Posted: Monday 12 December 2011
Our new research, Still in the red, shows how the financial strain over Christmas can be much worse for people with mental health problems. Guest blogger Jo describes her own struggle to make ends meet and stay well.
Hi, I’m Jo. I live with my partner Will and 19-month-old daughter, Marya. I initially experienced psychosis after the birth of my daughter.
I have dissociative disorder with psychotic episodes, OCD and severe anxiety so I can’t work at the moment, but I don’t get the benefits I should be entitled to. I am appealing the decision that I am fit to work, but currently I don’t receive any Employment and Support Allowance.
We live off my partner’s wage, which is not very high and he works over 50 hours a week, while caring for me and sharing the care of our daughter. After all our outgoings we have about £30 a week to live on, this is for food or anything we need for Marya.
It is particularly hard with the run up to Christmas as we would love to buy presents for our family, but we cannot afford to. Luckily we have a supportive family who will make sure Marya will not go without, and we have paid weekly for a few gifts for her since October.
I am trying to sort out our financial situation, but making phonecalls to the bank and all the different departments concerning benefits is a big stress for me. This is hard for anyone, but with mental health difficulties the stress can trigger a psychotic episode and panic attacks.
My local Citizens Advice Bureau has been brilliant and has given me support throughout the appeal process and helped me to understand my rights.
There, I picked up a copy of Mind’s Money and mental health booklet, which was fantastic. It had all sorts of information and advice not only for me but also Will, which helps to prioritise debts and budgeting, as well as covering benefits and useful contacts to help with anything financial.
I really hope other people will pick up this booklet as it really can give you pointers of where to start to get the support you need, and it is never too late to get that help.
Jo
Read our information on money and mental health for tips on managing your finances, and details of where to find help if you're struggling.
Sounds such a great help from a little non-threatening booklet....hope lots of people access it!
Agree CAB very good, think they are pretty underated by the general public; lots of expertize there though.
Such a stigma to mental health issues still, although getting more recognised/accepted.....so yes added strain can set of further illness.
Do voluntary work as part of spiritual and pastoral team on mental health wards....absolutely love it: great place to help....such amazing people there!
Know what it's like to struggle financially, and not even be able to really feed yourself properly, let alone buy a christmas card.
Glad more help is becoming available. Very tiring/challenging but worth appealing.....did the same 3 years age and won against Incapacity benefit being stopped......worth the fight for what is morally right!!!.....good luck!
I went through two very stressful appeals against stupid and incompetent WCA's before I finally got a sensible decision that I was not fit for work in July 2011. Even though I eventually got my due benefits backdated after each appeal, by that time I was in serious debt. I can totally endorse Jo's experience that living on a pittance and being in debt will inevitably make any mental health condition worse.
I was helped a lot this summer by my local Citizen's Advice Bureau who helped to save my home from being repossessed and also to set up agreements with creditors that I could manage. Creditors will listen to the CAB and come to agreements even when they won't listen to you that you can't afford to pay back at the rates they are asking, so don't hesitate to ask them for help.
This time last year (December 2010), the DWP already knew that my appeal had been granted because Atos had admitted in writing that the WCA was incompetently carried out. They did not pay me my backdated benefits - including cold weather payments - until the middle of January 2011, forcing me to go through Christmas and the worst of the weather without adequate money to keep my house warm and eat properly. In that way, they deliberately contributed to making my mental and physical health worse.
The CAB are currently doing the most important work for service users, without them people would die or end up homeless. The CAB have also suffered cuts and they can't afford to have as many solicitors as they used to have because of the cuts to legal aid. Problem is, not everyone can access the representation they require quickly enough and not everyone can emotionally or practically get through months sometimes even 12-18 months of appealing/tribunals.
It's inhuman that it's viewed as acceptable for anyone to be put in this position where survival is down to personal and family grit. It's a national disgrace.
The CAB could probably do with additional help from all the charities too in offering advocacy & representation & legal support.
This shouldn't be happening
I volunteer at the CAB and I too face the threat of benefits being withdrawn. What we see is the absolute stress these changes are having on people they are literally falling through the net. The system is a nightmare for anyone let alone someone with mental health problems.
More advocacy is needed because more people will be out on the streets and peniless and the govt could not care a jot. The public have been sofened up with the cuts by a brutal propaganda campaign in the press labelling people on benefits scroungers obviously hoping they will not be faced with the human cost of this seeing more homeless on the streets. CAB's are closing all around the country so soon there will be nothing for the mentally ill. Our CAB is one of those under threat of closure.
And through all this I know you are a fantastic mother. You are an incredibly strong and loving woman. With the right help and treatment, gradually I really believe you will get better and that things will become more managable. Thank you for making people more aware about mental health Jo. Let's hope that with the ESA guys will look past any kind of stigma and that they will be wiser about who needs help and who doesn't.
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for the positive comments! Honestly, I am really grateful for the hope you've given me as I know its a struggle what with the appeal and Christmas, but if others have managed to get through it, I know my family and I can too.
I cannot also say how brilliant the CAB have been, and just to think those lovely people do it all voluntarily. You can't believe that that kind service isn't available through the government!
I am very open about my problems and I hope it will reduce stigma, as I don't 'look' like someone who has a mental illness, but you see I worry that the fact that I am studying at the moment and I manage to get dressed everyday will go against me when I appeal. I am trying to make a better life for myself and my family, as I want to train as a Midwife (with the hope of progressing into maternal mental health), but I know at the moment I cannot work, as I am still getting to grips with my diagnosis. Isn't it funny that I feel its wrong to be studying as they will probably say, 'well you can go to college...'. How do you explain that yes I do, but I have had to have time off as I had psychotic symptoms? And I like that I know where to go, what to do for a few hours a week, which doesn't make me too anxious. Maybe I should just say that!
I really appreciate the passion that you have all written with, and I will keep you posted of the outcomes, they have written to say they are looking at my appeal, so when I find out anything, I'll let you know!
Commenting is now closed.