UC Concerns

[FinallyOpeningUp]

Evening all,

I was unsure whether to post here or a money related post, if mumsnet would like to move to the relevant post, thank you.

Just after some advice please as don't really have anyone to talk to and my anxiety has gone through the roof and can feel my depression creeping back up.

Trying not to drip feed and sorry if its long.

My DH works full time recently gone from PAYE to self-employed. We also are on Universal Credit. On PAYE we were never contacted by UC they just took DH wages and any money, if any, we were due we received and we're never contacted.
He's moved to self-employment and now on a much higher wage. 40+hrs p/w £14-£16 p/h.
UC have contacted to say I now need to attend appointments as DH is under the amount and I now need to look for work.

This is me not wanting to work, however I'm still not ready and my DH is 100% supportive to be the one earning enough income. I struggle extremely bad and have for the past 2/3 years.

The thing is I've never told Universal Credit, Doctors or anyone else concerning my mental health. I've tried to do it on myself with support of DH and family.

It started after a very close friend sadly passed. I developed depression, which then lead to bad panic attacks, anxiety and agoraphobia. Lockdown probably contributed as was then happy at home with my curtains drawn ect and no interaction from the outside world.

I can now manage the school run...even if before I leave high heart rate, but it is the only route I'm now familiar with. But thats as far as it goes. I haven't been in the local shops on the school run for over 2 years, visited family, seen friends for lunch ect. I literally leave home once a day to collect DS from from school and thats it.

Obviously for the children I put my bravest face on and make effort on their birthdays ect for meal, but completely exhausting. They don't miss out day to day with outdoor activites/events, DH is fantastic with them. And we do so much together as a family at home in my safe space.

But now I have this appointment, and I can't stop crying. I'm not in anyway after PIP, I know I could be entitled, but the horror stories I've heard over the interviews alone terrify me and not something I feel I could go through. I just want to be able to them accept DP wage until I'm better. I'm just wondering how to tell UC this. I know I should seek doctors advice, but this is another appointment, I'm still not ready for walking too.

I just don't don't know who to turn to.

Sorry for the long one....once you open up it all comes out. Hope someone can advise xxx

Once your youngest child reaches a certain age you are obliged to look for work unless you are medically exempt from working. How old are your children. I think you should go to the appointment and see what they have to say. Maybe they will put you in a work support group. At least you will find out what benefits you are entitled to. I dont understand what you mean when you say your DH is under the amount.

You are not obliged to look for work if your husband earns enough each month which it sounds like he will.
Firstly has your dh reported that he is now self employed? If so he will need to report his earnings each month - is he doing this ? It may be that if no earnings have been reported it looks as though he hasn't earned enough.
Secondly if you are unfit to work then you need to get a sick/ fit note from your GP. Then go to your UC journal and report your health condition on the home page and then it will send you a link to upload a sick note.
I do not think you should have been sent this appointment - it sounds like an automatically generated thing because something has gone wrong with your dh's earnings not being correctly reported. If he is now earning more than he was before and they have never called you for an appointment before, then it suggests something is amiss.

Just to add also in relation to PIP. PIP is nothing to do with UC, you apply for it separately if you wanted to.
If you are unfit to work though you should report your health condition to UC and wait to be assessed for work capability. Handing in sick notes wont stop you being called for a work commitments appointment ( although I think this sounds like a mistake ? ), but it will give your work coach the ability to reduce any work search commitments. It certainly would be worth you going down the route of handing in sick notes as if you were awarded limited capability for work and work related activity after assessment, then it is an extra £343 a month on your claim. It is up to you whether you can face an assessment though, it likely wont be as bad as you think and often if you have medical evidence, they may not need to do a face to face or telephone assessment.

@Viviennemary

Once your youngest child reaches a certain age you are obliged to look for work unless you are medically exempt from working. How old are your children. I think you should go to the appointment and see what they have to say. Maybe they will put you in a work support group. At least you will find out what benefits you are entitled to. I dont understand what you mean when you say your DH is under the amount.

Our youngest reached the required age several years ago. I'm not actually classed as medically exempt due to the mental pressure it would take myself to attend an appointment. And our income has always remained regular due to DH income. Also now higher.

I am intending to attend appointment. DH is able to attend with myself as not something I can manage alone. However was wondering if someone has had a similar appointment. In regards to MH. Support work group, I have read online is multiple people is not something I could physically manage atm.

The amount we receive atm even though not high, currently covers some billls.

What I mean with them saying he is under the amount is that his earnings even though higher from the previous year/months they still want me to attend work appointments, even though we are above the threshold of previous years.

I should of posted better in Mental Heath as its something that I'm still dealing with daily and wanted advice. Not how to claim extra money through PIP as i couldnt handle them appointments mentally. But advice how to talk to UC without being sanctioned.

