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OCD Disability - ESA or PIP or none?
- Julia H
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3 years 10 months ago #260114 by Julia H
OCD Disability - ESA or PIP or none? was created by Julia H
Hi Everyone. Feeling that the more I try to explore benefits the more frustration and confusion i experience. I have had OCD intrusive thoughts for over 45 years (diagnosed six years ago). I have worked most of my life but now, at the age of nearly 63, find myself on sick leave since March as I cannot face returning to the workplace after Covid, or even working from home. My anxiety and depression has worsened and I have lost confidence in going out alone, on foot or driving. I have had bereavements (one to suicide) and bad falls during the last five months and feel certain that I will be dismissed due to attendance in the next 2-3 months. My pension doesn't kick in until I am 66. I have small pension payments and lump sums but my reduction in income will be considerable if I am dismissed due to my MH disability. I get conflicting advice from different friends, and professionals, about what I may be entitled to. I know that I will not be able to be employed again as the stress is too much. I am on the list for more CBT Therapy but that could be another six months or so? Anyone in or been in a similar situation I would appreciate any thoughts you might have? Many thanks Julia H
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- Catherine
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3 years 10 months ago - 3 years 10 months ago #260118 by Catherine
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Catherine on topic OCD Disability - ESA or PIP or none?
Hello Julia and welcome to this site and to the benefits maze.
We hope that this site will be useful map in finding your way around and help you to get the correct awards for your conditions.
If you are not familiar with this site, this link is a good place to start.
Welcome to Benefits and Work
Because you are new to this world I would advise you to see if you can get the support of benefits adviser who is close to you and look at your personal circumstances in detail.
This can be a helpful link in locating someone.
In answer to the question at the top of your post 'ESA or PIP or none' you missed out 'or both'.
ESA stands for Employment Support Allowance, and is a benefit which is payable when because of ill health, mental or physical, you are not able to work. This is currently being phased out, but since I am assuming you have been paying NI stamp until March you should be eligible for 'New Style ESA'.
This is a useful link to start the process for claiming ESA.
In that flow chart there is reference to a ESA50 form. When you get to that point you need to make sure that you come back to this site and read our guides on how to fill it in. Very important!
UC & ESA resources
You will see that there is reference to a 'Work Coach' who is someone at your local job centre plus who will be your local DWP contact person for ESA (and UC). They get a mixed press, but I would urge you to make friends with yours and you will almost certainly find them to be exceptionally useful to you in the early stages of this journey.
UC is a means tested benefit which you can claim alongside new style ESA, but given that you have other income coming in you may not qualify for it. But come back to it once you have your ESA application in.
PIP is a non means tested benefit and is not dependent upon NI contributions. Neither is it based directly on what your conditions are, but how they effect you. We have an excellent guide on claiming PIP which I strongly recommend. The first link under PIP claims on this page
PIP resources
You will see that you start that process by phoning up the DWP and saying that you wish to apply for it. That phone call will give a date to when payments will be backdated if you are successful in your application, and you return your application within the time they say..
And that is all I am going to say on those at this point! Claiming each of these benefits is journey and all you need to know is how to start those journeys. As you continue, please do come back to us with questions. We are yet to bite anyone for not knowing something!
I would just add that clearly there is a possibility that you will receive a lump sum. Before you commit it to something else I would advise you to check that you have enough NI contributions to get a full state pension.
There are also other benefits available, which are means tested, but which you might be surprised to find you qualify for. For example, you might qualify for some assistance with paying Council Tax. Have a look at the link below. There are some other links to benefit calculators which might point out some of these.
www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators
I look forward to seeing you posting again,
Catherine
We hope that this site will be useful map in finding your way around and help you to get the correct awards for your conditions.
If you are not familiar with this site, this link is a good place to start.
Welcome to Benefits and Work
Because you are new to this world I would advise you to see if you can get the support of benefits adviser who is close to you and look at your personal circumstances in detail.
This can be a helpful link in locating someone.
In answer to the question at the top of your post 'ESA or PIP or none' you missed out 'or both'.
ESA stands for Employment Support Allowance, and is a benefit which is payable when because of ill health, mental or physical, you are not able to work. This is currently being phased out, but since I am assuming you have been paying NI stamp until March you should be eligible for 'New Style ESA'.
This is a useful link to start the process for claiming ESA.
In that flow chart there is reference to a ESA50 form. When you get to that point you need to make sure that you come back to this site and read our guides on how to fill it in. Very important!
UC & ESA resources
You will see that there is reference to a 'Work Coach' who is someone at your local job centre plus who will be your local DWP contact person for ESA (and UC). They get a mixed press, but I would urge you to make friends with yours and you will almost certainly find them to be exceptionally useful to you in the early stages of this journey.
