I can't cope with UC

beegirl90s

I was on tax credits and then that stopped so I migrated. I have found it nothing but anxiety causing and am awaiting WCA - UC50 not looked at yet when my son asked them last week. they have me on work focused phone calls - my friend did most of the talking last time as I was distressed. They suggested a group - I get extreme dstress in groups and was having therapy with complex needs but they discharged me because my physical health was too poor to manage it.

The work coach doesn;t understand my conditions and i end up very triggered when I have spoken to her - i had made so much progress with my mental health and Universal credit have undone it all. I am left feeling hopeless. i've not slept afetr their last unexpcted message saying i have to come for a face to face appointment in a few days time, and the knock on effect of all the anxiety and panic and loss of sleep on my other conditions is immense. I am housebound some of the time and dont know how i can even get there - and if i managed it physically, i dread to think how i would cope mentally. i have been in an extrene mental health state in there a few years ago it is very triggering for me.

i just don;t know how to get through it. i can't sleep or eat, it's desperatly hard not to self harm and i hadn't in three years.

I am desperate to just cancel the claim and try and cope without it now, i can;t go through anymore of it, but people ahve said not to and it could cause problems but i don't know why.

i feel like i am falling apart now, UC has totally destabilised me. How can I cope with it? I just want to end the claim and dont know why it is a bad idea to?

thanks for listening i am in a bad physical an mental state rght now and extrenely fragile

Enduring_Rogue

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/132470/i-cant-cope-with-uc

Hi @beegirl90s

I understand how stressful it is dealing with UC. Put a note on your UC journal advising you can't attend face to face (with reasons why) and request a phone call instead. They should make reasonable adjustments, especially as you are waiting on a WCA decision. You can also get someone to advocate for you, again add a note on the journal saying you want to authorise someone else to help you.

Hope this helps.

beegirl90s

Thank you, that is a good idea. I know the work coach mentioned it is only possible to upload things if she activates a link herself so I am sure she can make that available.

Do you think that posting a note detailing my conditions and how they effect me in relation to appointments etc would be helpful? I feel they don't know much about my health and so I'm being treated more as someone being awkward. I don't know if that kind of detail is something that is usually done? I don't want to annoy them either and risk them making life harder.

I can't believe how unwell this is making me

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

I would definitely suggest putting a note in your journal to explain your situation. Keep it as brief as you can but still get the important parts in. You can write on there without uploading anything, so no need for any action their end.

At the moment you will still be treated as a job seeker, so they're not under any obligation to reduce your work commitments or change appointments, but as long as you've got a fair and understanding job coach, they do have the ability to do those things while you're waiting for the result of the UC50 (hopefully LCWRA).

beegirl90s

Thank you, Is it better to send that as general journal post or in reply to my work coach? I am not sure if the work coach sees the journal messages jobless they are in replies, but i want to ensure that anyone else can see it too.

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1012100#Comment_1012100

I would send it to the work coach but as a new message rather than a reply. You may also need to send it to other staff in future but the work coach is the main one right now.

beegirl90s

Theh have agreed for someone to take the documents in on my behalf. I am so relieved. This is all just so hard to deal with

Holly_Scope

Hi @beegirl90s I know we've had a little chat on your earlier post but I just wanted to let you know I'll be sending you an email imminently. Please keep an eye out for it.

Enduring_Rogue

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1012085#Comment_1012085

Hi again @beegirl90s

I asked my UC work coach to speak to a Disability Employment Advisor. The lady I got is great, very understanding and helpful. Maybe you could ask to speak to one, no schedule for calls, I just add a note when I need to speak to her and she books in a call with me.

beegirl90s

That is something I haven't heard of before, than you. What bodes the disability advisor do?

Enduring_Rogue

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1012379#Comment_1012379

Hi @beegirl90s

My disability employment advisor helped me write my Health Adjustment Passport (this outlines reasonable adjustments required to support me at work - when I am well enough to start looking for work), she is also helpful with advice about completing the WCA UC50 form. She also worked with my work coach to get me taken off a Restart scheme, as it was not appropriate for me and just caused further stress.

I have been surprised by how helpful she has been, as UC staff can be quite dismissive and confrontational generally. So glad I asked for help from one.

beegirl90s

That is very good to know, thank you. I wasn't aware of this at all!