Thank you though I appreciate youre response xx

If they want you to attend a work commitments appointment then the only way to avoid this or not have to work search is to report your health condition and hand in sick notes.
It's odd that they have called you for this appointment. If your dh earns over a certain amount ( I think around £560 a month) then you would be put in the light touch group anyway so not have to do much in the way of work searching.
It's up to you but it could be very beneficial to you to speak to your Gp and get a sick note.

@Babyroobs

You are not obliged to look for work if your husband earns enough each month which it sounds like he will. Firstly has your dh reported that he is now self employed? If so he will need to report his earnings each month - is he doing this ? It may be that if no earnings have been reported it looks as though he hasn't earned enough. Secondly if you are unfit to work then you need to get a sick/ fit note from your GP. Then go to your UC journal and report your health condition on the home page and then it will send you a link to upload a sick note. I do not think you should have been sent this appointment - it sounds like an automatically generated thing because something has gone wrong with your dh's earnings not being correctly reported. If he is now earning more than he was before and they have never called you for an appointment before, then it suggests something is amiss.

Thank you for your reply,

We reported his change from PAYE to Self Employed straight away, and have been providing accurate income for each month via a link online UC account, which has been higher since moving from PAYE.
GP is a tricky one as haven't managed to feel able to go for nearly three years, but if a sick note needed until I'm well will try thank you for the advice.
I have had telephone appointments to check DH income since, and they have said I need to attend face to face to look for work. I'm willing to work once I'm ready.

Thank you again for replying xx

@Babyroobs

Just to add also in relation to PIP. PIP is nothing to do with UC, you apply for it separately if you wanted to. If you are unfit to work though you should report your health condition to UC and wait to be assessed for work capability. Handing in sick notes wont stop you being called for a work commitments appointment ( although I think this sounds like a mistake ? ), but it will give your work coach the ability to reduce any work search commitments. It certainly would be worth you going down the route of handing in sick notes as if you were awarded limited capability for work and work related activity after assessment, then it is an extra £343 a month on your claim. It is up to you whether you can face an assessment though, it likely wont be as bad as you think and often if you have medical evidence, they may not need to do a face to face or telephone assessment.

Thank you,

You hear horror stories online regarding PIP appointments and I honestly don't think it is something I could handle.

I dont feel I could face a face to face appointment. But many thanks for the advice. Its much appreciated xx

@Babyroobs

If they want you to attend a work commitments appointment then the only way to avoid this or not have to work search is to report your health condition and hand in sick notes. It's odd that they have called you for this appointment. If your dh earns over a certain amount ( I think around £560 a month) then you would be put in the light touch group anyway so not have to do much in the way of work searching. It's up to you but it could be very beneficial to you to speak to your Gp and get a sick note.

Thank you again, time put my big girl pants on and confront my condition.

I have worked. Just been hard for myself recently.

Will pluck up the courage to try to phone GP tomorrow.

Thank you again, it really means alot xx

Good luck OP. What you've written in your OP would be a great start for something to give or show a GP. Hopefully, seeing a GP will just be extra help in getting you through this, and not anything to worry about.

I’m literally in this position at the moment, I’m with the community mental health team, and like you my partner has changed to being self employed I as well have been called in for a meeting, my daughter literally just turnt , I have generalised anxiety and panic disorder both diagnosed , I’ve explained this to them on my journal and said it’s most likely going to trigger a panic attack having to attend this appointment I don’t leave my house to be honest, but they’re insisting I go in, it’s tomorrow morning as well, I’ve asked to do over phone but said they wouldn’t allow it, hope you got on okay?

If you are ill then you need to hand in sick notes to Uc and report your health condition on the Home page under health.

If someone reports starting self-employment whilst claiming UC they will be given a gateway appointment and if found gainfully self employed will have a year long start up period. During this period the work group will remain as Intensive no matter what the S/E earnings. Therefore any partner on the claim would be subject to conditionality requirements. The OP would therefore need to get a fit note if unable to job search and be referred for work capability.

The only way around this would be to decline the start up period - have the Minimum Income Floor (MIF) applied now and then the work groups would change dependent on income and the husband would not have to attend appointments but continue to report income and expenses monthly.

Hi yeah literally wasn’t that bad was up all night worrying for no reason, they said to hand in a sick note but won’t have to go back for another 6 months :) took support with me so I got through okay

@Ditzy95 if you have a child between the ages of 1 and 2 you would be in the Work Focused Interview regime and would have to attend the JC 6 monthly. No job searching required. When your child is between 2 and 3 you would go into the Work Preparation regime and be seen every 3 months. Again you wouldn't have to job search but you would need to start preparing for work (training, quals, volunteering, CV, researching childcare etc). Once your child is 3 you would be expected to look for work for around 16 hrs pw unless you have a fit note or have already been assessed for Work Capability and have LCW or LCWRA.

Hello, well this is why I didn’t understand the need for a fit note right now, I have a job on bank hours - it’s too long to explain but my manager has made very good adjustments for me to be comfortable at work, but they’ve said I need a fit note or I’d be expected to take place in work related activities? I don’t understand it but it’s done now lol