Anyone claimed benefits due to mental health problems?

[anxiousaboutbenefits]

I put in a claim for Employment Support Allowance today and I feel really weird about it.

After having dd 6 years ago I developed anxiety, agoraphobia and social phobias.

I have been on Citalopram for 5 years and started CBT this year.

DH is on a low wage and I have been selling on Ebay as a business to try to bring in extra money but I have barely made a profit and we are really struggling. We get WFTC and CTC but I think I may be eligible for ESA (contributions based as DH works over 24 hrs). We don't claim housing benefit or council tax benefit as we live with MIL so it's complicated.

I want to go out to work desperately and feel really bad claiming benefits even though my life is completely controlled by this. I'm getting dissaproving comments from MIL who thinks that now I have started CBT I will be able to lead a normal life soon.

What I wanted to know is how you felt about claiming for a mental disability and how they assess you and help you get back to work?

Sorry if the threads a bit muddled, I'm a little confused by it all right now but would appreciate any experiences.

I can tell you how I feel about you claiming for a mental illness?

A mental illness is an illness and it can be seriously debilitating. Anxiety and depression can be nicely aggravated by money worries.

Apply for it, be honest about your situation and leave it up to them to decide. If they grant it based on you informing them of your circumstances you are obviously entitled to it.

And when you are back at work well, then you won't need it anymore, simples.

Thank you so much for replying willsurvivethis, I really am wanting this to be short term as I have lived like a hermit for far too long and am feeling pretty positive about the CBT. I am a little worried about the impact it may have on jobs when I hopefully start to apply as it will be on record now.

What record do you mean? Employers have no access to information about your benefits??

I am on ESA, though getting switched to IS soon. A few things:
employers CANT discriminate regarding mental health as it is included in the disability discrimination act.
any medical interview for benefits is just you and a doctor who will ask a few questions about how you are and how this effects your life. but if you give details of your doctor they can ring them and you won't have an interview at all in some cases.
when your ready to go back to work it should be supported and the jobcentre can work with you to make the transition as smooth as possible.
So dont worry!
your NOT a scrounger cuz your too ill to work but you can still walk! Feel very guilty myself a lot of the time, but don't, that just feeds into low mood and makes it worse. you will be supported, you won't be judged (this is true!) and you will be fine!

anyone who reads my post and thinks well you sound together enough to work, i am well at the moment but pregnant and struggling with meds issues and classed as high risk for relapse post birth and very scared so i'm just concentrating on staying well so my baby doesnt see me ill. this post is probably unnecessary and just my paranoia and feelings of guilt but i do feel like i have to justify myself i hate this illness.

which leads me to think who am i to tell you not to worry about being judged?! but please dont and also sont worry i'm gonna go now and stop talking to myself cuz that is mad!

ellymouse you make me

Thanks Ellymouse, I can identify with a lot of what you have posted and you don't sound mad! lol (although that may not mean much coming from me!)You have been really useful - the medical interview sounds okay.

I guess the 'record' I was talking about was the gap from employment, whereas before now I could put self employed on a CV after this I will have to declare being on ESA and although they are not supposed to discriminate I'm sure they would worry that I could become ill again and need long term sick, although, to be honest once I am used to surroundings (know the exits, toilets etc..) I'm usually okay. (deffo looks like a mad emoticon!)

its good to have someone who doesnt think i'm mad!
there will be a gap in employment but i dont think you have to give details about these periods on your cv. can you just leave gaps and if they ask in the interview simply say you were unable to work for that time? i wouldnt have thought they're allowed to press you too much. the other way to look at it is you might find a very understanding employer who you can talk candidly with. being up front with people is one way to go, it gives them the option to support you and though there are a lot of ignorant and unhelpful people in life a lot of people just dont know about mental illness and appreciate the chance to learn a bit more instead of judging.
all this is just me thinking aloud though! how is your claim going?