Will UC understand that I can’t work ?

[WantTobutcant]

Will they do an assessment without any formal diagnosis or is it needs based so if I tell them my difficulties they’ll assess on that or do you have to have conditions formally diagnosed ?

How did you meet your DP?

So who should pay for you to live, if not your DP? And if you won't even attempt to engage with a doctor/counselling/help?? Genuinely, where do you think this money comes from??

You will need to see your doctors to get the ball rolling. Take your partner with you if you feel comfortable. Once the doctors spoken to you and you have a plan then apply for universal credits. Believe me you have to jump through hoops with them otherwise they reject you .You will have a telephone call and then most likely a face to face assessment. If you say you can’t work then they will send you for an ability to work assessment which again is face to face.

for that you need proof of illnesses and diagnosis. They won’t take your word for it as you could be making it up. My advice is make a diary or symptoms day to day and go to the doctors. You could also benefit from some therapy to work out how this all started.

It sounds like you have severe anxiety disorder and coupled with the fact you don't go out and your fear for the future, you probably have depression too. It's really no way to live but you can definitely find a way out of it. I think first and foremost you should be seeing a GP, not just to to get a diagnosis but more importantly to try and get well again, then take it from there.

Study or training of some kind would help you into a job role. Doesn't need to be university but you can work on picking up some skills doing a short course, that could enable you to work from home. PP's suggestion of volunteering is a good one, somewhere where you only need to be around a small number of people, just to give you some confidence being out in the world again.

Thanks for all the links etc I will try to have a read through everything this morning. I will make a gp appt next week if I can get through to make one , I just hope I can get across all the issues in an appointment. UC aside I’m so so fed up of feeling like this even the tiniest thing takes so much preparation to do then I’m exhausted for days afterwards and I’ve been getting through but not really as my getting through each day was just hiding from everything I can’t manage

He was my neighbour when I was a child / teen up till I moved out (with him)

I think a worry I’m the back of my mind is will they question my ability to parent under these circumstances with these symptoms as I have a 10 year old . I feel like it’s at the back of my mind ? The last thing I want is to end up having to have lots of appts about everything as I struggle so much with talking and then it will look like I’m not functioning well enough but we have things in place so that there’s minimal impact on him

I didn’t realise this so we may be ok I will check about amounts.

Even so I think I still need some help. This is literally the first time I’ve really ever ‘told’ anyone how hard things are and the fact everyone is saying the same makes me realise I need to do something work or not I don’t think that’s the real issue , I know it’s what post was about but I think it’s now more to do with getting help for this problem

He’s always known me so I think in a lot of ways he doesn’t see it for as bad as it is because he’s known me my whole life and knows how I react to things etc so he’s maybe not in the best place to help because it’s normal for him when it’s far from normal . He seems to automatically know what to do and when to step in he says he can see from mannerisms when I’m not able to speak before it happens etc so if he’s there he can jump in
I think he’s shielded me from situations too and put no pressure on which is kind but ultimately may have made things worse ? I’ve said to him what is wrong with me he says ‘you’re just very stressed’
Hes said he will look for a second job if necessary now but I don’t know it feels to me like I’ve reached a point of being so thoroughly fed up of these panic attacks etc that I do want something to just stop them or to help and find out why I have these problems

Going to go and read all the links etc now I will come back on later

It sounds like you have been struggling for years. You deserve a life worth living, and seeing a GP will get the ball rolling to get you some help. Try and book a double appointment as you have a lot to go over... write it all down and take DP with you too.
Don't see it as trying to get benefits, and instead see it as trying to get better.
Your DP works, and if you live together then UC is considered a joint claim anyway. You may not get anything at all depending on what he earns.

Do you have any hobbies you enjoy?

Even if your GP signs you unfit for work, the DWP may not agree. This happened to my sister when she became anxious about poor performance in her Sales Manager role. She did have very good income protection insurance though. So this will go one way or tother. Fit for work and you may qualify for Jobseekers Allowance. Not fit you may qualify for Universal Credit. Quite a tough assessment.

If you claim benefits now, it will count towards your state pension

I believe child benefit only contributes towards your state pension for 12 years

Therefore, you should apply for universal credit / unemployment benefit or other, because this will pay towards your state pension. As other people said, you probably need to provide some sick notes from your doctor

www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record

I have the majority of those symptoms too OP. My job is just about adapting to me currently, a job in which I can get on by myself largely. I hope you get the help you need.

I think that you as you have not seen your Doctor it is going to be harder for you as a one off visit won’t really work.

I am in a position whereby my mental Illness incapacitates me and I cannot work and haven’t for the past few years. I am and have been in contact with my Doctor on a weekly basis for years because I am unwell. Whilst I do not claim UC as my husband works , I am in the support group for ESA and when I had the assessment for this I was asked to provide all medical evidence in supporting my claim which I was able to.

Good luck to you and I wish you well but the fact that you have none, or very little evidence to back up your claim, you may find it more challenging.

Jobseekers Allowance doesn’t exist

Right. I am obviously not up to speed. When I need to check these things I use the Benefits and Work site. It is very good for info and opinion from their experts.

Contributions based Job seekers allowance ( new style JSA ) is very much still in existence. I claimed it recently. Op would not qualify for anything contributions based as she has not worked for years.

@dicker Jobseekers Allowance very much does still exist. It is called new style jsa and is available to those who have paid the relevant amount of national insurance contributions in the relevant tax years.

You are going to have to see your GP asap. You need medical help. UC will want sick notes as proof you can't work. It's a very tough system and they don't want to hand out money, they make it deliberately difficult. If you don't have a sick note you'll be asked to apply for any jobs, these are usually shit. Take care of yourself and see a doctor.

I don’t mean to sound patronising or dismissive but you might find a job actually helps with your issues. I have some health issues, epilepsy from a past physical trauma and along with that ptsd, anxiety, depression. I’m also a recovering addict, 6 years clean and 3 years sober. During my addiction I also depended on my dh, he met me when I was clean of drugs but heavily reliant on alcohol. I eventually kicked the booze and for the first two years of my sobriety my mental health issues were awful, I was terrified of being out in public. Every single interaction was horrific. I’d stutter and twitch through sheer anxiety but with the cost of living rising it became really clear I needed a job. After countless interviews I was finally given a chance and I’m now 7 months in to a job that has been the absolute making of me. It’s public facing, in the health field and something I never thought I would be able to do in a million years but not only do I love it I’m good at it! It has helped my mental health issues so so much, I’m so grateful to my boss for taking me on. I’m so much more confident, I stand up for myself. I feel like a worthy person who doesn’t need to apologise for existing! I feel like an equal partner in my relationship, the feeling of treating my kids or dh with money I’ve earned is just so amazing and I’ve never been so happy! I’ve made friends, developed new skills and I’m so grateful for my recovery. So honestly, go to the gp and discuss your issues but please don’t rule out working. It honestly could be the making of you.

Oh and one of the best things was having something interesting to talk to friends and family about at Christmas! I could tell funny work stories and lament about going back to work inbetween Christmas and new years rather then just sitting quietly in the corner with noting to say except I’d finished every bloody box set!

If you're able to study in order to try and claim benefits whilst doing so..... why haven't you been proactive previously and studied?