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ESA paranoia

panpete

panpete

Blokes name, birds body.
Hi

I am a bit worried about my ESA

I am in the support group and am due to be reassessed next June.
I receive contributions based ESA.

I went to the CAB today to sort out a council tax benefit problem and while I was there the advisor said I may be eligible for mortgage interest relief.
The advisor said she would check if I am eligible and if so would write to me.

I am worried that if the advisor applies to the DWP for help with my mortgage that this will make them reassess me early for ESA, or they might move me out of the support group.

Am I just being paranoid?
 
Hi panpete

As others have said, it sounds like you might be being a bit paranoid (maybe that's in some way related to the condition which results in you being on ESA*. If so, it's worth thinking about including it as further evidence that you should still be on ESA, if that makes sense).

It sounds like the advisor isn't going to go ahead with the application without your approval, so maybe it's worth mentioning your fears/worries to them. They will have a better idea if there is any real danger of this happening than you or any of us here.

*this is just a guess. I don't know why you're on ESA, and I'm not asking you to tell us if you don't want to :)
 
Might be overstepping a wee bit here but when I get poorly (in my head I mean) I really believe everything is wrong, everyone hates me, and everyone is out to get me. From your recent posts I think you have been feeling a bit messy, it's very likely to be down to that. Try to give yourself a break.

I'm lucky I think because I only ever feel like that for about week at a time, so can get perspective fairly quickly (at other times the thoughts are there but I can dismiss them more effectively)

I'm happy for you to tell me to fuck off if I have over stepped the mark and please don't take this as meaning you need to stop asking for reassurance, I understand that too.
 
tribal_princess said:
none of the departments talk to each other, I reckon you will be fine
Click to expand...

Broadly true, but SMI (Support for Mortgage Interest) is a screen on each of the JSA/ESA/Income Support systems. If they go in there and change something, there's a reasonable chance it can trigger a reassessment. It depends on why the reassessment timeline's been set where it is. If it's been set as it's health related (high chance in Support), then it won't. If it's just a naturally expiry check, where they just recheck whether anything has changed, then it could trigger a reassessment.

On the more positive note, I'd generally trust CAB not to apply for something you're not entitled to (on ESA you're generally only entitled to it if you're on Income Based ESA), so you probably won't be entitled to it anyway (which is either unfortunate or not, depending how you're feeling given your worries.)

Summary - probably not entitled so CAB won't claim, probably on a health-related reassessment trigger so shouldn't matter anyway, try not to worry too much and add extra stress. :)
 
I really understand the paranoia that being on benefits brings PP.
It's horrible that people that are the most vulnerable are dreading the postman every day.
But that being said, don't let that put you off applying for mortgage relief.
From your other posts it sounds like it could really help you and help you get on top of other things that are bothering you too.
 
panpete said:
Hi

I am a bit worried about my ESA

I am in the support group and am due to be reassessed next June.
I receive contributions based ESA.

I went to the CAB today to sort out a council tax benefit problem and while I was there the advisor said I may be eligible for mortgage interest relief.
The advisor said she would check if I am eligible and if so would write to me.

I am worried that if the advisor applies to the DWP for help with my mortgage that this will make them reassess me early for ESA, or they might move me out of the support group.

Am I just being paranoid?
Click to expand...

Yes, you are.
 
lizzieloo said:
That is so messed up :( you have mental health problem so you need some help, the people you need to go to for the help play mind games with you.
Click to expand...

Absolutely, although I don't blame the frontline staff, as it's been at least 20 years since they've actually been legally-permitted to give you any advice beyond "fill in this form".
The true horror lies in the fact that the support network that grew up around benefits advice in many places, based on law centres and advice centres, have been worse than decimated in the last 5 years or so. Here in Lambeth, official provision is down to about 40% of what it was prior to the credit crunch, and with at least 20,000 more Lambeth residents needing advice. :(

Makes me fume :(
Click to expand...

Makes me want to hurt the people responsible, starting with that self-satisfied slaphead fuck Dunked-in Shit, and then maybe moving on to removing James Purnell's bollocks, and having a pair of dangly earrings made out of them.
 
tufty79 said:
If it's any consolation, I get the same paranoia if I so much as ask for a letter confirming my ESA.
I know rationally that it ain't gonna happen, but still...
Click to expand...

Eaxactly, "but still". We still get "the fear", that horrible feeling at the back of your mind that it'd be oh-so-easy for them to fuck up our lives with just one little button-push of their keyboards. :(
 
ViolentPanda said:
Absolutely, although I don't blame the frontline staff.........
Click to expand...
Just in case it came across as I did I don't AT ALL, how they do their jobs in this climate is beyond me, must be totally soul destroying especially as I'm sure a lot of the people doing that kind of work went into it because they want to help.
 
lizzieloo said:
Just in case it came across as I did I don't AT ALL, how they do their jobs in this climate is beyond me, must be totally soul destroying especially as I'm sure a lot of the people doing that kind of work went into it because they want to help.
Click to expand...

