To ask if people what benefits someone with depression and anxiety can get if they feel they can't work

[HazelPlayer]

A member of my family has given up her job due to depression and anxiety.

The GP is aware and shd has been having counselling.

Her h is not working, he's almost state pension age but not quite, and his work pension doesn't seem to be enough to keep them. He has COPD and other issues and doesn't want to return to work.

Does anyone know offhand if she could get any benefits in her situation?

I will obviously be advising her to go to citizens advice and the UC office too.

Sorry, I changed the title and it ended up a bit garbled.

They both need to speak to a job centre advisor to get a joint claim underway. They're not scary people and in my experience are really quite lovely and helpful.

This website always gets recommended for these kinds of questions
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/

She left her job (after being encouraged to return following absence for anxiety, stress etc.) ..

I was wondering if the "thing" applied that used to; when people who left jobs of their own accord can't get benefits for a period.

Can she apply for disability benefits? If her mental illnesses are so bad she can’t work, then I think this is the route, it would be classed as being disabled.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

PIP and possibly UC. Does DLA still exist?

That was the sort of thing I was wondering.

But I'm guessing that whoever was counseling/dealing with her until now didn't pronounce her such (because she was doing a phased return to work when she quit).

She needs to go back to her doctor.

if it is uc, she will need to do 36 hours a week looking for work. And come next year if she doesn’t get a job, not sure of when, I think towards end, they will give her a job ot stop her benefits, it’s borrowed time, but maybe all she needs.

however she can speak to her doctor to see if he or she supports she is now disabled and unable to work.

I believe she could apply for pip.

A pp mentioned DLA. This doesn't apply as it's just for under 16s.

Pip isn't means tested, so is appropriate whether she works or not. She has to complete the forms to explain what difficulties she has. It would be the same form as someone who has severe learning difficulties or is on home dialysis or has anxiety/depression.

Separately she could investigate universal credit. I don't know much about UC as I've never received it.

It says on the pip site that DLA is being replaced by pip for most adults.

Cross posted with posters above.

she will need to do 36 hours a week looking for work

As an aside, one wonders how much time staff would have to spend checking that for each person on UC, and how effective the checks would be.

She couldn't claim jobseekers. But she isn't job seeking so it's fine.

Has she accessed talking therapies and mental health support OP? These services often have an employment adviser who can help.

In the immediate, she could ask her doctor for a fit not, which she can then show to the jobcentre, so they won't expect her to look for work straightaway. If she's unable to work for a longer time, she will have a work capability assesment, where the jobcentre will assess if they think she would be able to work. If the assessment class her as either Low Capability for work, or low capability for work related activities, she won't be expected to work (though might need to do courses on the former), and her uc payment will also increase.

She could also apply for pip separately, which isn't administered through the jobcentre, and is to cover costs related to her disability. If she gets that her partner could then become her carer, and ask for the carers element to be added to their uc claim.

I don't believe that there's really nothing at all she can do for work

She has been dealing with someone, but I'm not sure exactly what their role is.

I don't either.

But it's until she improves a bit and finds something.

(I would add to that that I personally haven't found not working to improve anxiety & depression, quite the opposite. It's what she could do without getting too stressed though).

Alcohol is also an issue.

I was on Universal Credit when I couldn't work due to anxiety for a couple of years. They were very understanding and supportive. They put me on some courses to benefit me and help me with my mental health and easing back to work.

She'd be asked to keep a log of all her applications online, so the work coach can view it. They also expect you to apply for absolutely anything, not just something within your skillset. I guess if they doubted she applied to all the jobs she said she did, they could ring some of the companies to check whether an application had been received.

I think she would need significant medical evidence to get PIP, but she should try to claim UC in the meantime.

Her options are pip, ESA and universal credit.

Pip and ESA are not means tested. She will need to have assessments to see if she qualifies for help. Both benefits have big forms which she would be wise to get help filling out.

Universal credit is means tested. Her husband's pension would be deducted £ for £, and it's not an especially generous benefits so you might find she doesn't have any entitlement. Best way to check would be the turn2us benefit calculator.

If she does apply for universal credit or ESA she will need to submit sick notes while she waits for an assessment.

On UC, there's a possibility that she will be asked to look for work while she waits for the assessment

You asked whether her having given up her job would affect her being able to claim benefits. Benefits can be sanctioned at the beginning of a claim if the person is found to have quit there job without a good reason. Health problems are almost always accepted as a good reason.

I just Googled ESA and got European Space Agency.

Edit; found it.

That's quite an assumption about someone you don't even know - and there may well be some kinds of work she could do, doesn't mean there is a lot of that kind of work available. Or anyone who would be willing to take her on, as we all know discrimination happens.