UC is a means tested benefit which you can claim alongside new style ESA, but given that you have other income coming in you may not qualify for it. But come back to it once you have your ESA application in.
PIP is a non means tested benefit and is not dependent upon NI contributions. Neither is it based directly on what your conditions are, but how they effect you. We have an excellent guide on claiming PIP which I strongly recommend. The first link under PIP claims on this page
PIP resources
You will see that you start that process by phoning up the DWP and saying that you wish to apply for it. That phone call will give a date to when payments will be backdated if you are successful in your application, and you return your application within the time they say..
And that is all I am going to say on those at this point! Claiming each of these benefits is journey and all you need to know is how to start those journeys. As you continue, please do come back to us with questions. We are yet to bite anyone for not knowing something!
I would just add that clearly there is a possibility that you will receive a lump sum. Before you commit it to something else I would advise you to check that you have enough NI contributions to get a full state pension.
There are also other benefits available, which are means tested, but which you might be surprised to find you qualify for. For example, you might qualify for some assistance with paying Council Tax. Have a look at the link below. There are some other links to benefit calculators which might point out some of these.
www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators
I look forward to seeing you posting again,
Catherine
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Last edit: 3 years 10 months ago by Catherine.
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- Julia H
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3 years 10 months ago #260136 by Julia H
Replied by Julia H on topic OCD Disability - ESA or PIP or none?
Thank you Catherine for your detailed advice. My situation is that I have been exploring these benefits, plus a possibility of a lump sum if I retire due to ill health. I have been literally going around in circles since March speaking to all manner of people and every time I come up with a blockade of some kind. The Civil Service told me that I will get no early ill health retirement lump sum because I took partial retirement twelve months ago - reducing my hours to half-time (job-share) and taking lump sum and monthly payments early. However, I have tracked down policy info that I may be entitled to a discretionary award if I am dismissed due to attendance (being off sick basically). My managers have been very helpful and have put in place adjustments to help me but there is nothing really more that I feel they can do. I have just connected with a disability network adviser who seems very on the ball and she reckons we can apply together for PIP and get it. I am doubtful. I have read your guide on applying for PIP and ESA and have looked at any options for help I can think of (I am a researcher - work in a library). The tears and stress this has caused me since March have been immense and to be honest I feel like giving up. I have been advised NOT to hand in my notice. My doctor is good and has been supplying me with fit notes since March. I just want some peace. Thanks for all the advice you gave me in your post. Julia
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- Catherine
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3 years 10 months ago #260139 by Catherine
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Catherine on topic OCD Disability - ESA or PIP or none?
HI Julia,
I am really pleased to hear that you have connected with someone who can give you personal support in this process. Your skills as a researcher will certainly help you, but I have said many times that applying for these benefits is not something anyone should have to do alone. I have lost count of the number of PIP forms and ESA/UC 50 forms I have helped people complete, but know that I would be absolutely useless if I ever had to do one for myelf.
Having said that, as a researcher you will be aware of the advantage of taking information from more than one source, so I would recommend that you continue to suppliment your knowledge with what is in our guides as that will enable you to give the most useful information to your advisor.
Of course you know where we are if you want to come back to us.
Wishing you all the best for the future,
Catherine
I am really pleased to hear that you have connected with someone who can give you personal support in this process. Your skills as a researcher will certainly help you, but I have said many times that applying for these benefits is not something anyone should have to do alone. I have lost count of the number of PIP forms and ESA/UC 50 forms I have helped people complete, but know that I would be absolutely useless if I ever had to do one for myelf.
Having said that, as a researcher you will be aware of the advantage of taking information from more than one source, so I would recommend that you continue to suppliment your knowledge with what is in our guides as that will enable you to give the most useful information to your advisor.
Of course you know where we are if you want to come back to us.
Wishing you all the best for the future,
Catherine
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- Julia H
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3 years 10 months ago #260155 by Julia H
Replied by Julia H on topic OCD Disability - ESA or PIP or none?
Many thanks for that. I will let you know what happens. Julia 
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- denby
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3 years 10 months ago #260160 by denby
Replied by denby on topic OCD Disability - ESA or PIP or none?
Dear Julia, so sorry first of all to hear how poorly you have been/are. May I suggest in addition to Catherine's helpful advice, that if you are not a union member, even at this late stage, you join Unison or another one? Our daughter endured a somewhat similar situation except that he manager was bullying her rather than supporting her with her health issues. She joined Unison only then and they were able to negotiate a leaving settlement much better than she would have had without their help.
And on a personal note, being the same age I do empathise with the sense of being cheated over the state pension age!
Hang on in there and do not hand in your notice; as it is said, this too will pass.
Best wishes, Denby
And on a personal note, being the same age I do empathise with the sense of being cheated over the state pension age!
Hang on in there and do not hand in your notice; as it is said, this too will pass.
Best wishes, Denby
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