Possible Social Service involvement.

[wornoutwithworry]

I have name changed for this.

This week I had a medical assessment with the Benefits Office regarding my entitlement to Incapacity Benefit. I suffer Panic Attacks and Anxiety Disorder and had bad PND after the birth of my first child. I am separated from my H.

During the assessment the examiner asked me a lot of questions about things I feel capable of doing ie making phone calls, going on public transport etc. She also asked me if I read to my kids (yes), cook daily for my kids (yes - usually twice), keep my house clean and tidy (yes), shop for fresh food (yes daily) and keep my self clean and tidy (yes). I do have panic attacks but they dont affect how I do things with my children, we have a really strong routine, I do crafts with them cook with them and just worship them basically. Their father is very involved and sees them daily - taking them to school most days.

I have come away utterly terrified that she is going to involve social services. Why would she ask all these questions about my children? I started to cry when she asked me about my PND because it was bloody awful and it took a long time to get over and my H was totally unsupportive. I am scared from this that she has picked up some idea that I am not capable of caring for my kids. I am just so frightened that Social Services will become involved and my kids will be taken away. Please someone give me some advice because I am crying while I write this and I have not really slept since I saw her.

hiya,

Im not an expert but i doubt she will get ss involved as far as i read into this its a claim for incapacity allowance and all these questions were doing was sussing out wheter you are capable or not hence should you really be claiming this benfit,not wheter your an unfit other or not!

I think she was assessing what you were able to do, not lining you up for social services input.
Cant see anything in your post that would need social services input, and even if they were involved removing the children would be a drastic last resort type measure, and from what you have written it doesnt sound like you are in that category.

I really wouldnt worry, social service do offer family support and maybe you could have some help from surestart or similar? My sister suffers with severe anxiety and depression and has 4 DCs and gets help through lots of agencies thanks to SS input. If SS become involved it will be a positive thing, but from your post it sounds like this wont be necessary.

Don't worry it's not for social services!

It's because mental health issues can affect every area of your life and they want to see what areas it does affect. Personally I do struggle with interacting with Tink as I have a short attention span and I have issues over her birth. I can't cook very often as I have motivation problems with that. I do the bare minimum in the flat, her dad does a lot, because of the motivation problem. Don't shop on my own because I have a problem with crowds and need to pass my wallet to someone else to pay sometimes so I can escape.

It's not seen negatively by the assessment people, they can see how my mental health affects my life. They also know what support network I have to make sure things are getting done.

Thanks a lot for your very reassuring replies. Think my anxiety disorder has flared up somewhat over the past couple of days and I have lost my head a bit. Being rational I know there would be nothing for them to see or find even if SS did have to be involved. Sometimes just can't seem to snap out of the cycle of worry, doesn't help when I am told I am going on about "pathetic problems" when talking to XH - he is a real star.

I totally relate to your post btw TinkerbellesMum. Thank you.