Universal Credit Dilemma. (self emplyed)

oldie1

Hi. I'm 56 and am Self Employed. (been so for 15 years).

Due to very bad timing, my business is stalling & my health has taken an expected turn.

I am on UC but I have got nothing for about 4 months as the 12 month period was over (so they assume your earning MW). The dilemma is, it's all happened at once.

I was diagnosed with Diabetes type 2 recently , The reading was off scale and I put on medication and frequent checks because it is so high/bad (Lost sight in one eye, and hands & feet have damaged nerves where I can't feel properly and loose my balance sometimes). I have to go to hospital to have my remaining working eye checked often as its showing signs of doing the same over time. Add to this my business has nose dived due to no one spending (I assume due to the cost of living), I am constantly in a state of worry of what the future holds.

I do own my house outright & my son still lives with me (for now) and helps best he can , but i'm struggling, and have constant worry. I guess I will be told to 'just get another job'. I'm pretty sure no one will want to employ an older guy with sight issues, senses failing & complete energy loss over a short period of exertion.

Have now read after 6 months they will stop my UC claim (even though they give me nothing). I wanted to stay on as I would qualify for some things that would help me (like government cost of living Electric/gas help etc).

I don't think i'd qualify for any PIP help. What do I do?

Last time I went to the UC office, the woman was horrible to me, and wouldn't listen to my ask for help, and I just felt I was a potential candidate for getting their numbers down. There was a guy there who was excellent, but he seems to have gone.

One of my Reform supporting 'friends' told me to snap out of it, then called me a woke leftie the other day. You have no Idea how frustrating & soul destroying that was. :(

I am still working doing my self employment job, as best I can, taking my time without upsetting any boss with my physical issues, but I can't make people buy.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. I feel like it's a dead end which ever way I look & have no light at the end of the tunnel to work too). Sorry if this sounds like a moan, but I am really starting to worry & not enjoying life anymore.

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

Do you mind saying roughly how much you're earning each month now?

If it's less than about £200 a week then you can declare your health conditions to UC, submit a fit note from the GP and start the process towards a Work Capability Assessment.

If you are found unfit for work then you could be entitled to extra money, and also have your work requirements altered, and get a Work Allowance for anything that you do earn moving forward, meaning a higher UC payment.

If you are earning too much to start the health journey then there isn't a lot we can advise right now.

Regarding JobCentre/UC staff, some of them are horrible, others are decent, just have to make the best of the situation with whichever one you get on the day. You can always try again with a different staff member in future. The UC staff generally only have basic training though, they often aren't the best place to ask for help, unless you know specifically what you want them to do.

If your UC claim does close, you can always open another one in future, providing your income and savings are low enough at that time. You may also have the option of claiming New Style ESA if you stop work altogether at any point.

From your post, it sounds like you may be eligible for some PIP, so that would also be worth looking further into.

oldie1

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1111204#Comment_1111204

Thanks for info.

Yes, below 200 most weeks this year so far. I thought if they kicked me off, I could not re apply for some time. Because my illness varies over time, I doubt they will help me. Dreading next Council tax bill. Because of Diabeties, my food shopping (which has to be specific healthy foods, has doubled too). Which ever way I look at it, I seem to be in a dead zone, where theres no help or hope. I will try what you suggested, but the energy to fight my own corner is difficult to drum up on top of all the worry and uncertainty.

SheffieldMan1976

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1111204#Comment_1111204

Indeed, I've dealt with Job Centre staff who are pure unadulterated evil.