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Struggling on the ESA
Posted Friday 27 January 2012
Kirsty has always worked, but when she was forced to leave her stressful job owing to mental health problems, she was shocked to find herself slipping below the poverty line.
I had a Saturday job from the age of 13, worked my way through my A-levels in retail, and then through my degree as an auxiliary nurse.
I love working and the opportunities for growth and making new friends that come with it and, despite my diagnosis of bipolar disorder and the difficulties that come with that, I’ve always maintained steady employment.
Unfortunately, in November last year I ended up having a manic episode, triggered by working long shifts and night shifts on a stressful hospital ward. I was told that I needed to leave my current job and find one with regular hours and much less stress if I wanted to stay out of hospital in the long term. I worked as a casual worker so wasn’t entitled to sick-pay and therefore had to claim benefits upon my discharge to the crisis team a month later.
Tears came when I was informed that, since I was under 25, claiming Employment Support Allowance (ESA) entitled me to a paltry £53 a week to live off until I had been assessed (which takes at least three months). I was also having to use a credit card to pay my rent whilst housing benefit ask for everything but blood before paying out.
I was reduced to having to make decisions such as whether to pay my energy bill or have food for two weeks. I’ve become trapped in a catch-22 situation – the stress of having no money is impeding my recovery and return to work, but this stress can only be resolved by returning to work and earning.
Now almost £1,000 overdrawn and having spent £1,000 on my credit card to cover rent (I still haven’t had a decision from housing benefit, and I doubt they’ll refund the interest accrued on my credit card or the bank charges), I’m at the point where even though I’m not really well enough to return to work, I have to.
My point, and my reason for writing this blog, is this: whilst there may be individuals who try to abuse the system, the great majority of us who need to seek the State’s support are genuinely in need. The lack of financial support offered to those with mental health issues has meant that I’ve had to endure existence below the poverty line since leaving hospital, and this has definitely hindered my recovery and return to work – not quite the “living a life of luxury on benefits” nonsense that the media would have you believe.
Indeed, even I never really knew how low benefits were for individuals who cannot work until that paltry amount was staring me in the face. If the Government is so committed to supporting people back into work, then it should start by providing a liveable sum of money to claimants of ESA. Poverty is not conducive to good mental health, and so the stingy sum currently offered serves only to hinder individuals’ recovery and return to work.
Kirsty is a graduate who loves reading and making travel plans. She lives with her boyfriend and two cats.
Help us fight for fairer benefits – email or Tweet your MP with our easy-to-use form before Wednesday 01 February. Ask them to vote for a two-year limit on ESA instead of the 12 months that the Government is pushing for.
26 Comments
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Kirsty these are exactly the stories which are not promoted and they need to be heard. There's so little in-work and 'back to work' support it would be a joke if it wasn't so catastrophic. Combine that with a hellish welfare system which is now designed to crush people it's a wonder anyone survives it and gets back to work. Everything is designed to make it as hard as possible.
There needs to be more than two-year limits to make this ok, as you say Kirsty poverty does nothing for anyone's recovery. Really wish you well in every sense of the word -
We found ourselves in a similar situation My husband lost his job due to his father embezzling money from the company they ran together. The company went into liquidation and his mental health spiraled. We have suffered bank charges and no reversal despite telling BARCLAYS and SANTANDER that charges applied to means tested benefits are illegal. All these plus repossession only made the situation worse. His behaviour became strange and he became unreasonable resulting in mistrust of his doctor and others concerned with his health. He was violent towards myself and our children and we are now just putting up with his mood swings and hostility. I have written to his doctor telling all but he is unable to help unless my husband goes to see him which he will not. i even wanted to have him sectioned but it is not that straightforward. My next consideration is going to my doctor when I can stand no more. I feel on my own. It's not something you can discuss with friends or family.
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Hi Karre - I'm sorry to hear what you've been through, and how alone you've been with it all. I can see how worried and frustrated you must be. You might want to give our infoline team a call - 0300 123 3393 /
info@mind.org.uk. They can talk to you about your options and let you know what support may be available in your area.If you don't feel able to talk to friends and family but need someone to listen then the Samaritans are also always there - 08457 90 90 90
jo@samaritans.org. It sounds like you've been working very hard to keep your family going, please remember that you need support too.Take care of yourself
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I think rather than being helped to cope with this better people want it to stop. If you're being bullied you want it to stop, not to cope with being bullied better. I understand the need for support - but that doesn't change the fundamental problem of needing food on the table, and this is part of the problem with the whole welfare debate.
