First time posting- About to complete a masters degree and struggling financially

ascarby

Background- I am a long term survivor of an aggressive type of brain cancer and suffer from transient fatigue as well as partial seizures. I have been struggling financially as my Mother died recently and I have had to pay for a lot of unexpected costs. I live on my own and I don't have any family around.

My issue now is that I have very little money to live and despite trying my best to find work I can do keeping in mind the type of disabilities I live with, I have had no success. Also, because I am still on my Masters course until January (all I have left is a dissertation), I am not entitled to any benefits, so need to find work fast. I am living on savings at the moment, but they are running out fast and I'm only just able to get by, budgeting like crazy. Through all this my mental health is a bit shaky too.

Has anybody else been in this kind of situation? I have applied to graduate schemes, internships and various roles to do with my degree (MA in Professional Writing), as well as general entry level positions doing anything I can think of just to get some kind of income. Feedback from employers is always just that simply there was a high amount of applicants, but my CV and job applications are fine. I have even tried working with the university, but have not been successful. This has been going on since November last year now and has got to a stage where I can't wait any longer.

I'm going to investigate to see if I can interrupt my degree to receive benefits because I can't continue this way. I would love to know if anybody has advice or has been through a similar situation. Thanks.

Alex_Alumni

Hello and welcome @ascarby and thanks for reaching out, I am sorry to hear about the loss of your mother, it's understandable you're having a tough time with your mental health. 

Scope's Employment Support Services might well be able to help and advise you, particularly our Support to Work scheme. What type of work would you be looking to go into?

If you'd like ongoing support during this time, these organisations can offer more specialist help:

• Cruse
• The Good Grief Trust

If you would like, you can also chat to your GP about additional mental health support, like talking therapies.

Please ask if you feel there's anything more we can do to help, or if you've got other questions or worries, we're here for you

ascarby

Thank you for your quick response. I have had talking therapy, but it felt like it was making things worse and not better, so I stopped. I feel a real sense of apathy, but I would like to keep busy. I'm still not quite sure what kind of work I should be looking for, and it's so competitive in London that it can feel overwhelming. 

I have just applied for 'Support to Work Extra' and hopefully someone will be in touch soon. I feel I need in person support because if I'm on my own for too long I feel depressed, but feeling as though things are progressing and that I'm doing something positive keeps me going. 

Alex_Alumni

That's positive to hear @ascarby I hope Support to Work Extra can help  

I understand that managing our mental health is different for everyone, and sometimes what works for others won't work for you, this is okay though. At the end of the day you know yourself best, so stay active, and remember the community is always here if you need a chat!

Superbetty

Hi @ascarby, I am sorry, I have no advice for you, but just want to say I am very proud you are completing your Masters Degree!! I have completed mine around 20 year ago, and still proud of it. Good times. Just want to wish you all the best I am so sorry about your Mum, how are you dealing with everything?

ascarby

Thank you Betty, with great difficulty to be honest because I feel emotionally exhausted and I was left with a lot to deal with. It's nice to get to the end of the degree, but I find it difficult to manage everything on my own with the neurological symptoms I experience. I feel lonely often, even though I generally enjoy my own company. 

Superbetty

I am so sorry. Must be very hard to deal with it on your own. I am glad you enjoy your own company, I am the same:-) but if you feel like you just want to talk to someone, you can always message me. I have good friends, but I must say when I am really down, sometimes I feel like I don't want to talk to anyone. I might be not very helpful, but on empathy scale in 100 I am 200:-)Again, wish you all the best. Betty