How am I supposed to survive new benefit rules

[Canaryhead]

Maybe I’m in the minority but I’m under 22. I am also severely impacted by parts of my autism, I have high and low functioning aspects.my executive functioning can become severely impacted depending on how many ‘spoons’ I’ve spent, and then I can’t care for myself. I can articulate myself, not always but I have had humiliating public meltdowns that have drawn attention to me. It also causes me to self harm. I know about the spoon theory and certain adaptions that can make things easier for me, but my needs mean it’s easy to push me over the limit.
(just a note to ask if there are any recommended books on preventing these episodes)
I am estranged from my parents, I left home at 16.
I was working with someone to get qualifications but the funding for it in my local area was shut down.
under the new universal credit rules, I will be £400 a month worse off if I don’t look for a job, if I’m honest I don’t think there will be anyone who would hire me.I’ll lose my rent element and I’ll lose the money I use to pay for my support worker.
So now I am worried sick

You’re under 22, are you suggesting that you will never work?? I really do hope you get the support you need and hopefully there are local schemes or initiatives to help you. You cannot at less than 22 years of age be suggesting that you will be on benefits your whole life? This is exactly why the system is being reviewed. Benefits should not be a life long thing. You should get support while you need it but you should not be resigned to a life living of the state (I accept that significant disabilities are the exception to this).

There is supported housing for young people with high needs, do you think you meet the criteria? Social services are the people who you need to talk to, support is built into the community but you will be sharing with other young adults, dsd has 3 house mates and 24/7 care

To get £400 per month from job you only need to work less than 33 hours per month at NMW, it's really not a lot. Dog walker? Cleaner?

It sounds like you were planning to spend your entire life on benefits not even contemplating to get a job. You should review your mindset really

This. Don’t get involved with Spoonies, especially on Reddit. It’s extremely toxic.

Have you ever had a job?

I'm sorry but it's really unhelpful, OP should be trying to get a job, not wasting her entire life on benefits

There’s a lot of people, especially young folk with terrifying obsession with being ‘unwell’, putting their long list of diagnosis in their bio’s etc, becoming ‘Sickfluencers’, it’s terrifying honestly. OP don’t make your disability your entire personality, you have more to offer the world than that.

A lot of people work in highly stressful jobs, it's normal. Those ones who don't are lucky.

If benefits didn't exist what job would you try and do? Imagine you were born 50 years ago. Everyone but the most disabled had to work. People worked as labourers, cleaners, carers, factory workers. 100 years ago they would have worked in the fields.

Is there any part of you that thinks access to benefits have not been good for you? I'm not trying to be goady, I have a beloved family member with a serious health condition. He could however have done certain jobs, but his benefits meant there was no incentive. I personally feel this has not ultimately been in his best interests long term.

Think of what you might have done 50 years ago and work from there, translating them into equivalent jobs today.

We are also medicalising normal human feelings. It’s normal to be stressed, anxious, worn down etc. it’s normal to feel uncomfortable in a job and have to overcome things. It builds character.

I feel for you OP, I have autistic teens but they have the huge advantage of a supportive family, not everyone has this.
It is a very unfair rule imo.
My autistic daughter would also struggle to work full time and need lots of adjustments, I work for a local authority and ime although they talk the talk re inclusivity and adaptations in reality managers just want someone 100% reliable who can get just get the job done and sadly management and many team members aren't understanding of more sick days, I hear a lot of moans regarding my colleagues with hidden disabilities.
However there are some really kind employers out there, the charity sector can be kind and understanding employers, particularly those that support disabilities. Certainly local authority or university type jobs should support disabilities. There is also the access to work scheme.
Have you tried volunteering? this may help you get into work.
Can you return to education? Open university perhaps? Although that will probably impact UC.
The other important thing to remember it isn't being bought in immediately, in fact it's not even been passed through parliament yet, I think they said they are aiming to bring it in for 2028,so you may be older than 22 by then?
Secondly just to say I heard it clarified that you can still claim Pip between ages of 16-22, it's the health element of UC they are removing.
Do you get Pip? Claim it if not but get help from charity or citizens advice bureau to fill out forms as they are a nightmare.
I know it's scary but try not to worry it's a while off yet and IF it impacts you, and I really hope it doesn't you will have time to prepare.

Poor kid, however old she is.

EDIT to correct my mis understanding!! Sorry.

I’m autistic and struggled from job to job for years. Eventually I was lucky enough to get an administration job with a very understanding boss. I had my own office space, could take regular breaks when needed and could excuse myself from meetings when I needed to. There are jobs out there that will suit you and I promise you will feel so much better for working. The thought is more daunting than the reality. I now have my own business and work mainly from home so that’s another option for you to consider.

What???

I agree. Too many people have convinced themselves that they can't work. Benefits should be a safety net not a way of life for many people.

I’m not sure how OP is convinced she can’t work when she’s never tried work? Honestly this makes me so sad, you have a whole life ahead of you. Please reconsider your mindset OP.

I didn’t mean to suggest that I want to be on benefits for the rest of my life. I’m my self esteem has actually been affected whilst I watch everyone else have lives, friends, and families whilst I’m isolated and held back.
But there needs to be the support to enable me to do so, and I highly doubt it exists because of how complex my needs are.
I’m not actively part of a disability group online trying to learn ways to act more unwell as some posters here are suggesting but I have had to learn ways so I don’t push myself over my limit and cause myself to become burnt out which has happened a number of times and then I can’t function at all. I lose all of my cognitive abilities when I get like that. I’m not using it as an excuse it’s an actual thing that happens to me. So I need to try and work around it

You think a life on benefits is something we should be encouraging? Don't mistake resilience for lack of empathy.

I turn 20 this year

what are the effects of your condition OP?

If only she had someone like you to help her find it, must be very scary when you're very young and have no parents to help you

OP says she is under 22, not 22, @SpringIsSpringing25. If she is 21/22, she may not be affected by the changes by the time (if) they are implemented.

Oops! You edited your post while I was responding.

One thing you might not have considered, there isn't the plethora of those jobs around these days. The whole world was a different place 50 years ago.

What’s your family background, OP? Are they helpful?

id you never went to school, how were you educated?