The level of debate about ESA within the public is shocking - “The unemployed” [reminiscent of “The mentally ill”] are held responsible for; the deficit, borrowing, the lack of affordable housing, and even Co2 emissions.Apparently, it’s your own fault if you don’t have a degree, lose your job, or can’t find one.
ESA of £67 a week is allegedly 'too much' to live on but at the same time somehow makes moving around the country feasible because the right wingers want “normal” people who can pay the rent to live in your home [your home of course being a 5 bedroomed mansion].
They don’t want to see the minimum wage increased, and it’s your own fault if you’re in low paid job, and they don’t want you to have housing benefit nor live in central London.
Disability is made up and mental health is simply faked [you’d have no problems if you simply worked hard]. Assisted suicide is alluded to but people stop short of saying it in relation to mental health and disability but it’s palpably there. Suicide is kind of OK if you’re useless so long as it’s not done by jumping in front of a train [but it’s still selfish even though its removed the burden from the state].This is the kind of thinking and perceptions that you can read in online broadsheets comments - this is scary.
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This blog is so true Kirsty, thank you. I waited for an ESA 'medical' for several months on this pitiful amount of money to live off, now they've told me I'm perfectly fine to work. I'm just starting treatment for 7 years of depression, anxiety, insomnia and PTSD with suspected bipolar now :(. I need time to heal. I'm now living off £56 a week for another 12-18 months until they take me to a tribunal to prove I'm really ill. How am I meant to pay rent, bills, outstanding loans, for food, electric, gas, water and everything else? It's a nightmare just making everything worse.
I'm just turned 21 and because I look physically fine and don't have kids I'm not a priority. I'm fighting them for all it's worth for discrimination! I'm grateful for every penny I get because I need it to live but the way mental health issues are overlooked is awful :(
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Hi kirsty
I'm going through this right now. Similar story, very stressful work, bipolar disorder. I'm currently on long-term sick and waiting for ESA.
To make things seem more critical I have a mortgage and two young children. I don't even know where we will be living this time next year. Will we be able to keep the house? It's not like we have a big house either. It's only a small terraced house but the mortgage on it will doubtfully be met by ESA
Feeling very frightened. I'm tweeting about thus and other mental health stuff via @polarbear3127
Hope I can find a way through this. Reading your blog has given me some hope and shows I'm not alone with this set of problems.
Best of luck Kirsty
C
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I've been in the same situation. It took ages for my ESA to come through so i spent a period of time basically homeless (fortunately i was lucky to have people i could stay with and a little savings i could live off), and then i got my £53 ESA and moved into sheltered accomodation. Even though i had a consultant psychiatrist, a CPN, a therapist and multiple support workers i was deemed fit for work. I waited over 2 years for a tribunal and am finally on my £90 a week.... but now i've got another medical assessment next week!! And considering that i am much better than i was two years ago (though still a long way away from being well enough to work) i expect to be deemed fit for work again.
I am very scared. My rent is nearly £30 a week more than my housing benefit... so i'll only have £20 a week for god knows how long.... :( -
Hi Kirsty, i am in a similar situation. I've always worked until the birth of my second daughter, who is nearly 2 now. After her birth I've suffered severe Pnd and my anxiety disorder has got worse coupled with other health problems i am not fit for work. It took 3 months for my assessment, which i scored 0 out of 15 points wise. They stopped my esa and didn't tell me leaving me 500 overdrawn. When i found out 3 months later, i appealed and they back paid that 3 months and continued to pay it until the tribunal-which i chose not to attend. It then came out that benefits dept had lost all the forms i completed and failed to contact my gp. I had to get my gp to write to tribunal and provide a statement myself. I found out a week ago that the tribunal have overturned the original decision which is such a relief but doesn't help the lack of funds when i only get 65.75 per week and that is supposed to feed a family of 4 Keep the baby in Nappies and so on. The concerns about money are only
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I have experianced the same but worse. I was nearly evicted twice from my house and had been left 2 live on £60 per wk for me and my daughter on a number of occasions 4 months at a time. The problem with the government stopping money and forcing people bk 2 jsa is it makes us more ill and undoes the little tiny bit of recovery I had made. I am not a dole scrounger I had worked since my daughter was a month old struggling with illness most of my life. My daughter is 15 now and its only been the last few years I had been unable 2 work. The whole system is wrong and should be changed NOW. Ive had a meeting with my local MP abt this and it was my only option left. That day was very scarey and im just angry that when we feel ill we r forced 2 do things we wouldnt normally do because we r ill,by literally fighting for our lifes. It isnt fair!
