IntroductionIntroduction
If you are living with an anxiety disorder, the chances are that you will have additional needs. Your anxiety may have had an impact on your ability to work and consequently you may have suffered a loss of income. There are a number of welfare benefits and other entitlements which, as an anxiety disorder sufferer, you may be able to access.
Benefit rules are frequently complicated and often the forms you need to complete in order to claim such benefits can be difficult to fill in. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you obtain help and advice from either a Welfare Rights Officer, usually available within Social Services Teams, or based at your local council. There are also many advice centres in operation throughout the county. These centres can offer you independent advice.
Organisations & Websites
The following organizations/websites also offer helpful advice and information:
Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH)
www.samh.org.uk
SAMH operate a Benefits Advice Service, dedicated to providing advice to people living in Scotland with mental health and related problems. Use their information service for specific enquiries relating to mental health problems. Contact SAMH Information Service on 0800 917 34 66 or email info@samh.org.uk.
The website also contains some very useful sections on benefits and mental health.
Citizen’s Advice
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) offer free independent benefits advice. Many CABs also run specialist mental health projects.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/directgov/
Tel: 0800 88 22 00 (Free)
Textphone: 0800 24 33 55 (Free)
The DWP run a Benefit Enquiry Line which offers confidential advice and information for people with disabilities, their carers and representatives, about social security benefits and how to claim them.
Dial UK
www.dialuk.info
Tel: 01302 310 123
DIAL UK is a national organisation for a network of approximately 130 local disability information and advice services run by and for disabled people.
Mental health in the workplace
Mindful employer
www.mindfulemployer.net
Website that provides information on work and mental health and which aims to increase awareness of mental health in the workplace.
click here to download a copy of the ‘Mindful Employer’ pack
Disability Alliance Rights Advice Line
www.disabilityalliance.org
Tel: 0207 247 9342 Monday to Friday between 10.00am to 12.00 noon and 2.00pm to 4.00pm
ACAS
ACAS stands for Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. They aim to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations. They help with employment relations by supplying up-to-date information, independent advice and high quality training, and working with employers and employees to solve problems and improve performance.
Whether you’re an employer or an employee you can get free advice from their website or by calling their telephone helpline.
Their website www.acas.org.uk
Call their helpline on 08457 47 47 47
Mon-Fri, 8am – 8pm – Sat 9am to 1pm
sending...
I’v been through all of this, including going to a tribunal in Feb of 2011 (which I won) and then a year later it transpired that the Department for Wilful Persecution (DWP) had lost the court judgement!! If I can be of any help regarding what it’s like going to the tribunal etc just drop me an e-mail. (I also had to wait over a year)
I’m now being put through the DWP grinder again….
Kind Regards
Tim Granger
Hi Karen
I won my appeal and but got placed in the WRAG. which wasnt ideal but better than nothing.. No reassessment for a minimun of 18 months, which is a huge relief.
Where are you up to with your appeal Karen ?
Karen,
I would be interested in furhter knowing more about your appeal process. The advice from my docotor was to appeal.
please drop me a line as currently I’m in no-mans land.
thanks
good luck. let us know the outcome. my gp is still writing my sick notes for the same problems whilst its in appeal. i went to see my mp today , its getting crazy now, just making me so ill.
im waitiing for it to go to tribunal – about a years wait apparently, glad u got sorted paula x