Getting my mum on benefits

[BecomingAdultly]

I'm not sure where to start so i'll start at the beginning:

My mum got married as a teenager and had two kids by 20. Her mum and my dad was abusive which I think has massively contributed to her mental health problems; she tried to commit suicide throughout her teens and early twenties. This started happening again in her 40s where she became an alcoholic and had to start working (divorce). She was on the strongest depression tablets (I believe) without being sectioned but went cold turkey and now on a lesser dose than before.

Now, I reckon she may also be on the ASD spectrum as she cannot understand other peoples point of view. The two jobs she's had over the last 10 years she's been sacked over personality differences and she's now losing this one for something similar as her three other colleagues has threatened to quit because of her. She cannot work part of team as she reckons everyone is after her, she won't let anyone tell her what to do (such as a manager), and she doesn't have people skills. Probably doesn't help that she never worked until she was 50 but due to divorce she has to.

I literally cannot think of a role suitable for her as she also has physically issues (broke her back a few years ago + has lung disease).

She's been sacked from working as a receptionist, fast food server, cleaner, carer and as cook. She also cannot work a computer, no qualifications and has limited literacy. She has taken an assertive and communication course with a charity but it's not scrapped the surface of her issues.

She's really not work shy, but she's constantly flustered and she's quite removed from this world. She's now asked me to find her another job, but honestly i'm at a loss. I really think she should live the rest of her days being able to potter around in her garden in peace. The stress of her having to work is causing the cycle of her drinking again, and suicide will come back. I don't know what to do as once she gets down that hole again she'll be completely unreachable.

What kind of benefits could she be entitled to?

Does she get any sort of disability related benefits eg PIP or DLA? It's really not your responsibility to find her a new job.... my son has asd and was sectioned for over two years and yet he understands he needs to work so be can financially independent.

I don't agree with the 'she should be allowed to potter round her garden' - who is going to keep her? Are you?

Esa ? She will be expected to aim for working again though. However they will provide guidance and training.

If she is really unable to work because of medical issues then she should apply for ESA ( employment support allowance) but after an assessment they may find her fit for some kind of work. Pip may also be appropriate ( there are no new claims for adult DLA now), but it is hard to get but is all about whether she struggles with everyday activities like communication, washing and bathing herself, managing medications and cooking a meal. She may not score enough points to qualify but lots of people do get it for personality disorders/ psychiatric conditions etc.Has she considered counselling to help her? What does her Gp suggest ?

Wannabestressfree

It's just heartbreaking to watch her. She really does put 200% into any job she does but she really can't understand people. For example she'll to go her manager if anyone slightly bends the rules i.e a coworker stepped outside to take a phone call from her son's school. She's not able to do anything manual due to her health conditions, cannot walk to the end of the road without being out of breath and finds it overwhelming to go into the town centre. Right now she wants me to call her current boss to ask him to give her the week off as she's stressed as she believes he's not listening to her. He has, but rightly not agreed with one of her complaints.

She's not far off retirement age and while i'd support her financially right now I can't afford to (already pay for her car). I'll have a look into PIP and DLA, thanks! :)

Maybe she could take early retirement on ill health grounds.

DLA is no longer available for adults , it's ESA she needs to apply for . Does she have a partner now ? She should be able to get contributions based ESA if she has paid enough national insurance contributions over the past few tax years.