Up all night worrying.

I've been up all night worrying about the effect the benefit cuts are going to have on my quality of life. I have Bipolar disorder and have been in hospital many times in the past.

I keep reading again and again, that only a small number make it into the support group and that the rest of us will be thrown onto JSA.

Papers like The Sun and Mail do not help, especially their comments section with the general concencus that we are scum.

Sorry for the rant, but I cannot help having a mental illness and I fear that when we are forced to look for jobs and without support, I and people like myself will be unable to cope and end up back in hospital.

I fear poverty, I fear losing my home, I fear not being in control, I fear being restricted and dependant and I feel scared.

Blanco wrote:

I've been up all night worrying about the effect the benefit cuts are going to have on my quality of life. I have Bipolar disorder and have been in hospital many times in the past.

I keep reading again and again, that only a small number make it into the support group and that the rest of us will be thrown onto JSA.

Papers like The Sun and Mail do not help, especially their comments section with the general concencus that we are scum.

Sorry for the rant, but I cannot help having a mental illness and I fear that when we are forced to look for jobs and without support, I and people like myself will be unable to cope and end up back in hospital.

I fear poverty, I fear losing my home, I fear not being in control, I fear being restricted and dependant and I feel scared.

Hi,

Please do not believe all you read in newspapers as they do like to play up to their readership.

I do not know your circumstances so it is difficult to say what you maybe entitled to, but it is possible you may be able to stay on Income Related ESA in the Work Related Group, or you even may be placed into the ESA support group rather than being put onto Jobseekers Allowance.

Please get some face to face help from a Welfare Rights Agency who can go through all your benefits and explain the options open to you, so you will know where you stand and be better prepared.

You can find local Wefare Rights Advisers via the Citizens Advice Bureau or via Community Legal Services here:

www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk/

Pete

Hi Pete,
from October 2008 when I was no longer able to work due to back problems.

a)I have been diagnosed with Lumbar Canal Stenosis and informed I was born with a narrow spinal column.

b) Have undergone one spinal operation with another pending.

c) Have had to sell our property,now renting it back having fought the local council to prove the former owners rule did not apply thus acquiring HB.

d) My Wife and I have had to declare bankruptcy.

I have not worried about any of the above as they were unavoidable.

The proposed Welfare changes however,
especially with regard to E.S.A ( CB )
WRAG and HB changes do worry Me to the extreme.
My Wife works 32hrs per week min wage (5.93) per hour, if My next op.is successful My employment possibilities will be severely limited however, mobility should improve thus losing any D.L.A award.(presently on D.L.A hr. mobility)
By 2012 I will also lose any claim to E.S.A/J.S.A according to Government proposals with as of yet no explanation
as to what happens at the end of 12mths E.S.A (CB)WRAG award or 6mths J.S.A (CB)
award.
My wife and I have an obligation to provide a home for ourselves and two daughters(one of whom has learning difficulties not sufficient to claim E.S.A but it makes finding and keeping a job very difficult).
WORRIED yes WORRIED SICK and feeling absolutely useless because there is nothing We can do about these b----y proposals.
With regard to,

www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk/

they were contacted with regard to the bankruptcy and We were informed We were
just above the income bracket to receive help toward bankruptcy proceedings so in the end We did it ourselves.

It is inevitable that people are going to worry but at the moment many of the headline stories are not actually backed up by that much fact. It also needs to be remembered that legislation will have to be introduced first before the measures come into effect. Thus, the Commons and the Lords will make changes.

Hello Blanco, I was born worrying! I know exactly how you are feeling, but this site does help. Just keep on using it. On Tuesday night my nerves were just about shredded completely and was terrified of the cuts.

I made a decision to not read any more of the vile negative comments of people who spew all their hatred. Their limited intelligence will allow them to carry on whether we worry or not. I know it's impossible to stop worrying and being scared, but it helps to not read what they say.

Just remember, what goes around comes around and they could be next. You are not alone.

Take care, Taz

Blanco wrote:

I've been up all night worrying about the effect the benefit cuts are going to have on my quality of life. I have Bipolar disorder and have been in hospital many times in the past.

I keep reading again and again, that only a small number make it into the support group and that the rest of us will be thrown onto JSA.

Papers like The Sun and Mail do not help, especially their comments section with the general concencus that we are scum.

Sorry for the rant, but I cannot help having a mental illness and I fear that when we are forced to look for jobs and without support, I and people like myself will be unable to cope and end up back in hospital.

I fear poverty, I fear losing my home, I fear not being in control, I fear being restricted and dependant and I feel scared.

I too have sever mental health problems and have already been hospitalised twice (once under a section) in the last year. Everything that is happening is triggering another crisis such that I am looking at hospitalisation for a third time although this in itself (if anyone who has an experience psych hospitals will know) adds stresses of it's own. Soon there will be no beds left and care in the community will be pared to the bone. If it wasn't for my community MH workers I would be completely alone without any support (having no family or friends around).

With the proposed changes I will lose any benefits and be forced to live off my savings until they run out. Once that happens I will become destitute and life simply won't be worth living.

I had an initisl ray of hope that we could protest these changes but I can't see this governent backing down whatever we do.

(Edited - please see our sticky on what to do if you are distressed.)