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I've been affected by the result of my medical assessment - they've said I'm fit to work, but the person who saw me saw me at a time when I was fairly stable, and not when I am at my most anxious or stressed.
I have been advised to appeal against the decision.
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The Daily Record should print this...
David Cameron and his government have succeeded in turning the 'working class' against the 'unable to work or unable to get work' class - in my mind this has been done to take the heat off the 'have too bloody much and want more' class!!!
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I would attach the Pdf if I could have:
http://www.lwbooks.co.uk/ebooks/WelfareReform.htmlThis needs to STOP - not be amended, made better, or have concessions - it needs to STOP.
Food banks are being increasingly used, we shouldn't be needing food banks in a developed country, with GP's "referring" people - and the churches are being charged to set these up:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/30/welfare-reforms-use-hunger-spur-work
The cuts are not even saving money with welfare, the cost of families losing their housing then needing emergency social housing, the cost of assessments, appeals and tribunals runs into many millions. The work programme doesn't produce sustainable viable work, it means free labour for corporations.
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This doesn't help, losing support means there's no one to support a claim medically:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jan/31/reorganising-mental-health-clusters-madness
The work programme is hardly going to deliver:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jan/31/unemployment-cameron-work-programme
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So sad to read these stories, which I can echo myself, being in the same situation since April of last year.I had not been feeling well for some time, but as have some chronic health issues, just thought yet another, to add to getting older! I had to stop working, because my leg swelled up, I was in a lot of pain, and was given crutches and told not to weight bear.
This was devasting. Eventually, received a diagnosis of Osteo-arthritis, with not treatment, but offer of Nsaids, and Steroid injection.It took 5wks for the swelling to reduce enough that I could walk, with a stick, short distances. My mobility is very much affected, I had to give up my scooter which I used for work.The Job Centre told me to continue on SSP, then I would have to go on to ESA. Eventually, when I informed my boss of the true situation, he had to ask me to resign, as I was no longer fit to work.He was not happy, that it had gone on so long, and I had no prospect of a return. Meanwhile I have debts accrueing, which I can not pay, on such a reduced income. Living costs not covered, and a son with Bi-polar feeling the stress of sharing the burden, on the point of crisis. Even the CAB are at a loss as to how I can survive, especially as my son is not on medication, and struggling to study and hold down a job. He struggles to pay his portion of rent, because of running the car for work. At 31 he is in as dire a predicament, as I am. I now also have other health issues, which are taking months to deal with because of the fragmented state of the NHS, and have been told I won't have surgery for another 2yrs. You are caught between the ESA and at the mercy of a reduced and inadequate NHS. My Gp does her best, with her limited time, and believes I should get the lower level of DLA, until my situation is remedied. I await my ESA assessment soon, and DLA in May. The allowance doesn't cover my transport costs, living expenses or leave any income, to help back on your feet after such life changing events -
Just a quick note to say thank you to all of you who have shared your stories and thoughts on this issue, we will respond more fully soon. It's important that you can access personalised advice about your situation. Our infoline (0300 123 3393 / info@mind.org.uk) or your local Citizens Advice Bureau can help you find local support.
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Hi Kirsty,
I understand all you are going through both from a mum's point of view who's eldest son also suffers severe mental illness and, from a support workers point of view.I work with a tenancy support service called Home Works in East Sussex (part of Southdown Housing) and our job (service) is to support people exactly in the same position as you.
Kirsty, should you or anyone on here need further advice/support let me know as referrals can be taken, take care Kirsty x -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16825646
All of the Lords amendments overturned yesterday by MP's, including ESA rules.
My view is if they want to means test ESA then they should do that for all benefits, means test child benefit and retirement pensions and all fuel allowances bus passes etc.
The government should take on the greedy landlords who line their pockets from HB, and put in prison tax evaders like they want to do to any so called benefit cheat.
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As Eve has said, we really appreciate people sharing their stories on the blog. All this evidence of the problems with ESA helps to strengthen our campaigns. If you want to tell us your story in more detail, and maybe sign up to be a campaigner and volunteer to do media work, you can do so here: http://www.mind.org.uk/campaigns_and_issues/policy_and_issues/making_benefits_fairer-welfare_reform/take_action/tell_us_you
As Paul has mentioned, the House of Commons overturned all of the Lord's amendments to the Bill on Wednesday, which is hugely disappointing. You can read our full response here: http://www.mind.org.uk/news/6363_welfare_reform_bill_update
We will continue to fight for a fairer system and to highlight the sort of problems that people have spoken about on this blog post.
