I can't work but do need an income. Am I entitled to any benefit that isn't means tested?

I've had depression for most of my life. I gave up work (in a crappy job that made me more depressed) a couple of years ago and my husband supports me. Money is getting a bit tight thanks to rising fuel bills etc and the fact that my husband's annual pay review for the last few years has been a joke. I could go back to the crappy job (or any part time job that fits around my child's school day) but fear that it may push me over the edge. I don't know if I can claim jobseekers allowance etc as I am not seeking work and I don't know what benefits there are that can help. Does anyone have experience of dealing with a similar problem?

Most people feel depressed about bills and expenses. but try to work their way out of it. When more and more people claim benefits it means that hard working citizens have to pay to keep them by rises in their taxes. I have worked all my life and so has my husband we are raising a large family and find it extremely tight to. But everyone decided to take the easy way out it would be such a poor economy. Try to shake your depression of and get a job.

If you are asking if anyone else doesn't like work then you will probably find very few people that DO like work. Suck it up, ultimately you are responsible for how you react to things and how happy you are. Just get a part time job and think of the positive points of it.

Why don't you get help for your depression and then go back to work? Give me as many thumbs downs as you want, tell me I don't understand- I do. Right now what you are doing is hurting your child. Being raised by a depressed parent who is a part-time job away from "going over the edge" is not a fun thing. You will damage your child for the rest of his/ her life if you continue like this. You don't need disability benefits, you need to see someone to treat what can be a crippling medical problem. Letting yourself continue being depressed without seeking treatment is the problem- not anything else.

Also, I have to agree with the rest of these people that you are capable of working unless you are seriously ill. My father had a major accident that had him in ICU for 2 months and then rehabilitation for a year + (they were not sure he would be able to walk again- thankfully he can) and he was back at work dealing with it 5-6 months later. Most people don't like their jobs, lots of people suffer from serious depression- they still manage to work. You are just being lazy. obviously you like feeling the way you feel and not having to do anything because of it. If you didn't then you would stop damaging your family and get help.

Are you saying you want something for nothing? Suck it up.

there's no such thing as "can't work".

there are blind people and wheelchair bound people who have jobs.

one of my college professors was a quadriplegic.

the government shouldn't be coercing working people into paying for people who don't want (not can't, but don't want) to support themselves.

The people that really enjoy getting up and going to work are few and far between. I like my job, but getting up everyday and doing the same thing because I have too depresses me too, but we have to do it in today's society, unless your husband makes crazy money. Do you think he jumps out of bed every morning bursting to get into work. Doubt it, I'm sure he would love to stay home with you and the kids. If you are clinically depressed, they make meds to help you overcome that. Depression is almost an everydy occurence with most people, we didn't get that raise, we missed the show we wanted to see, the girl turned us down, the kids were making fun of me, but as far as getting social security or some other kind of "benefits", no, you have to give to get. Unless you can get yourself committed to a hospital for clinical depression, and keep that low low low level of depression for the rest of your life, then you can get disability from social security, not much, but you could get a little something, enough to pay for the medication you will have to be on for as long as you want to not work. Go get the part time job, suck it up and use the joy your kids bring you to cancel out the negatives.

I find it hard to sympathise with someone who wants to rake in the benefit of ME working my ar.se into the ground, and paying taxes and National Insurance out of my hard-earned salary, without getting off their OWN ar.se to help themself.

You ARE capable of working, so get out there and get a job.

It really annoys me when people bleat on about being "unable" to work. What a load of bollocks.

I have no qualms about people claiming benefits who are genuinely entitled to them. However, people like you make my blood boil.

There is NOTHING to stop you doing a part time job that may actually bring you OUT of depression. You know, that whole helping yourself to help yourself thing?

Go to the C.A.B they will help you on that

Get a different job, they're not all crappy - they are what you make them. Getting out every day will be better for you than sitting at home. The day may come when you REALLY can't work - as it did for me, difference being, I've had a very varied work history due to moving a lot, and NEVER had a job that I couldn't find some pleasure in. Don't let your fears rule your life - you may be pleasantly surprised and find support in your workmates.

All basic benefits are mean tested. You have to pay a load of NI before you get the higher rates.

To claim Job Seeker's Allowance you have to look for work. Try Incapacity Benefit. It maybe dependent on your husband's income, though.
Have you ever considered childminding to earn some extra money?

