Benefit enquiry

purplerainbow

The only money I have coming in is my PIP, I don't get any ESA. I can't manage bills and food,can someone help me please,it's making my anxiety even worse and I feel suicidal. Thankyou

WhatThe

purplerainbow, you've come to the right place for support 💜

Scope moderators are here during office hours but there are lots of helpful forum members 💜

We all need to eat and can't function properly without it. Does your GP know how you are feeling?

poppy123456

Have you worked at all in tax years 2021/22 and 2022/23? If not then you won't be able to claim New style ESA.

The only other benefit possible to claim will be Universal Credit. As this is means tested if you live with a partner you'll need to claim as a couple and your joint circumstances will be taken into consideration.

You can use a benefits calculator to check entitlement.

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/

purplerainbow

Thanks for your reply, I haven't worked for many years

poppy123456

Do you live with a partner, have dependant children, rent or own your home? If living with a partner do they work at all?

purplerainbow

None of the above hun

poppy123456

Thank you for that information. Then if you don't have savings or capital of more than £16,000 then there should be some entitlement to Universal Credit.

You can claim online. When yo do claim then you will need to make sure you report your health condition and provide a fit note (formally known as sick note) from your GP within 7 days.

https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim

If you're unable to claim yourself Citizens advice have a help to claim phone number and they will help you through that process. The phone number for those is here.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/help-to-claim/

Call our national phone line

You can contact an adviser through our free Help to Claim phone service. Advisers are available 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday:

England: 0800 144 8 444

Scotland: 0800 023 2581

Wales: 08000 241 220

Jimm_Alumni

Hey @purplerainbow, first of all welcome to the Scope community 😊

You aren't alone in struggling like this, there's support out there though. I'm going to link some resources below that might be able to help with food and bills. This support is there for people in situations like yourself.

Food: Free food and food banks | Disability charity Scope UK

Energy Bills: Help with energy bills | Disability charity Scope UK

Help from energy suppliers | Disability charity Scope UK

Water Bills: Discount on water bills | Disability charity Scope UK

General tips/advice: Budgeting tips | Disability charity Scope UK

I'm also going to be sending you an email, so please do look out for that!