Broke and lonely with it

ET22

Thankyou 😊

ET22

Hi everyone, 

I disappeared for a while because to be honest, my brain has been totally frazzled by the whole mess. My contract ended because i couldnt keep up with a job which im very over qualified for which is worrying. I have three health conditions which to be fair to me, most people wouldnt go to work with and basically I couldnt carry on working. I had hit rock bottom and I have worked for many years until now.  

I started claiming ESA and im waiting for the first payment due at the end of November.

I also claimed council tax support last week so hopefully this will be applied to the account asap but I dont hold out much hope of that because my local council is rubbish. 

Im back to keep myself accountable and not spend any money on wants not needs just to cheer myself up. I wouldnt usually waste money, im usually pretty careful with it and was for a long time, getting up tp date with bills but the last few weeks have been horrible. The money i have wasted, I have had to borrow money again to replace it which is just not on.

Anyway its back to basics and i will post every day to keep myself on track.

As soon as I am able I will be going back to work and I am hoping that will be in the near future once ive got one of the health problems under control again. 

Onwards and upwards because I hate not working, its isolating and its not good for anyone if they can manage to work. 

My mantra as it has been since I let home as a teenager is never give up, I never have and never will until I am out of this mess and I am in a stable position again with money in my savings account. The health issues will never go but they are manageable one way or another.

The goal is to have one health confition under control and have another job by December.  

I dont know how anyone can manage on benefits long term. Its crazy the amount people are expected to live on.  

ET22

I'm just lucky I own my own home and I havent got ridiculous rent prices to pay 

I have also put in a claim for Personal Independence payment to help with costs going back to work. Ive never claimed it before because Ive heard of people waiting for months, then having to attend assessment interviews which is just strange. Why do they need to speak to you when youve told then what you have to say on a form and a GP and specialists have confirmed the diagnosis. 

I also neeed to hold myself accountable for managing my health as best as i can by taking my meds on  time, keeping to  routine no matter how tired I am and keeping my surroundings properly clean and tidy rather than just loading the dishwasher and hanging my wet washing up! 

I think I will start tomorrow by getting rid of stuff I dont wear. I dont own many clothes by some peoples standards but I also dont like keeping things "just in case" for two years and never using them. I did do this not long ago but there are defintely a few more things to go.   

I need to start cleaning the floors more often. They arent dirty but they arent sparkling clean either.  I also need to clean the insides of the kitchen cupboards,, There are thing in there I dont use like a veg steamer. Someone gave it to me ages ago and since I havent used it, its going in the bin!      

ladyholly

Sorry to jump in unanounced but have you thought of selling stuff you dont want/ need? It might give you a few extra pennies.

Sorry you have so many health issues. They are not fun. Do any of them have support groups either on line or in person. Having people being in the same boat or worse can be helpful and they may have useful information for you. GPs dont know everything (that would be impossible) and if you have something uncommon they can be a bit stuck in helping even if they want to.

Sarahwithlove

Have you considered reaching out to your local adult social care to see if there is any support they can provide? Maybe a carer to provide help with shopping and cleaning? 

ET22

Hi, @ladyholly and @Sarahwithlove

 I used to have an online support group for one but I stopped using it ages ago. I may start using it again. 

My daughter usually helps out , I just dont like asking, i'd sooner do it myself because otherwise i would just sit down all day and youve got to move about to do something even if I dont make a great job of it

Ive just opened a letter from the DWP saying im entitled to jobseekers that I claimed. I didnt, the lady at the JC said to open a claim for esa. Unless I wasnt listening properly because given the fact i was really not well, that may have been the case. I opened a claim for ESA once i got my sick note and back dated it the day i stopped work. It really doesnt make sense. I wonder of the JC opened a claim for JSA but you then have to go online and claim ESA?

It doesnt seem like a very clear process and the information I have doesnt seem very clear. The lady at the JC told me to get a sick note and claim ESA which i did. 

Sarahwithlove

How did you make the claim for ESA? You have tried to claim the right benefit as ESA is for when you can't work due to illness or disability. You may have to give them a ring just be prepared to be on hold for an hour 

Grumpelstiltskin

ET Get yourself over to the Benefits board.

Benefits & tax credits — MoneySavingExpert Forum

Benefits are a minefield especially PIP

Your diagnosis is not vital in your PIP claim, it is how it affects you in doing various things and you will possibly need help in completing the forms.

ET22

Thankyou. I think im sctually going to wait until my appt with the work coach because the rates for jsa and esa are the same i think the difference with esa is to do with the possible length of a claim. I posted in the benefits board late last night so will keep checking if there is any response. The benefit system looks like a spider web to me. Personal independence does seem like a minefield. Its probably why billions go unclaimed. Hopefully i will be back to work soon 😊

In the meantime, i better get a few jobs done at home. Id like to feel some sense of achievement this evening.

 My tumble dryer has broken which is inconvenient ,  i have ran out of teabags and have to go to the chemist. I already have a disabled travel pass which is a good job because the prices of public transport these days is awful. I think its nearly 5 pounds for a day ticket. 

I think i will go out first because i cant function properly without a cup of tea, then i will come home and see what little jobs i can get done. Some time spent outside may give me some motivation even if it is just going to the chemist and tescos. I think i also need to remember how lucky i am in lots of ways and that my current situation will pass and be grateful for whst i do have x 

ET22

@Sarahwithlove, ibdid it online.

The way things are now, i dont think ive got much choice other than to go back to my original career but if i do then i will have to work as contractor doing independent work. I have spent the money i did have to step out of the profession a few years ago. On the plus side, at least i will know what im doing,  i will not be exposed to the ridiculous  level of stress i used to be if i only do independent work. It will still be hard, i just need to get my health under control again.

At least i have the option once one health condition is manageable so its not all doom and gloom. I dont know how people manage on benefits for any length of time.its criminal what people are expected to survive on. At least I have the option, once things are uner control, which many dont and yes it will negatively impact on my health but so will being on benefits with the added stress of losing my home.