UK only - do you think i would be eligable for ESA?!


Question: UK only - do you think i would be eligable for ESA?
i have depression, not been given an exact diagnosis but am being treated by a psychiatrist and am taking mirtazapine. i have recently had a particularly difficult time which has resulted in a hospital admission and i was briefly detained under the mental health act.
i am also a student about to finish my a levels which i am struggling with due to poor attendance and trouble concentrating, but i think im going to finish ok.
i want to work when i finish college and feel that i should especially as i have not had a paid job so far but i dont think i would be able to cope with working full time and as i will be on jsa until i find a job i would have to be working full time to come off it as i live alone.
i was wondering if anyone knows if i would be eligible for the lower amount of esa with a diagnosis of depression as i know that i could do permitted hours of work on this benefit and i think it would take the financial pressure off just for a while so that i can get myself sorted out. has anyone experienced one of their medicals? do you think they would consider me or will they think depressions is not a good enough reason not to work full time?
thanks

Answers:

First off sorry to hear you've had such a bad time. I too suffer with depression and

Depression will make you eligible for ESA. I was surprised at this myself when i asked.
I received ESA for a number of months at the end of last year. As long as you have been to the doctor, and they have referred you to a community mental health team (ie psychiatrist, which it sounds like they have) then you just fill out the form and hey presto. The doctor (GP) will be have to write you a 'fit note' or Med 3 form which you send off to ESA and can be back dated for up to 3 months, or when you first went to the doc with depression. Don't be embarrassed to ask they have to give them out all the time.
After 13 weeks or so they will reassess you.

And do not feel pressured into working before you are ready. There will be no point in throwing yourself into a demanding full time job if you find out in a month or so you cant cope. You'll end up finding it even more daunting when you look for your next job and you' could risk yourself even more emotional stress and more hospital visits.
As they say you have to walk before you can crawl.

I started work as a volunteer, which you can do on ESA, so that i had the flexibility of working hours if i felt i was having a low week. It also helped with my esteem issues and gain more social contacts. Luckily i found that having something to do with my days made me feel better so i built up my hours and now im working full time. But its different for everyone.

Depression is serious and should not be taken lightly. The road to getting better is gradual and support is out there for a reason.

Also, have you spoken to someone in school about this. I was suffering with depression during my A level and didn't tell my teachers. Looking back now i regret it because i know that they would have supported me. Also the antidepressants could effect your studies and concenration, which might make you feel guilty, which might influence your attendance, which might make you feel guilty and its a circle of stress you really don't need right now. So please talk to someone, i really wish i had.

Just to say, i think your really brave, and i wish you all the best with your A levels and future.

mmb if you need any more advice : p

22YO with 3 A levels and 5 years of depression and bpd

http://www.mind.org.uk/help/research_and_policy - know your rights



Another leeching bum.... Get a job and get over it. I'm bipolar and well messed up and ive held a job since I was 17



I have anxiety and depression, my local mental health team had a finance adviser who helped me work out what I was eligible for, she also goes to court on patients behalf when they get refused as mental health and benefits is still a grey area, try asking to see if you have something similar in your area, if not try citizens advice bureau and FINALLY job Centre, they should be able to work something out, hope you get better soon and good luck

(by the way entirely irrelevant but they do think that work is one of the most beneficial ways of recovering from mental illness, when had my 36 week interview, they decided on good days i should volunteer for 1 hour, i do this in the kitchen of my old job as i feel comfortable there, I wash pots for 1 hour if I can manage it and then go back home, I have done this twice in 4 months and have loved being outside)

own eperiance



You may be able to, especially where you have been hospitalised for your depression and you have been getting treatment. You'd do well speaking to your doctor about it, as well as that I've put a link below for the Direct.Gov website's section on ESA where there's more detail on the eligibility criteria and what the medical would involve.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/esa/index.htm



I could tell you my experiences but it's pretty much the same as Sophie's and she has summed it up beautifully, and I too claimed ESA. I had 3 hospital admissions and never felt like I would ever get back on my feet. But I am back at work and functioning well in a high level, stressful job. If anyone had told me 2 hrs ago that I would be here now, I'd would have laughed at them. So hang in there, things will get better. Good luck.




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