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Depression and finding work

Medivh

Hi there,

I am a 26 year old adult with Asperger's Syndrome, and am looking for a bit of advice on two aspects.

I am currently suffering from depression for which I am on medication.

I have tried one to one CBT but struggled to do the work involved. This type of counselling does not seem to have suited me, and am wondering what other options I could try.

I am also struggling to find work currently. I had a part time job but the contract ended, and despite applying for other jobs I have not been successful.

I have not signed on as of yet and am wondering what experience others may have had with telling Jobcentre Plus about their AS, like would they assign a disability advisor etc.?

Parents

  • Once I started claiming benefits back in 2014, i declared I had social anxiety but I didn't declare the specifics like AS because in my experience jobcentre staff aren't well informed or educated about mental health issues. I was assigned a DEA back when it was called Jobseekers Allowance, now it's called Universal Credit which should be rolled out all across the UK by now. I attended Remploy which is a disability agency which in the end only found me work experience in retail which is not my first choice industry.

    Something the DWP haven't made people aware of is as of last year, if you are single and in a Universal Credit area, you're only allowed to claim Universal Credit (which replaces ESA, JSA, housing benefit etc) and it doesn't allow you to get assigned a DEA adviser, and in my experience Aspergers Syndrome on it's own does not provide sufficient evidence for a claim for ESA with or without UC.

    In other words you will get treated the same as every other unemployed person at the jobcentre regardless of your disability. I have since 'fallen through the cracks' and have a lengthy sanction because I haven't taken all the necessary steps to find work e.g. turning down unsuitable jobs, refusing group sessions. So advice will be to find work as soon as possible before you find yourself in the same boat as I am.

Reply

  • Once I started claiming benefits back in 2014, i declared I had social anxiety but I didn't declare the specifics like AS because in my experience jobcentre staff aren't well informed or educated about mental health issues. I was assigned a DEA back when it was called Jobseekers Allowance, now it's called Universal Credit which should be rolled out all across the UK by now. I attended Remploy which is a disability agency which in the end only found me work experience in retail which is not my first choice industry.

    Something the DWP haven't made people aware of is as of last year, if you are single and in a Universal Credit area, you're only allowed to claim Universal Credit (which replaces ESA, JSA, housing benefit etc) and it doesn't allow you to get assigned a DEA adviser, and in my experience Aspergers Syndrome on it's own does not provide sufficient evidence for a claim for ESA with or without UC.

    In other words you will get treated the same as every other unemployed person at the jobcentre regardless of your disability. I have since 'fallen through the cracks' and have a lengthy sanction because I haven't taken all the necessary steps to find work e.g. turning down unsuitable jobs, refusing group sessions. So advice will be to find work as soon as possible before you find yourself in the same boat as I am.

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