I hope this in the correct place, please let me know if not.
I've been unable to work for over a year now. Severe arthritis meaning I struggle to do even the most basic things like opening doors, picking things up. I was living off my savings for almost a year as I didn't want to be a burden but it got to the point I couldn't support myself anymore.
So I applied for benefits, I feel so bad even doing that, but they wouldn't let me go for jobseekers as I can't hold a pen to sign on. I'm on one called ESA and that meant I could get some housing benefit too. It's completely saved my life as without I would be on the streets right now (I'm single with no kids, former nanny). I also have so many issues to do with the illness, I can't cook or go shops often plus bad depression and complete inability to exercise, some days unable to leave my bed without being in agony, all leading to me gaining a ton of weight (5'2 and 19stone currently) . All my fault obviously, not throwing blame, just very difficult to eat healthy when your mind is full of pain and money is tight.
Now they want me to go for a face-to-face assessment and I am freaking out. If they don't believe me I'll lose my home. If on that day I can't walk.... I'm trying to scrape together enough money to get the bus there but I don't know if I can, they say they will reimburse travel but only with a ticket so I can't use my old oyster which I put money on when I was healthier, and working.
I don't know where to go or ask but I remember people on this site being helpful and I'm hoping someone may have done one of these assessments and can give me any details. I'm so worried they won't believe me, I know the government is all about money saving so they could just deny the money. I'll have to go on a bus to get there which is just terrifying as I can't hold on and if no seats I'll fall, it happened last time I took a bus.
If anyone has any knowledge please share, I don't have anyone to talk to or anything. I'm 34 by the way.
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Face-to-face assessment
31 replies
GoldilocksAndTheThreePears · 20/04/2016 04:14
OP posts:
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