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So sad - but unsurprised - to hear of the problems people are having in the face of ESA. Can I please urge anyone affected to try to get help from a good, independent advice agency - both with appealing bad decisions and with identifying any other possible sources of help.
Even if you're disallowed ESA, there are sometimes other benefits you can claim; e.g.
> Child Tax Credit for any dependant children
> Housing and Council Tax Benefits/ discretionary housing payments
> DLA (outcome of applying far from certain, I know, but worth a try...)
> Income Support on top of Statutory Sick Pay, depending on your circumstances
> Carer's Allowance with possibly Income Support on top for looking after someone else - although check this out first, as it might leave the person being cared for worse off...
> JSA (if all else fails...) trying to negotiate restrictions on the kind of work you can consider because of your health problemsSpecifically to 'Chris' above - Income related ESA (i.e. the means tested sort) can eventually help with mortgage interest... hope it helps a bit to know that...
PLEASE don't think I'm saying this in a 'there's plenty of help out there if you look' way - there isn't, and I'm not. I just want to make sure people know what might still be available...
Sad too about the growing hostility claimants face these days. Maybe this will change as more and more people lose their jobs/ become too unwell to work? It's harder, after all, to keep believing what the Government/ gutter press are saying when it's your mum or your brother or your mate who's turned down for benefit...
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You can see how bad it has become when the likes of Tesco has today told the government to rethink it's policy on forcing disabled people to work for at least eight weeks for no pay other than their benefits. This is under the guise of work experience but with no offer of any follow up or employment prospects. Tesco have reportedly said 'no matter what spin you put on this development, it will inevitably be seen as exploitation'. Well, Tesco, the reason it is seen as exploitation is - BECAUSE THATS JUST WHAT IT IS! How long are we going to lie down and just take this exploitation and demonising of the sick and disabled?
I feel so sorry for all the people on this blog who have been forced into victim-hood by a vicious, cruel, systematic disappearing of their worth and value too society. This victimisation seems to begin occurring through not being able to conform to a pre-ordained governmental/societal stereotype due to illness, condition, and disability. Except in cases of rich establishment figures or so called celebrities (interpreted as successful people). Their none conformity due to drug/alcohol addiction, mental illness, strange behaviour, etc, openly flouting societal norms has become somehow acceptible and even applauded in some cases.
One type of disability for some another disability for the rest.
PS, the woman whose private company has the largest government contract in getting people off benefits and back to work has just paid herself 8,000,000 (yes, million) quid this year.
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http://www.scope.org.uk/news/scope-suspends-involvement-workfare
Are MIND going to pull out of the sanction driven unpaid work out of the Work Programme? MIND can say they do not want threats to the disabled but read welfare reform. It is based on benefit cuts, coercion, subtle threats and fear in my view.
At the moment MIND is advertising for an executive paying £60, thousand pound per year pro rata 30 hrs for the work programme under the banner disability works.
Many service users will be absolutely shocked by this sort of thing.
My comments are directed at the top of MIND some of whom are paid large sums of money according to your accounts, not people working in the office who are having to take all the grief. -
Dear Mind,
If our comments are going to be moderated out of existence, then I remind you of your own blogg requirements about showing respect. Why don't you show a little respect of your own and tell us when you have moderated our blogs out of exsistance. I've been waiting three hours for my comment to appear not knowing if it ever will? RESPECT!Concerned citizen.
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@Concerned citizen, I'm really sorry - I missed your comments earlier today. You're right we should treat you with respect and we usually try to publish comments within 2 hours on weekdays depending on our staffing levels. It is only me in the office today and I'm really sorry for the delay.
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@Paul @Concerned citizen
We've just released a statement on work fare and the work programme. If we find any volunteers who are working with us because of workfare we will bring the relationship to an end. Please see - http://www.mind.org.uk/news/6425_statement_on_the_workfare_scheme_and_the_work_programme for the full statement.
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Workfare just means you are worth less than anyone else. Imagine being ill then having that message rammed down time and time again. What the public dont get is that those of us with mental health problems have suffered multiple rejections in life, from family, loss of career, media scapegoating and even rejection from services who are supposed to help us. Plus we have no voice, never had and never will
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Taryn, thank you for your comments and for giving a better understanding of some of the difficulties involved in running the office. Sorry for my impatiens. Also thanks to Paul Farmer for the statement on coerced volunteering. I have two local Mind shops near where I live. One shop concentrates solely on providing good quality furniture at affordable prices. No other national charity shop in my city (as far as I know) provides this exclusive service. The staff are genuine, polite and always helpful. Without this sort of service many more people would struggle to meet basic needs. Thank you.
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