Claiming benefits?........lying to stay alive?

[IsThisTheEnd?]

one of my worries is money and I'm too old to be working at McDonalds or some rubbish like that and I'd get so depressed doing something like that i'd probably start shuffling my feet and people start jeering at me.
I don't really have any health issues except depression and don't think I can claim benefit for that? but I don't think I would feel bad if I had to lie because this life is pretty rubbish and I don't owe anyone anything.
so does anyone have any advice on the subject?

 

[Deleted member 1465]

What country are you in?

 

[IsThisTheEnd?]

What country are you in?

U.K

 

[Deleted member 1465]

Okay. You can claim Employment and Support Allowance and fill in their form to see if you qualify. My advice would to be honest, because you will probably have to sit an interview, but it's your choice ofc. You can also claim Personal Independence Payments which may take your psych state into consideration too. Again, you'll have to sit an interview and convince them. The best way to do this is to refer to their criteria for assessment and answer accordingly

Check if you can claim ESA

Check what Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is and if you can claim it.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

How to claim PIP

How to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and the basic information you'll need to have to hand when you start your claim.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

 

[IsThisTheEnd?]

Thank you, I've never heard of ESA, the last thing I tried was JSA and there horrible people and said I had to go for an interview at KFC, I didn't go and have just been living of savings until now when I have no money.

I've been depressed for about 15 years, I was probably depressed before this but do you think I can claim anything?

 

[BipolarGuy]

Ok I'm in the UK too and I understand your situation.

Get on Universal Credit if you're struggling to survive.

I'll be honest, you're not going to be awarded PIP.

 

[IsThisTheEnd?]

universal credit or ESA? universal credit are just going to send me to jobs at KFC?

 

[TheQ22]

I think pretty much everything goes through universal credit now, it's so they can pay less. But it's better than nothing.

 

[IsThisTheEnd?]

Ok ill have a look, I don't want to claim the equivalent of JSA to look for a job, I mean I would do a job one more time but it never works so doesn't seem worth it and I'm running out of options

 

[Deleted member 1465]

Thank you, I've never heard of ESA, the last thing I tried was JSA and there horrible people and said I had to go for an interview at KFC, I didn't go and have just been living of savings until now when I have no money.

I've been depressed for about 15 years, I was probably depressed before this but do you think I can claim anything?

I don't know. You'll have to send off for the forms, talk to your GP to see if you are fit for work and do some research online to see if it's applicable. If you feel you genuinely can't work, them you'll have to be able to prove it on the forms and get your GP to agree with that assessment. If you read up on it, you can see if it's applicable to you.

 

[IsThisTheEnd?]

it's going to be a battle isn't it? because yeah I can physically do some horrible job but I never get on with anyone and it never works, so ill have to think carefully how to approach this.
anyone else who has any advice would be great.

 

[Deleted member 1465]

I don't know how ESA relates to universal credit. But here are a couple of other links:

Disability Related Benefits | The Advocacy People

We are The Advocacy People. A charity providing free, independant, confidential suppot to those struggling with health and social care services.

www.esa-assessment.support

PIP points system

Get the benefits you're entitled to: help with personal independence payment (PIP), universal credit (UC), employment and support allowance (ESA),disability living allowance (DLA). Claims, assessments, reviews, appeals.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk

 

[IsThisTheEnd?]

Thanks
This site does say Universal Credit is replacing Employment Support Allowance (ESA).

How will Universal Credit affect my ESA?

Universal Credit is replacing Employment Support Allowance (ESA). We explain what this means for you, how Universal Credit will affect your ESA and the differences between the two benefits.

www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org

 

[GravityUtilizer]

Universal Credit but with limited capability for work is a thing and means you don't have to look for work but still get the basic benefit. You get assessed by a doctor for this also.

 

[IsThisTheEnd?]

ok I think maybe it was on here or reddit I was reading someone was saying it was some doctor they didn't know and he said they were ok to work and person was contemplating ctb.

 

[GravityUtilizer]

Well the more your life is f'd up/you're on meds/in therapy/have multiple issues prob helps.

 

[Emily_Numb]

If you think you are above working in a fast food restaurant, then you can't expect the government to pick up the tab. I'm sure you'll get Universal Credit but there's no way you will qualify for PIP. Almost impossible to qualify for now in the UK.

I really wouldn't turn your nose up at work in a big fast food chain, they actually have really good benefits, good team environment regardless of age, excellent career progression and the pay is a lot better than most places at that low skilled level. I knew of a manager of a McDonald who was on £40k and that was one branch over 20 years ago!

Out of all the jobs I've ever had, the most enjoyable one was working in a Cinema for just over minimum wage. You'll be surprised where you can enjoy working!

