Esa

paddi

Hi ive been claiming income related  esa for some time now due to alot of mental health issues. During lockdown whilst on my own i managed to gain access to a gambling site i won 9000 pounds in about a day i put it in my bank, but i could stop i seemed to get addicted very quickly i lost about 5000 the next day .  I tried to phone dwp to tell them i had won money but couldnt get through i think lines were stoped due to covid or there were big delays . I finaly got through about 4 or 5 days after i told them id won they asked me how much i had in bank i said £4000 which is what i had at the time. i was told as it was under £6000 it was ok. I recently look at bank statments and i can see for a brief time i had £9000 before i lost it. Im woried now as that is over £6000 i only had it for about a 1 day before loosing it thoe. Iv recently lost everything and more . Gambling has now realy had negative impact on me i dont no what to do. Thanks

Alex_Alumni

Hello @paddi thanks for reaching out on the community, that's a very positive thing to do. It's also good that you can acknowledge the negative impact gambling is having on your life, and I'm sorry to hear about what has happened. 

Can I ask if you're receiving any support for that at the moment? Do you feel like you're getting enough support for your mental health as well?

I'd like to share some resources which can help support you below:

• The NHS has lots of information on ways to get help, and about helping yourself to stop problem gambling.
• GamCare runs a forum, group chat, live chat and the National Gambling Helpline, you can call 0808 8020 133 for free 24/7.
• Gamblers Anonymous supports you to work together with other people in similar situations.
• Step Change is a debt charity which offers free expert advice

If you feel we can offer you any additional support, please let us know. I'll be sending an email to you shortly to check in, so keep an eye out for it.

Alex

RoseyG

I’m going to talk about your ESA but please look at the links given above for addiction and gambling. 

If you’re able, getting some in-person advice would be great here so you can have someone that understands the system handle it for you. Are you in a position where you can reach out to welfare rights or your local citizens advice? 

 
As soon as your savings or capital are over £6,000 income related benefits such as your ESA are usually reduced. For every £250 over the £6,000 they would deduct £1 a week for your entitlement.

If you still had £9000 they would be lowering your esa by about £12 a week. So unless this happened years ago, even if they do decide you have an overpayment, it’s not going to be thousands. 

However I would argue there is no overpayment as the capital was in and out very quickly, and no deprivation as your addiction can be evidenced as why you were not in control.

How long ago did you win the money? 

Stay strong xx

paddi

HI thanks for your reply, It was about 13 monthes ago, it was stupid to go on to site as i didnt realise how addictive it is. I feel so guilty about not being able to stop. I lost it over half of it within couple days. By that time i was under £6000 but i didnt even no about the £6000 threshold until later. When i finaly was able to get through to speak to someone i only had £4000 thats what i declared. Ive since lost all  more. Ive bloked myself from the sites but still finding other sites im not blocked from, its good that i now recognize there problem i guess. But i havnt actualy benefited at all.  Doing a bit of research i realize that these gambling sites have realy bad impact on mental health. They have put me in realy bad places this last year. I think there designed to do just that get you adicted. i did try to get through to few advise services but couldnt get through, ive phoned gamblers anonymous they just told me to find local group in my area to attend.
  thanks

Alex_Alumni

Hello again @paddi thanks for explaining a bit more for us. Well done for blocking yourself from those sites, do you have anyone around you to help support you in doing that? Have you been able to look at any of the organisations I've linked at all?

What's happened has had a big impact on you, and I'm sorry for what's happened. Do you feel like you're getting enough support at the moment for your gambling, or your mental health?

We'd like to support you as best we can, so we can offer additional support if you feel you need it. I sent you an email yesterday with more details, so keep an eye out for it.

paddi

hi thanks for quik reply, i did phone gamblers anonymous but i need to maybe try to attend a group. I suffer with generalized anxiety disorder, cptsd, depression and i never real go out much. Im finding it difficult to tell anyone i no as they might just be disappointed in me . When i lost i did find myself abusing my prescription medication trying to blank stuff out. That has happened more since gambling started. I have lots of issues that i cant handle . I have had therepy in past but atm im not actively doing any kind. Gambling has just added to my worries and with generalized anxiety i think its worse. Thanks. 

paddi

Thanks i just read email sent to me. I will look into links given. Thanks

Alex_Alumni

Okay @paddi thanks for sharing that, I'm really sorry to hear about what's happening. Please remember you're not alone in going through this, and there is help available. It can be hard to ask, but it's important to reach out, and posting here is a positive step. 

As a pan-disability charity, it is fair to say that Scope's strengths lie more in the daily lives of disabled people than mental health. However, we would like to seek additional support on your behalf, perhaps by way of a social care referral. If this is something you'd like to pursue, please let us know, and we can action it for you. 

paddi

Thanks for all you help, i will look at links you provided and decide what i need to do next. Thanks for your help.

Alex_Alumni

That's alright @paddi do stay in touch, how have you been getting on?

paddi

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MarkM88

paddi said:

?? says removed by moderator.

Means a moderator removed a comment as it was inappropriate. 

Paulski

Couldn't see gamstop mention ed above...government backed blocking service for all UK regulated gambling sites in 1 click. I hope you are ok. I have a bad head too and crippled by this addiction. The most hopeless problem in the world.