WHICH BENEFIT

Hi - I am a member of B&w, my lovely son finished work in Christmas 2023 because of stress and anxiety - he was in a good IT job for 4 years after leaving uni, he will not speak about what happened. He does not leave his room and even eats upstairs, he can have mood swings, I am trying to get him to apply for UC - low ability to work???? because I am starting the pension this Autumn and I only have my money to pay for all bills and food etc, he has no income, never claimed. When he switched universities he did make a claim years ago and they forced him to look for work 30 hours per week and apply for jobs that were totally unsuitable and I think that has stayed with him. Which benefit do you recommend he applies for? Online - he has bad nerves. I am hoping he will start to want to get back into work - slowly, part time - or even gain an apprenticeship in digital or whatever he feels able to do - he is 30 now. I am so upset about things - I wish someone who has mental health qualifications and has IT knowledge and empthy could chat informally with him. When people say that others are claiming everything going and my son is not claiming anything and because I have low hours I cannot get any help anywhere - no one has come knocking on my door to say - no tax, no job, no benefit - what is this young man living on ... just a numnber in the system somewhere no doubt but no significance because not costing the country anything. He does not leave his bedroom, never mind the house. Please advise - do benefits people come to the house to help?

Hello angelchristmas,

You and your son seem to be in a similar situation to the one which several of us have been discussing in another post on the forum (headed "Fit notes/return to work" begun by denby - sorry, I don't know how to provide a link; my IT skills aren't that good). I can't offer any advice, I'm afraid, but I really sympathise with your situation.

My own son (also aged 30) is working at the moment, but I know it's probably only a matter of time before he is forced out of this job, too, so I have been reading the ESA guides on the site here in readiness. (My son doesn't qualify for UC at present.)

I'd worked out that the next step is to secure a Fit Note, but I'm concerned about how to get one when it's almost impossible to get a doctor's appointment? Before my son was offered his present job, I enquired at our surgery regarding a mental health appointment, but was referred to the 111 service, although only in an emergency. I've never heard that they issue Fit Notes? People locally have been complaining that they cannot supply their employer with a Fit Note for even a short illness (but one lasting longer than the seven day self-certification period) because the problem has resolved itself before they can get an appointment at the surgery.

I do hope you are able to get some help with this, as I, too, would appreciate hearing how you get on. This is the great thing about this forum - you can always learn from someone else's experience, and we will all do our best to support you, even if we cannot help.

Do try to follow David's advice - along with the other Mods, he really knows his stuff and will help you through the process.

Best wishes,

Wendy

Thank you, David - really helpful.