Helping a very vulnerable friend
Hi everyone, appreciate you for taking time to read this!
My best friend of over 10 years has been declared mentally incapacitated by his local authority, has received PIP and CB-ESA for many years (he worked previous to health worsening). He moved out of supported living into his own housing association home for the first time last year and began to claim UC housing element with his ESA income based top up also swapping to his UC claim.
He suffers from very severe mental health problems along with being diagnosed with ASD, ADHD and a myriad of co-morbidities including OCD and a personality disorder. His daily life is a battle with dealing with these conditions which fluctuate depending on how things are going at any given time.
He suffers from psychotic episodes which revolve around persecutory delusions (believing he is being watched/investigated/will go to jail) and a bad spell can leave him bed bound and unable to function at all including eating or drinking.
The UC standard review message came in last week ago and unfortunately send him spiralling into a bad episode of the above. I have helped him to send the information they asked for (bank statements and ID, selfie with ID) and this has all been accepted apart from they need one more bank statement which we can't obtain yet due to the bank only generating it on a certain date. The deadline is next Monday.
He has accidentally gone over 6k a couple of times by a small amount as my support is not always available to help him stay abreast of every change to his account and he received some monetary gifts in December to help him pay back some other debt and get things for his house - which was totally unfurnished and had to get everything from scratch over the past months.
What happens if the deadline comes and we still can't get the correct statement they need? I have been in touch with his bank for him and they are only able to send a transaction list which we offered to UC but they said they would wait for the full statement.
My friend is in a desperate state with his paranoid delusions around this and missing the deadline, worried about a fraud investigation for going over 6k and the drawing out of some cash to pay a contractor that paved over his garden as he is unable to maintain it. Every worst case scenario thought for him has escalated into suicidal thoughts and I am not sure how to reassure him as he now believes with full certainty that he is being investigated, watched, will go to jail etc. He has not eaten in over a week and is barely drinking water. He has no other physical or emotional support other than from me which is limited. His GP has been involved and has given him extra anxiety medications but I am concerned he is going to be sent over the edge.
What is the worst outcome if we are unable to provide what they need by the date next week? Does the claim just close? Would he have to pay back everything he received since last April? He said he would rather do that than ever have to deal with them but it is his illness talking. He is worried about the financial gifts he received and the police will arrest his family member for sending them to him. (They are wealthy and received a large windfall and just wanted to genuinely help him)- I am at a loss as how to best support him as it is very difficult to explain to UC the intricacies of his illness and how it impacts.
thank you so much for reading.
Comments
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I would get him to add a Journal note (if you haven't already) saying on what date the bank statement will be available. They may be able to extend the deadline.
The Cost of Living payments are excluded from calculation of UC capital if his money hasn't gone below what he received.
This should apply even though the money would have been received when on ESA not UC.
When I had my check, I submitted statements which showed on paper I was over £6k. I added a Journal note stating the amount I had received in CoL payments and that I understood they were excluded.
During my telephone interview (which is stage two of the process) I was told my understanding was correct. I was asked to submit individual bank statement pages after the interview showing all the CoL payments I'd received so they could do the calculation.
I did this and had a message stating the calculation had been done, my capital was under £6k and my check was complete.
Here is a link showing dates and amounts of money your friend probably received:
Repayment of debt is also very much allowed.
The absolute worst that will happen financially is a small fine (£50 I think), and a small amount to repay (UC deduct £4.35 for every £250, or part thereof, that capital goes over £6000).
Going forwards is there someone that would act as appointee to manage his claim?
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He didn't receive UC when he had COL payments as only began his claim last year… would they still be disregarded? That amount would probably bring him under the £6000 in total yes. The loan repayment from the gift he received was to another family member he owed money to dating back a few years, not sure how it could be verified other than showing it went into this account back then from them. Thank you for your reply.
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Yes I think he is at the stage of needing an apointee but may not agree to this due to the paranoid delusions. He kept asking me if we just ignore them will they close his claim. I do not know.
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They should still be disregarded because his ESA claim didn't end it was transferred to UC.
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Thank you very much @kimmy87 - I presume they automatically disregard this or would want statements showing when they went in?
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Please re-read previous advice
When I had my check, I submitted statements which showed on paper I was over £6k. I added a Journal note stating the amount I had received in CoL payments and that I understood they were excluded.
During my telephone interview (which is stage two of the process) I was told my understanding was correct. I was asked to submit individual bank statement pages after the interview showing all the CoL payments I'd received so they could do the calculation.
I did this and had a message stating the calculation had been done, my capital was under £6k and my check was complete.
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Hi @ChocolateMilk just wanted to let you know I've sent you an email - please keep an eye out for it.
Best wishes,
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Hello
Not sure if it's OK to update- but my friend has continued to be locked in his psychotic episode which we have alerted UC to in relation to his ability to engage with the review process. Today received a message on journal to say the Review is Closed & no further information will be asked for - would it be right to assume this is due to his current MH? Due to his paranoid delusions he is still convinced this is something bad.
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We can't answer your question for sure, but my personal assumption would be to agree with your take on the situation.
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Hi @ChocolateMilk of course it's ok to update, it's good to share your experience and the community is here to offer advice and support wherever possible. If you're not sure, you can always contact them just to clarify the reasons. 🙂
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