No, you didn't come across like that, I just thought it was worth saying that about the frontline staff. As you say, it must be soul-destroying for many of them.
 
Hi everyone

Thanks for the reassurance.
It is terrible when we get so paranoid isn't it.
I was fearing them moving me onto income related ESA.
Mebbe they're not quite as bad as I fear them to be, yet! :)
 
iamwithnail said:
Broadly true, but SMI (Support for Mortgage Interest) is a screen on each of the JSA/ESA/Income Support systems. If they go in there and change something, there's a reasonable chance it can trigger a reassessment. It depends on why the reassessment timeline's been set where it is. If it's been set as it's health related (high chance in Support), then it won't. If it's just a naturally expiry check, where they just recheck whether anything has changed, then it could trigger a reassessment.

On the more positive note, I'd generally trust CAB not to apply for something you're not entitled to (on ESA you're generally only entitled to it if you're on Income Based ESA), so you probably won't be entitled to it anyway (which is either unfortunate or not, depending how you're feeling given your worries.)

Summary - probably not entitled so CAB won't claim, probably on a health-related reassessment trigger so shouldn't matter anyway, try not to worry too much and add extra stress. :)
Click to expand...
How reasonable?

I am in the support group because of my mental health problems.
I also get a works ill health pension.
 
has anyone like the CAB talked with you about the mental impaired person discount on council tax?

it is backdatable and if you can get it, I think you might well be able to, it would make council tax go away completely
 
toggle said:
has anyone like the CAB talked with you about the mental impaired person discount on council tax?

it is backdatable and if you can get it, I think you might well be able to, it would make council tax go away completely
Click to expand...
Hi

I am on a Council Tax Reduction Vulnerable Scheme?
Is this something else?
I've never heard of it, pls could you tell me more?
 
I was going to say - my local council gives full council tax support if you're in the support group (I am unsure as to whether counts or income based are relevant here though) - might be worth checking with yours?

I ended up getting a summons and liability order last year before I got my my initial benefits sorted, and it wasn't the end of the world I thought it might be. After they reassessed me, i went from owing a terrifying amount (somewhere near a grand, with court costs) to about £150 (covering the period before my ESA claim started; my bill for this year was zero), which they're taking out of my ESA now at about £15/month. Even before that, they were willing to accept a similar amount from me...
 
Last edited:
this is from wltshire council, which you come under i believe
Severely mentally impaired people
The severely mentally impaired discount may apply for a person who:

  • has a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning which appears to be permanent,
  • has a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner,
and

  • is entitled to (though not necessarily in receipt of) one of the following benefits:
Qualifying benefits:

  • Incapacity Benefit
  • Attendance Allowance
  • Severe Disablement Allowance
  • the highest or middle rate care component of Disability Living Allowance or the standard or enhanced rate of Personal Independence Payments Daily Living component.
  • an increase in the rate of disablement pension for constant attendance
  • a disability element of working tax credit
  • an unemployability supplement
  • Constant Attendance Allowance payable under the industrial injuries or war pensions schemes
  • an unemployability allowance under the industrial injuries or war pensions schemes
  • Income Support which includes a disability premium because of incapacity for work
Required evidence: completed application form and a letter or certificate of severe mental impairment from the person’s doctor along with proof of the qualifying benefit

Click to expand...
 
toggle said:
this is from wltshire council, which you come under i believe
Click to expand...
Hi thanks

I think I am diagnosed as depression even though i obv have anxiety, do you think I would really qualify?
I don't have a cpn or anything.
 
panpete said:
How reasonable?

I am in the support group because of my mental health problems.
I also get a works ill health pension.
Click to expand...

It's hard to say. Sorry - I want to be more helpful (and reassuring), but it depends on how the case is set up, how the local office runs its processes (they're all slightly different even though they're not supposed to be). I'd say 'not very' based on being in Support group, but can't rule it out. Think toggle's suggestion is excellent, btw.
 
iamwithnail said:
It's hard to say. Sorry - I want to be more helpful (and reassuring), but it depends on how the case is set up, how the local office runs its processes (they're all slightly different even though they're not supposed to be). I'd say 'not very' based on being in Support group, but can't rule it out. Think toggle's suggestion is excellent, btw.
Click to expand...
Hi

What makes you say that applying for mortgage interest relief may trigger a reassessment?
I asked the question this afternoon, and then, realised I had been a bit paranoid, or so I thought.
 
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