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

A few things stood out from your posts:

1. You are incredibly young. Dare I say, even too young to be considered "behind" on anything in life.
2. As many say "comparison is the thief of joy". You can only live your life, not someone else's. There is no "right" way to live your life either. There is only what works for you. What works is what you'll find out through a lot of trial an error.This applies to everyone, even the people who hide it well. So please don't get hung up on arbitrary timelines.
3. Just because you have to look for a job, does not necessarily mean they will punish you if you can't find one. As long as you comply with the minimum attempts to apply for job, you should be okay. It will allow you to be brutally honest with any potential employer about your needs. They way they will know exactly what they are getting if someone does decide to hire you and you won't have to fake it. It also means you won't have to fake it in a job that is not right for you.

I do understand that this must create a lot of stress. It is a very hostile attitude the government has towards people who need their support. I wish they thought better of such policies.

Thank you so much for that information. Really useful. I also hope you are okay OPx

That’s very ableist of you! Many neurodiverse people are capable of holding down extremely stressful jobs. Just as many neurotypical people aren’t.

Not all though! Depends on the severity of symptoms. I have autistic children myself. Can't even cope with school environment.

Were you in care at all? Many councils have apprenticeships for all care leavers.

It literally says in the FIRST LINE of the OP 🤦‍♀️

Hi OP I really feel for you. Do you have anyone able to be a mentor or coach for you?
You sound really articulate and smart, I am convinced there’s a job out there for you.
dm me if you want some getting back/in to work guidance

No it doesn’t

Contact the Princes Trust

How do you know no one will employ you? Don’t let the panic take over. You’ve got time to sort yourself out before all the changes kick in. There are companies out there who’ll employ you in a work from home role for a proper wage. Take a look at https://www.evenbreak.com/

The thing that stands out to me from your post is that you’ve never had the support you need to help you move forward and see what opportunities are available that could mean you can find a job you can do, that helps you gain self-esteem and enjoy life. Some of the pp have given examples of things that have worked but you need to take baby steps. It may seem overwhelming at the moment as you jump to ‘I need full time employment immediately’ but try breaking it down. Maybe look at whether you can do an at home course to get maths and English gcse - would that be achievable for you? If that feels too much atm maybe set a target of just speaking to someone about what may be available in the first instance. Take a deep breath, try not to panic and pick one thing, however small, that moves you forward a little bit. They all mount up xx

Absolutely this. It took my DD 8 years to find a job of less than 10 hours a week, so there was a lot of baby steps.

I know it’s hard OP. I was living on my own at 16 when I was kicked out of my last children’s home, with absolutely no support from anyone. But, please don’t feel you have no support - it may not be much but you have a few of us here willing you on

Yes! I lecture at a University (on a casual basis). Talking on stage in front of hundreds of strangers is not a problem. But after, I still sometimes get lost on campus when I'm stressed out by the crowds then I react to stress in a really helpful way - I lose my eyesight beyond about an arm's length. I become legally blind, it's a very rare ASD reaction to stress but not unknown.

That's the problem with ASD interacting with stress; it can manifest in ways that are overwhelming and sensory, as well as burnout, and why people with ASD try to avoid it and fear it. I do not seek to minimise stress in the general population by acknowledging this difference.

OP, I once had no qualifications and was on Homeless Youth Allowance (that was an Australian thing). Online learning really changed my life.

All the best to you.

Please try not to worry yet because this is still at the proposal stage and it may not get through parliament. Is it LCWRA that you are most concerned about?

Also, can you get a care-leavers grant from your council. I think you should be entitled and they are about £3000.

Yes agree with this although I suspect that these new rules wont come in, in any case. It may be a political strategy to bring something to the table, have it voted down or voted down by the Lords and then blame that on the fact they cant or wont change anything

This is a board for Mners who have disabilities so if you don’t, stop coming here with your views about who and who should not be working. Keep your opinions to yourself because they don’t come from a place of education or understanding.

I'm really very sorry to hear about your own situation, that must be a terrible thing to have live with💕

I'm glad your DD is setting herself up with a good support network.

I wasn't actually assuming that it was all a bed of roses for you or DD, I was just saying it must be very hard for a very young person with disabilities or difficulties to not have any family support.

I wish for you and DD the very best things can possibly be given the situation 🤗

Have you thought of contacting the Ambitious About Autism charity? I know they look into employability. I hope you find something to do that you love and succeed in.

I think you have to try to develop a less negative mindset. You are very focussed on what you feel you can't do/manage.

What can you do?

So you're posting on here, articulately. You obviously can read & write well, you have the cognitive ability to understand the purpose of mumsnet, navigate to an appropriate board within it, post, understand what is written, process people's responses & reply appropriately. Those are all valuable things you can do.

How do you spend your days at the moment?

I don’t know why you’re posting on this board because your entire post shows how ignorant you are about ‘invisible’ disabilities.

I can’t stop you from thinking nonsense if that’s what you choose but what gives you the right to openly talk from a place of judgement and stupidity towards someone who is obviously in a bad place?

I am so, so sick of people on MN talking crap about how autistic people who are articulate don’t experience any difficulties. Either go away and do some proper research about conditions like autism (because it’s not our job to educate you) or keep your opinions to yourself. And stop invading a safe space with your ignorance.

It is worrying. Try and take comfort that it is just green paper thing at the moment. It is basically floating ideas. I don't think much of it will get through. Even if it did, nothing will drastically change overnight.
Have a bit of faith. The big organisations are fighting our corner.

I keep reading that they are not consulting on the PIP changes.

They dont seem to be consulting on much. I feel, and hope, that will be their downfall.

Yes. It has to get through parliament and it may not do so, especially because disabilities are protected characteristic.