I hope you find some financial support but don't discount fast food work.

 

[Morphosis]

I'm having a nightmare with this myself. Lost my job and claimed Jobseekers allowance no problem, then their advisors told me I should be on universal credit instead as I was too sick to work or look for work.
Got sick line for a year from the hospital ward and GP provided medical evidence etc.
My jobseekers allowance was stopped beginning of June in order to process universal credit claim. I am STILL waiting on it. Haven't received a penny since June and I'm supposed to be living on fresh air?!

 

[IsThisTheEnd?]

If you think you are above working in a fast food restaurant, then you can't expect the government to pick up the tab. I'm sure you'll get Universal Credit but there's no way you will qualify for PIP. Almost impossible to qualify for now in the UK.

I really wouldn't turn your nose up at work in a big fast food chain, they actually have really good benefits, good team environment regardless of age, excellent career progression and the pay is a lot better than most places at that low skilled level. I knew of a manager of a McDonald who was on £40k and that was one branch over 20 years ago!

Out of all the jobs I've ever had, the most enjoyable one was working in a Cinema for just over minimum wage. You'll be surprised where you can enjoy working!

I hope you find some financial support but don't discount fast food work.

I know that seemed a bit mean but I have done alot of similar jobs and it never works out, I end up worse than I started - mentally and remember I'm finished, done, trash in the bin, shit on your shoe, totally finished so apart from begging on the street I clutching at straws.

I'm having a nightmare with this myself. Lost my job and claimed Jobseekers allowance no problem, then their advisors told me I should be on universal credit instead as I was too sick to work or look for work.
Got sick line for a year from the hospital ward and GP provided medical evidence etc.
My jobseekers allowance was stopped beginning of June in order to process universal credit claim. I am STILL waiting on it. Haven't received a penny since June and I'm supposed to be living on fresh air?!

from what I heard it is a fight.

 

[Passerby]

Hi,

Before i was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia,

I was down as depressed on anti depressants on limited capacity for work on universal credit,

I am in the UK too, forget PIP you will not get that on depression however you can get limited capacity for work with depression,

Here are the below sums from my universal credit account of what you will exactly get on limited capacity, you will receive both sums monthly every month,

Standard allowance
£409.89
Limited capability for work and work-related activity
£341.92

Also, you will get housing costs on top of that and council tax support etc etc.

If you have any questions please message me i'll help you with it.

 

[IsThisTheEnd?]

Thank for your reply, I might have something more undiagnosed like bipolar.

and thank you for your offer of help by message.

I probably will have one more shot at work but I don't think I am going to make it.

 

[Passerby]

Thank for your reply, I might have something more like bipolar.

and thank you for your offer of help by message.

I probably will have one more shot at work but I don't think I am going to make it.

Don't force yourself to work, don't listen to anyone about telling you work don't be lazy etc etc, i worked for years it made my mental health worse, you're health is important, give you're mind a rest from it all and focus on you getting better, i'm not saying become lazy and never work agian.

If you wish to claim,

You're first steps is claiming standard universal credit which is easy, then you need to go to you're doctors and get a sick note, after a few sick notes, the dwp will write to you're doctor asking his opinion if you are fit to work, remember, you're doctor for the most part is on you're side, after that you may have to have a medical talk with a doctor employed by the dwp, but hey, dont worry about it, there not there to trick you out of it.
Also if you are on limited capacity, you will not be contacted by Universal credit, you will not have to go to a job center, go to any interviews, etc etc

You are deemed unfit, you are just left alone to put it honestly.

 

[IsThisTheEnd?]

I've probably done it all in reverse, I should of claimed sick years ago but I didn't know or want to admit it and then gone back to work but instead I've gone from job to job and feel terrible.

 

[Lostandlooking]

Worried about similar things myself. It's my main reason for thinking about/preparing for ctb. It has gone wrong several times now. Work is a very difficult subject for me. I'm just so tired of fighting.

Wishing you luck and strength to get through this process succesfully.

 

[IsThisTheEnd?]

Worried about similar things myself. It's my main reason for thinking about/preparing for ctb. It has gone wrong several times now. Work is a very difficult subject for me. I'm just so tired of fighting.

Wishing you luck and strength to get through this process succesfully.

Thanks for the wishes, do you feel you can tell me about your situation? only if you feel you can.

 

[Nymph]

If you feel too old for fast food chains you can try cashiers. In my country there's this one supermarket where you can actually get decent money as a cashier but that's in my country so it's probably very different

 

[IsThisTheEnd?]

One of the reasons I don't want to work is because over the years I've probably worked most supermarkets and it's not been great, but for someone else this might be the perfect solution.