I was going to post a long drawn out reply chastising you people for judging (as well as just...THRASHING her for lack of better words) this woman & having NO CLUE what she goes through, how she feels, or what her specific life circumstances are. But I know there is no point. If you are not willing to learn about depression (especially before you go spouting off like a jacka$$ in an internet forum that is designed to HELP people) or open your mind enough to accept that this is a real issue, there is nothing I or anyone else can say to change your mind. Before you verbally bash someone on a forum, do some research, talk to a doctor or specialist, read about it on the internet or try to put yourself in her shoes. It's people like you (collectively) that cause teenagers & fragile or desperate individuals to give up on life or kill themselves. Not your problem that someone would do that? What if she was your DAUGHTER, mother, sister, wife etc. If you contribute to IMMATURE bull like that you are just bringing down the human race in general by spreading your vile negativity & ignorance as well as posting it on the internet for everybody else to soak up your negative energy & thoughts. You obviously have no compassion & a very cynical outlook on your fellow man. You automatically assume that this woman is just "unhappy with her job" & doesn't want to work so she's just exaggerating to have an excuse to not work & receive benefits while she stays at home & sits on the couch eating bonbons watching the soaps or whatever. I can't speak for this woman. I don't know her or her situation. If she hasn't sought treatment or explored the option of finding a job she CAN do, then she IS just lazy or just unhappy with her job. If you actually do have depression bad enough to where it becomes a health issue for you to work, most people will & do ANYTHING they can to fix or tolerate the issue & avoid making your loved ones suffer & worry by leaving it unchecked. And yes, it can be a health issue not just a happiness issue. They have PROVED depression is a real medical issue that causes REAL & sometimes VERY SEVERE physical symptoms. If you are unwilling to accept that this woman may actually NEED to be home & concentrating on finding a permanent solution, whatever, just keep it to yourself. At least try to accept that apparently she has SOME issue that needs to be dealt with. Even if she is just a hypochondriac or over-exaggerating, there is something that is not right in her mind & not normal that needs to be addressed by a professional. And to the person who said "suck it up"....I don't even know what to say to you. Unless you are in her body, feeling what she feels & experiences on a day to day basis, you have no right to say whether its tolerable or not. Would you tell someone with schizophrenia or Tourette's syndrome to "suck it up"? How about someone who has seizures? You gonna tell them to stop having seizures? Because all of those things originate & are controlled in the brain/mind & apparently we should all be able to control how we react to things. Most people who suffer with depression sincerely TRY & WANT to "suck it up" & work. Because of people like you (collectively) some people with depression will literally work themselves to death before telling ANYONE that they are having a problem or seeking help due to the stigma involving the validity of mental disorders. Oh, & no it is NOT normal to always be depressed about ANYTHING let alone bills etc. Most people feel this way temporarily & can still enjoy activities that once made them happy & usually there are no PHYSICAL issues that accompany your "sadness". People with depression tend to lose interest in EVERYTHING & cannot help that it consumes their every thought as well as causes weight loss, insomnia, aches & pains, bladder & bowel issues etc. Whatever, I'm done wasting my time trying to convince or explain this whole issue. Like I said, no point. The only thing I am concerned about is this woman giving up hope because of ignorant, callous, & judgmental individuals. So, please, for the sake of everyone, keep your negativity to yourself or to people who CHOOSE to be around you either because or in spite of your cynical attitude toward your own species. ***To the author: I don't have an answer for you. Every state and country is different. The first step you should take is to -1) Talk to your doctor about it (obviously), -2) contact whatever agency in your area that provides funded health assistance, or -3) if you hit a wall & don't know where to go , call a hospital or behavioral health provider in your area & just ask them if they can point you in a direction that would be helpful. Good luck. I truly hope that if you are suffering that bad, you can get the help you need to @ least make things a little easier on you. Don't be hard so hard on yourself, you are only human. Also, depression, manic, bi-polar disorders,etc. can be hereditary so if you have the resources available, see if you can find out if any of your family (past & present) have dealt with this issue. A bit of advise though, & PLEASE don't take this the wrong way, when you ask questions about welfare, state funded insurance, religion, politics or pretty much anything (even simple things), there is the possibility that what I'm gonna call "Internet Trolls" that get pleasure from creating arguments & putting people down on the internet will comment on your posts/questions. Try not to "feed the trolls" (lol) & remember that "trolls" are just individuals that have no friends or self esteem & just want SOMEONE to pay attention to them, even if it's negative attention. It certainly doesn't help you fix your situation or your depression to have people SPEW negativity in your direction just because they are bored, extra opinionated, mad at the world or whatever the case may be. Even if you don't think it affects you, you don't need that negative energy while you're trying to deal with your issues & get well.

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