To be frightened about the Government’s plans for benefits reform?

[PilgorTheGoat]

I am one of the millions of people currently on long term sickness benefits. I receive the LCWRA element of UC and PIP due to poor mental health and autism. I have severe anxiety and depression and I am awaiting an appointment to see if I also have PTSD due to sexual abuse in my childhood.

I have tried every element of support offered to me. I’m maxed out on 2 different types of antidepressants. I have had back-to-back (excluding the 6 month wait in between) 12 week sessions of counselling offered via the NHS. I am on a waiting list for intensive CBT due to my possible PTSD. I am currently having twice weekly private, video counselling appointments.

I can’t leave my house alone due to panic attacks. I struggle to meet my own care needs and my husband has to do a lot of the work for us both (although he works full time). I have a very understanding friend whom I force myself to go for a short walk with twice a week in order to stop myself becoming completely imprisoned at home but I find this very distressing and we have to take the same route each time.

I am so, so scared about the government’s plans to end sickness benefits for people like me. We don’t have a load of spare cash, we’re just about getting by. There is no support available. I’ve taken everything offered and my husband has been very proactive in seeking out other services for me to be involved with. I’d love to be better, I’d love not to live in fear but there is no help.

Can they kick you off PIP halfway through your award? I was rewarded it in Jan 2024, so if these changes start happening in the Autumn (as stated) can DWP decide to kick you off? Mines mental health.

No sweetie.

You get about £340 a month.

The extra £380 is if you can prove to a team of government appointed official who very rarely have medical experience that you're disabled ENOUGH to qualify for the extra help.

Otherwise you just get the £340.

Yes, I have many times thought the same.

Oh, I have been told this before. You are on MN, therefore you can work.
If don't go on MN, I don't get stopped money.

Please go on the the Mental Health board, and tell them that they all are work shy shirkers too.

So In their despair and suffering and destitution they should just stay quiet and die?

Then you won't have to pay for them I suppose.

Glad I'm not you.

You think £800 a month is an incentive? Seriously? 😂

I live alone now. It is just me. It was my ex that supported me (he took home £80k, and was happy to support me).

I would post in your local community FB group, outlining your struggles and asking if there is anybody who could give you a chance. It’s often good publicity for local businesses to employ disabled people, and many people might be more understanding than you think. Worth a go.

Ha, it would be like saying someone is not that mentally ill because they managed to use the phone to talk to a stranger... even if it was the Samaritans or a crisis line.

Such a sad misunderstanding of MH issues on this thread... and OP also said she is autistic, which brings its own challenges that no meds or therapy can help much with.

If you're on £400, then an extra £400 (i.e. double for the hard of thinking) is clearly a big incentive to claim you have mental health issues.

Just in case you're still struggling, if you consider £800 to be fuck all, do you consider £400 to be better or worse?

Are there a lot of WFH part-time jobs out there ? People would still be claiming in work benefits, but it might help some people make a transition back into the workplace, so if people are aware of such jobs can they link to them ?

I'm sorry, that's sounds absolutely miserable.

Because on the days I don't post on MN, I am not stopped pay and plunged into destitution.

And posting on the internet does not mean someone can work.

What WFH jobs are there for someone who had never had a phone/PC based job?

It's bonkers isn't it. I'd love to know how the assessors minds work. It certainly wasn't easy for us applying even with a report from a genetics professor.

It means they can use a computer and, in your case, interact (argue) with strangers, which suggests they could probably manage a remote working job offering email support.

Have you ever tried to live on that?

It wouldn't cover my mortgage never mind any bills.

I agree with this.

Thats a point - lots of online businesses have online chat support. Literally typing messages from home, like being on here but with a script.

You do realise that that's just £800 cash on top of your rent and council tax, don't you?

I've lived on far less.

Thankfully, I i now earn substantially more.

Hi OP

I am with the government.

However, and sadly, there are a lot more people that are genuine and I find the genuine ones often worry a lot more than the fakes

Try not to worry as many good people out there that assess people on benefits and IMO, just tell them the facts and the impact of this on your daily life and you will be ok!!

Do not worry as if it does happen, it wont happen for a year at least and even if it does, just be honest and you will be OK!!

Take care

Cross posted. A customer service job would be ideal, I would say! You can even interact 'live' like you are doing on MN, without needing 'protection'/ 'a break in 8 hours' at any point in the day. SO maybe 3 days a week?

So genuinely, why do you not work? A bit understandable maybe when your ex on 80K was happy to carry you. so the gov must now carry you?

People on this thread are being really horrible. I don’t know if you mean to be so rude but that is how you are coming across. I don’t understand why you are ganging up on poster who states she has MH problems. It’s unnecessarily unkind.

I have reported my own thread now and I hope MN take action. You do not know how harmful you could be being.