Hi everyone,
I'm just trying to get a better idea of what to expect at the moment. I'm applying for universal credit for the first time. I also recently became a part-time student. I don't drive, I live with clinically vulnerable people, am clinically vulnerable myself (to a lesser degree), I tend to get headaches and migraines when there are too many social demands. Which means most weeks I am managing some level of pain even with medication. I have some sensory issues that likely contribute to this too. I have a zero hours contract which gives me some flexible ad-hoc work hours. I wrote much more background stuff but deleted it to maintain some level of privacy...plus it was mostly rambling/venting.
So far with the universal credit application, I have been told unless I get a fit note from my GP I will be put in some sort of intensive work group? This worries me. I feel like I am already at the limit of what I can handle, but I am willing to look for additional flexible work... I doubt I could manage more than that. Requesting a fit note was a stressful, confusing and awkward phonecall, as it seems they can't issue one to do with migraines or autism despite both having an impact on my ability to work. Am I simply doing this all wrong? I was diagnosed late so everything is still fairly new. It seems there's some sort of communication gap between the public sector and the health sector when it comes to supporting autistic people...
Anyway...I am now super worried about what I will be expected to do in order to receive financial support, even if I go through the work capability assessment. I also feel I have lost the trust of my GP surgery....like I am a nuisance who asks for unreasonable things. Getting medical evidence for DSA was difficult enough. I already hate phonecalls, horrible panic-inducing things. I'm trying my best to do the things I'm supposed to do, so why does it feel like I'm creating one big mess? Has anyone else been through the universal credit system that can give any advice or info on what to expect, please? I really wish I could fix my financial problems myself without needing outside support in the first place, but after trying and failing to do that for the past ten years and the added difficulty of this pandemic, I feel stuck with no other option but UC.
