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.

Agreed. Xenobitch can actually work. and by the looks of things, she can 'self-cure' which should also be encouraged.

a lot of mh people have said they themselves pulled themselves out of it, slowly but surely when they saw none else could help. others said it was family members who helped. so over-reliance on the state to sort mh is not the cure. park walk, jokes/humour as in xehobitch etc etc are all what most people need to feel normal.

Self cure? Lol.

I want to work, but if I express that, I will be plunged into poverty. There needs to be help for people like me (and OP too), who want to work but fear the cut off of their life line.
Blame the government for that, not us.

What sort of help? Do you have a target job in mind, something you feel capable of doing?

lol. your humour is infectious. keep it up.

'I want to work, but if I express that, I will be plunged into poverty.'

what do you mean by that-the last 2 parts?

I am very creative. I pass my time by doing arts and crafts.. but there is no money in that unfortunately.

I would like to work in MH (in peer support) and help people gain confidence by doing arts and crafts (that is what helped me a a lot).... but I was told I could not do it as I would not pass a DBS check, and I was also told I "needed more people skills". Both comments were by the main MH charities where I live.

If I told my work coach that I wanted to look into getting back into the workforce, I would be found fit for work and subject to sanctions etc if I don't comply.

oh, the system is wrong. no wonder pp work out how best to retain their benefits or how best to get more benefits. the whole system is wrong.

This . A lot of companies want to chip and change hours to suit the needs of the business. Due to child care issues people can't chop and charge hours to suit

yes, arts and crafts should help with confidence. you certainly have loads of it. well done you! you cannot start a blog, to help others?

@XenoBitch

Jesus h Christ on a bike.

I said a lot. not 'all'. of course some pp are v v ill can't even get out of bed.

In a way, it is a trap. Many people want to get back to work, but fear the consequences for saying so.
The reality is that no one would employ you anyway... a huge gap in your CV will put them off, no skills or experience, no references, a dirty DBS check... and that is the applying part... if you get an interview... well, you will get marked down for no eye contact, being awkward, cracking jokes etc.

She's already said her humour is a mask

I make stuff as gifts for people, or I donate them for charity. When people say you need to be in paid employment to have purpose... well, I have plenty of that.
Ha, I can't blog.. I don't even do a journal (which gets recommended for people with MH issues), as I get hung up on all the details. Analysis paralysis

can't they just look for work on the side without telling their 'work coach'? is that how some eventually escape the trap? sounds tough!

Bless you!!! Please don't worry I am sure you will be fine.

I actually don't see this coming to fruition truth be told.

It would be too cruel!

I am also sick of this idea some people peddle that people who don't do paid employment are somehow useless and pointless! It's soooo not true.

Look after yourself @PilgorTheGoat You'll be OK.

I only know of one person who works on the side, and I think it is legit anyway as it falls under the 16 hour rule for ESA. It is different for UC.

For all those people doubting their neighbours who say they're fine and claiming disability.

This is why. This is exactly why. This is why people say they're fine. This is why people don't tell you why they're actually signed off.

After over a decade in the NHS mental health system a poster has just been told that cos some other posters have said she's funny, and she clearly has an iq over 5, she should work. She's just not trying hard enough. All those medical professionals were wrong. If she just tried a wee bit harder...
If she just tweaked a bit...

Dear god.

It's interesting they came out after they thought everyone supportive had stopped posting too.

you are currently working. keep it up. things for charity is also work. now I understand your situation a bit better. apologies for earlier comments but your come backs were very good.

see, 99% pp on this thread would say, you write well and should write a journal. yet, you clearly don't believe in yourself and it makes sense that 'paralysis kicks in' which prevents you from doing it. if I could prescribe a cure for you is to 'stop paralysis stepping in'. that is not simple. so keep doing what you are doing- making things and donating to charity.👏👏

A lot fewer it’s
30% are net contributors

I'm quoting you just so you see it.

I've helped with journalling before and it can be really beneficial. It can track lots of things that affect you that you're unaware of.

If you like any help with that, please feel free to pm me. Even if it's just me bugging you every day to fill it in.

This could be a nice low stress suggestion that's really helpful, can't remember the poster that suggested blogging, but yes! Just low key at first though, just for you. You dont have to go all in.

Toast x

Society is changing over time - pensioners are low contributors (rightly, many have low incomes) and high service users (rightly, they have medical/care needs) and we have more of them than we used to.

Another big issue is low business tax contribution. Workers pay tax themselves but also the companies they work for should be paying tax on profit. Large companies are effective at minimising the tax they pay.

Then there is general tax evasion and fraud. This is enormous compared to benefit fraud.

You might not be taking the piss OP, but let’s be frank, many people are. A very small proportion of benefits claims are fraudulent and these are pursued. If people are worried about treasury coffers, tax evasion/fraud is the obvious first target. And of course grow the economy.

We'll get nowhere taking a ha'penny more off people who have nothing anyway. The government have cut and cut, the only outcomes have been more poverty, less money being spent in shops, higher health bills.

I recently watched some videos

2 people, both rented

1 female had not worked for 30 years, had several children

1 younger male had not worked, no children

Where is their incentive to work when their accommodation, bills are paid ?

This is long term non working

I don't mind working 12 hour shifts & paying tax for those who are sick or elderly
But lazy ???

Surely, it is time for some changes ?

I have worked for 30+ years

This.

So just to be clear about what you've said @XenoBitch , you want to work but you won't tell your work coach because they'll get work for you and stop your benefits? To be honest that doesn't sound like a broken system to me. It sounds like them putting people to work who are able to do so, and stopping paying them if they're choosing not to.