Male friend with bipolar needs to go on benefits - what are the odds he will get them?

[Watdidusay]

A good friend has had bipolar for 20 years. He's deteriorated in recent years and realistically can't work. He's now in a lot of debt and has been evicted from his rental property.
He is engaging with all services but he's now sleeping on a friend's sofa.

We think he needs to go on benefits until he gets better. His career is extremely stressful and it's unlikely he'll be able to return.

I have heard men never end up getting homed through the benefits system. Is that the case? Is he likely to have to continue to sleep on friend's sofas? He has no partner or children.

I see my link to the turn2us pip helper didn’t work for some reason. Here it is again. It’s a step by step guide for how to apply for PIP

pip.turn2us.org.uk/?_ga=2.233117596.381867308.1721598134-2144604649.1721598134&_gl=1r22reo_gaMjE0NDYwNDY0OS4xNzIxNTk4MTM0_ga_E1WBSX9YR8*MTcyMTU5ODEzMy4xLjAuMTcyMTU5ODEzMy4wLjAuMA..

Fair enough-
where I’m from there are councillors who could help with this (I’ve experienced this) usually connected with a local Member of the Legislative Assembly.

Of course different conditions apply in different parts of the UK, but you get the idea. I advise the OP to help the person in need to find a competent person / team who have experience helping people navigate the PIP system.

I'm not sure where you've got your information from but Shelter aren't just a campaigning organisation. They have highly trained professional advisors who can advise the man on his rights,the law and what the council are obligated to do. I'm sure you're aware of how the council gatekeep services.

We also aren't aware of the whole picture and there could be more to the story. Shelter will give advice on benefits, funding, hostels and whether or not he has priority need due to his ill health.

He's better off armed with knowledge before dealing with the LA and other organisations. I've worked alongside organisations like Shelter for a long time and they've consistently been excellent. Please don't put people off contacting them. It's worth the wait on the phone to get information and advice.

He has a MH team, so they can help him with benefits. My CPN was great when I had to apply. It sounds like he would have no trouble getting on them.

Men do get homed. If he applies for PIP, then that will help.

I wish him the best. Bipolar can be awful.

This guy hasn't even been to the council yet! That's the first place to try not waste time getting onto charities. I'm glad they helped your friend. It still doesn't mean I'm wrong FFS. The main thing they do in terms of practical help for homeless people is advise people how not to become homeless before they really have to be. I don't know why you can't just read what I've written and stop imagining a bunch of stuff I didn't write then berating me for it.

And another fucking one!

I DIDN'T SAY THEY ONLY CAMPAIGNED! Try reading what I actually write!

This man doesn't need an appointment with a charity as the first port of call. He needs to
#1 contact the council and report himself homeless
#2 apply for UC
#3 apply for PIP.

Anything else comes after that. Like if it's not plain sailing or he gets fobbed off.

Anything else, in the first instance, is wasting his time and delaying him getting help.

I don’t think it’s true about men not getting help because they’re men, but yes people who aren’t parents or are parents that don’t have custody are obviously not priority over the many people - usually women- who have primary care of their children.

I do know a couple of women with no kids- one in London and one in Glasgow - that got housed and decent amount of benefits when they lost their jobs and were diagnosed with mental health issues shortly after. Not sure how exactly the process worked for them. Also know a single guy in his 50s whos never worked since his 20s due to depression.

He's already under the CMHT though. The GP will merely tell him to take it up with them.

The CMHT may well have Welfare Rights Advisors and/or Support Workers who can help with benefits/housing applications.

What's this "New Style" ESA? Do you mean UC?

There's no need to be aggressive. Read back your post where you talk about campaigning.

Councils often gatekeep services they don't always tell you what you are entitled to or what their obligations are. They aren't always helpful in fact they tend to be the opposite. They aren't always the only available option.

Therefore it's prudent to arm yourself with knowledge of your rights and their obligations before contacting them. As the leading charity on housing in the UK, Shelter can tell this man what may be available to him and what he can expect. They may also tell him of other options he may not have considered.

I didn't realise he was already under CMHT, if he is I'm not sure what the point of this post is.

A friend of a friend had this happen eventually to her, she ended up with close to £2k per month in benefits etc so ended up better than most. It's a lottery though, council to council.