard variable rates for at least 12 months now. They might not remain that way, but you might make a decent saving over the next few weeks or months?

You'd need to move off prepayment and onto a credit account for this.