Although I have lots of proof I’m worried about them stopping as the criteria is getting harder to receive support. Do you think all my list will help my case?
I have a mild Learning Disability and Schizoaffective Disorder which is classed as chronic.
I live in a 24/7 staffed group home.
I’m on a Court appointed Community Treatment Order.
I’m mandated to take Antipsychotics by monthly injection. If I miss a month I get recalled back to hospital.
I have been involuntary hospitalised 11 times for Psychosis/Mania since 2010.
In 2015 I severely cut my armpit trying to take a microchip out.
I have a Social Services care package and 21 care hours that are 1 to 1 support.
My case worker is supportive of my disability benefits entitlement and says he will support it.
Since I have been on disability benefits I have never had to attend a medical.
The thing is here in the U.K. Its not about what disability your diagnosed with its how it effects you. You could have depression and can’t get out of bed and you will be awarded maximum benefits. Me I’m very independent and can function good when I’m well, I can catch buses and cook. My case worker says I need lots of emotional support and reassurance so should be fine but I look at my peers and they are losing their benefits and that gets me worried.
Do you think on paper I stand a change. If you was an assessor and you read all my supported documentation you would award me benefits? Thank you.
IMO the level of benefit you get is less tied in to how much support you need and more to how you or someone else is able to present your case for benefits.
There are people who do well in claiming off their own steam because they are able to plan it like a military campaign. Often these are not the most disabled people.
If you can’t do that, as many of us can’t, it’s crucial to get the best support with form filling that you can.
I have never had to fill in a assessment form. I’m from the U.K. and a member of some British mental health and benefits message boards and many people without mental health support. i.e mental health worker/social worker are being denied benefits because they don’t have the evidence or paperwork. Where as I have always had a social worker fill in my forms and I have always received benefits without an assessment but benefits are getting harder to claim and I have been stable since 2016. If I get called to a assessment they ask silly questions like can you cook and catch buses. Many health care staff conducting the assessment don’t know anything about mental health, its just yes or no answers and if you are independent they will fail you
Its important to to conduct your case on paper evidence alone because I know I will fail as the face to face assessment as I’m independent.
Congratulations. You are officially fu*ked up as me.
But seriously, I guess your looking for a reply from a fellow Brit. I live in the U.S. But you seem to have a good case. From your description of the criteria for eligibility in your country, I would just ask you two simple questions: Can you work (and support yourself?) Are you able to go to school? It would seem your answer to these two questions are the two key things that would really influence a decision from whatever agency you are dealing with. Doing stuff when your well is different than doing stuff when your depressed or your schizophrenia symptoms are flaring up. If you function poorly all the time on the bad days, that means you need more help which strengthens your case.
Hell, if you want to really strengthen your case than next time you go down to the agency in person than go there naked except wrap yourself in plastic wrap and walk in the door and scream, “Hey everybody, I went to my doc yesterday like this and he told me, " I can clearly see your nuts.”
The fact that you have a serious mental illness and are on court-appointed care should help your case. Being able to cook and catch buses imo is not enough to classify someone as an independent. It’s more like, “Can you work? Can you live on your own? Can you support yourself? Can you go to school?” I once got denied disability because I was able to hold down a job as a cashier. Then again, I also live in the USA and I imagine the rules are different here. But I think you have a good shot of continuing to get support. I have a question for you, though: What would you think happen to you if you got denied?
I would lose my disability money and I would have to look for a job and have evidence I’m looking. I have no qualifications and have been on benefits all my life so my only options is factory or shop work in my town and because of my schizoaffective disorder which I would have to declare ( they will ask why I’ve never been in employment) it’s unlikely a factory will get insurance for me and shop work here they have 100 people applying for a vacancy, why would they employ me.
It wouldn’t have much impact on my housing as such as I have a secure tendency. Like government housing in the states but I live in a very wealthy town in England so it’s not run down or anything.
I think I would be at a huge disadvantage if my disability benefits stopped. I wouldnt be able to meet the strict guidelines you need to meet for unemployment benefits and if you miss a appointment with them twice they stop your money for 3 months.
When you fill out your application and it asks how it affects you give the description of your illness on your WORST day. And your past WORST days. Not on your best.
I just had to do a renewal form and that is what my nurse told me. It was only a check box thing.
For example mobility: mobility affects me because I prefer only to go out when it’s dark. When I’m very ill I ONLY go out when it’s dark because of severe paranoia.
They set the forms up as discriminatory for physical illness as if mobility only affects those with physical illness. It really ****** me off.