To be scared of sex work as can't get WTC and worried my hip might dislocate? What can I do instead? Please help

[LetMeOutOfTheNightmare]

My head doesn't feel clear today, I'm very desperate, I'm disabled and running out of money at a rate of knots. Was ticking along ok hoping against hope I'd be ok with part time work and topping up with disability element of working tax credit. But Universal credit has been introduced to my area so I can't get WTC.

I don't have enough money. I don't have skills to allow me to earn more money. I can't hold down a full time job due to my health. My executive function, concentration etc is abysmal, as I am not neurotypical and regular panic attacks fuck with my concentration also.

Ideally I'd work outdoors doing something physical that doesn't require high levels of meticulous organisation, but my physical health doesn't allow that, certainly not more than a couple of days a week and then I couldn't be sure what days I'll be ok and what days I won't be ok as my condition fluctuates.

Sex work feels suitable from the point of view that it is physical (ie no deadlines of having to write reports, or transcribe documents that sort of thing) and in relatively short bursts.

Really really hate the idea of it as I don't think it would be good for mental health, and worried my dodgy hip might dislocate. I am terrified though. If I have absolutely zero money, and no access to any - like thousands of other women - what if I have no choice? What if it's that or not pay bills, get into arrears with rent, and then be taken to court or end up sleeping on the pavement or in a park??? I couldn't survive that, on a most basic level I need to keep my medication in a fridge. My council have warned me if I get into arrears with rent that would disqualify me from any help from them regarding homelessness.

What can I do instead? What do I do? I need a way out and I cannot think of anything.

Please if you have any ideas can you share? I'm so worried, and aware that being so worried means I'm not thinking straight.

Just wanted to send you support and wish you some better times very soon...I have found some of the responses here very disheartening. Some people truly seem to think that you could very easily change things, that you're just not trying, tsk tsk.. I know it comes from a place of (blissful) ignorance more than malice, but it still makes me snap my teeth in frustration. The poverty trap is real...and private landlords do very nicely out of it.

I commend you for not giving up, for your commitment to working, for carrying on. And I am glad that you have had some excellent advice and support from other posters. I can't add much to their suggestions, but I will say that often 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease' and to get what you need (and are entitled to) sometimes involves complaints, letters to your MP etc. It shouldn't be that way, I know it insults one's dignity but sometimes you just have to kick up a fuss to get anywhere.

Please do not despair. You are a valuable person with much to offer. I wish you the best with my whole heart.

Just to add, I'm on NMW and a 16 hour contract and it does mean you're not entitled to any benefits at all, so probably wouldn't suit. I can't manage by having no heating or get water but if you're disabled I totally get that wouldn't work, sorry.

I realise looking back at my post it looks like I'm telling the OP not to move or something, but that was aimed purely at those who say 'just move'. I know my circumstances were very different, I decided to move about 300 miles to the place I grew up so nearer family hence big costs of move, and transport for me. My disability meant I needed a companion with me so double cost plus a return for them. And I come from a position of having a very good job, so rented a decent flat and furnished it so I had to move all that stuff too.

And sorry yes I completely forgot guaranteur! I was lucky, my parents were able to act at that for me. They happened to buy a house 30 years ago through the same agency renting this one. Literally the only reason the agency even put through my application for more info/viewing is guarenter.

It sounds like you're already in a full UC area LetMeOut, in which case you would not be able to claim income based ESA anyway.

You can check here to see how far UC has been rolled out in your area. On the off chance you've paid enough national insurance over the last two years, you could still claim contributions-based ESA (AKA 'new style' ESA) even in a full UC area.

Under UC, if you are assessed as having limited capability for work, but can do some work, you get a work allowance, meaning that some of your earned income is disregarded when calculating how much you will get. Also, your claimant commitment should only be work preparation, like the WRAG under ESA. The snag is, of course, if you are doing some work, they might reassess you as not having LCW at all.

And yes, it would involve a stressful and humiliating assessment process, like ESA. From what I have seen of the UC50 questionnaire it looks pretty much the same as the ESA50 so I would imagine the assessment is about the same level of shit and not worse.

If you are assessed as available for work, the DWP may agree to less than the usual 35 hours if you have a physical or mental impairment that limits the amount of hours you can cope with. I have no idea how that's working in practice though.

And yes, UC is chock full of stealth cuts, especially for people with disabilities. You will only get 'transitional protection' if you manage to stay on old benefits (HB in your case) until the DWP migrate you themselves. All sorts of changes of circumstance can trigger a UC claim, and in these cases transitional protection does not apply. So any disability premium you get with your HB will be lost under UC housing costs.

Having said all that, you should still be better off than you are now, claiming only HB and PIP.

Theoretically.

UC is a giant clusterfuck that is causing all sorts of hardship, both deliberate and unintended. CAB have now called for UC roll-out to be paused while the problems are fixed. Personally I think the whole thing needs scrapping before the architecture of the old system is entirely dismantled.

In any case, don't do sex work if at all possible, it's likely to destroy you.

I'm so sorry you're going through all this

You could move into lodgings or a house share - often they don't require deposits etc if you find them on Gumtree. Not ideal (I know, I've done it!) but better than the risks of prostitution. Down here (SE England) there are also annexes available for rent and they can be really cheap - again, been there done that, not ideal but gets you by. Jobs as people have suggested - cleaning, ironing (can be done from home), babysitting (people would often pay quite a lot to have an adult babysitter rather than a teenager), pet sitter, dog walker, shop work

If you move that might trigger a UC claim because you're on HB.

Don't get somewhere off gumtree, there are too many creepy arseholes about with spare rooms or beds in sheds and they prey on vulnerable women. Too often it's not better than the risks of prostitution, it is prostitution, but with far less control than you'd have charging cash.

OP, clearly you have talents and abilities and qualifications as well as disabilities. Stupid question, but have you talked to any employment agencies? A good one may be able to place you. In theory UC is better for temping than HB.

Also, if you think you have a marketable skill then setting yourself up as self employed can be a way to bypass the whole work assessment esa thing, and claim UC with a year I think before you have to show an income from it.

Unfortunately while you are in London you're going to be trapped by high rents. Do you have 'local connection' to anywhere else? In some parts of the country you would have been offered a housing association flat by now with a secure tenancy and low rent, lower living costs, so more feasible to earn a living working part time, although fewer work opportunities.

You are up a against a crap system which is stripping away the support you need and deserve, sorry.