when to report an improvement

In this current climate I am very wary of being tripped up by the system. I receive LRM, MRC and IB for bipolar disorder.

I still have periods of time when I am less than stable. I came off anti-psychotics last christmas after a severe depression for which I was hopitalised. Since then I have had a couple of what I would term 'wobbles' and if it weren't for self management I know that these periods of being unwell would have escalated.

I have a cpn and pdoc who I see regularly. I will will be starting psychotherapy soon which carries a significant risk of further relapse.

The problem as I see it is that I study part-time, as a social work student - in order in theory to put my experiences to good use and hopefully be able to work once qualified. I was completely honest and informed the relevant officialdom when I started the course. I am due to start placements from June next year and am wondering if I sould write again to the powers that be - placements could be construed as work equivilant to my mind?

I have recently, on a couple of occasions broached the subject of working while studying with both my cpn and pdoc and their opinion is not to do it as it would be too much and you dont need the money - so I feel that I'm sort of in limbo and don't really know what to do. (yes I dont need the money as I'm on benefits).

Stress is a major relapse factor for me so it could well make me relapse if I take on too much. Were that to happen I my efforts through study would be wasted - complete meltdown would not bode well for any future as a sw.

Do you think I should tell them when it gets nearer to placement time? Or just wait and see - which is what most are doing until the IB to ESA transfer.

I'd say wait until nearer the time, because your condition is so variable and you simply don't know yet whether you will be well enough to do the placements.

For more information on students and benefits, you may find the leaflets produced by Skill (the National Bureau for Students with Disabilities) helpful. www.skill.org.uk/page.aspx?c=14&p=147

rowland wrote:

In this current climate I am very wary of being tripped up by the system. I receive LRM, MRC and IB for bipolar disorder.

I still have periods of time when I am less than stable. I came off anti-psychotics last christmas after a severe depression for which I was hopitalised. Since then I have had a couple of what I would term 'wobbles' and if it weren't for self management I know that these periods of being unwell would have escalated.

I have a cpn and pdoc who I see regularly. I will will be starting psychotherapy soon which carries a significant risk of further relapse.

The problem as I see it is that I study part-time, as a social work student - in order in theory to put my experiences to good use and hopefully be able to work once qualified. I was completely honest and informed the relevant officialdom when I started the course. I am due to start placements from June next year and am wondering if I sould write again to the powers that be - placements could be construed as work equivilant to my mind?

I have recently, on a couple of occasions broached the subject of working while studying with both my cpn and pdoc and their opinion is not to do it as it would be too much and you dont need the money - so I feel that I'm sort of in limbo and don't really know what to do. (yes I dont need the money as I'm on benefits).

Stress is a major relapse factor for me so it could well make me relapse if I take on too much. Were that to happen I my efforts through study would be wasted - complete meltdown would not bode well for any future as a sw.

Do you think I should tell them when it gets nearer to placement time? Or just wait and see - which is what most are doing until the IB to ESA transfer.

The placement is not work its part of your course .... your not getting paid for the placement and if you look on the blurb when you started the course you should find something like

"part of your course is placemnts with social workers" you will just watch and learn

rowland wrote:

In this current climate I am very wary of being tripped up by the system. I receive LRM, MRC and IB for bipolar disorder.

I still have periods of time when I am less than stable. I came off anti-psychotics last christmas after a severe depression for which I was hopitalised. Since then I have had a couple of what I would term 'wobbles' and if it weren't for self management I know that these periods of being unwell would have escalated.

I have a cpn and pdoc who I see regularly. I will will be starting psychotherapy soon which carries a significant risk of further relapse.

The problem as I see it is that I study part-time, as a social work student - in order in theory to put my experiences to good use and hopefully be able to work once qualified. I was completely honest and informed the relevant officialdom when I started the course. I am due to start placements from June next year and am wondering if I sould write again to the powers that be - placements could be construed as work equivilant to my mind?

I have recently, on a couple of occasions broached the subject of working while studying with both my cpn and pdoc and their opinion is not to do it as it would be too much and you dont need the money - so I feel that I'm sort of in limbo and don't really know what to do. (yes I dont need the money as I'm on benefits).

Stress is a major relapse factor for me so it could well make me relapse if I take on too much. Were that to happen I my efforts through study would be wasted - complete meltdown would not bode well for any future as a sw.

Do you think I should tell them when it gets nearer to placement time? Or just wait and see - which is what most are doing until the IB to ESA transfer.

Hi,

There is no need to report an improvement unless it is likely to change your current award of DLA.

To use myself as an an example, I have been in receipt of DLA HRM & HRC for a number of years due to MS and severe asthma.

I have recently been diagnosed with an incurable chest disease called bronchiectasis and currently am being investigated for prostrate cancer.

In the circumstances, as I already receive the highest rates for care & mobility, it's not necessary for me to inform the DWP of a material change in circumstances, because I'm already on the highest rates of care and mobility.

Hope this helps.

Jim

Thank you for all your replies. It is always hard to know what to do for the best. Obviously, like most honest folk, I don't want to trip myself up - or give dwp cause to say I haven't reported something that may be construed as significant.

I, like many others I think, am a little paranoid at the moment about the whole benefits debarcle - the media coverage doesn't help.