hi everyone. I am having a tough time at the moment. I cant sleep. its 3 am. I have started the process of going from esa support to universal credit. the problem i have is when I talk to officials about my benefits I get really stressed out. I have tried not worry about it but I just can't. I have angina and ptsd. 12 years ago I was being moved from incapacity benefit to esa. they wanted to do a work capability assessment. I freaked out about that. my doctor stepped in and said I could not do it because of my heart. they persisted. I ended up in hospital after having a heart attack.now I feel I am going down the same road and nobody seams to care how much stress this is causing. I keep getting chest pain. it hasn't gone down my arm yet. have also had 2 really bad panic attacks.
I have the ID phone call on Thursday morning. I am worried I will not make it. I dont know what to do. my gut tells me to cut and run. everyone else says its only a phone call which my dad said he will take I only have to do the security part of it.
I am lost.
Written by
Spedyrecovry50
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Back in May when I put in a claim for unemployment benefit they made me attend 2 appointments on separate days rather than getting everything sorted in the one appointment and I was extremely annoyed!
I hated having to see them every week as I did for the first 3 months of the claim but fortnightly isn't too bad!
I was put out when I got booked in for a 1.45pm appointment last week as it meant I couldn't go for a swim!
Thankfully Mondays appointment is at 3pm and I can go for my swim beforehand as at least with 3pm it's out of the way not slap bang in the middle of the day like 1.45pm was!
My niece who I had referred to last time, was extremely stressed by this too. In the end it was more of a formality. As she went from DLA as a child to ESA Support and is mostly housebound and then to Universal Credit.
I wonder if this is all to reduce the amount of fraud in the system and to check nothing has changed for you ie: you have got better. They really don't differentiate between conditions that can improve and conditions that never improve or become worse.
You have your dad's support, do your ID and pass over to your dad and he can reiterate what happened before due to your stress levels. They must have a huge amount of evidence already for you.
They want you to cut and run as they want to save money. Stick with it and know it is the system that doesn't care for you, not the majority of people who work in that system. (I try and not think of the people who created that system.)
I found it's this waiting time that affected my anxieties the most. Take care.
The staff in the benefit office are nice and they just do as they are told!
It's a swim this morning then an interview at 2pm and an interview tomorrow morning at 10am and one Saturday morning at 11.50am in the city centre and I will nip down for the morning, do my interview and then come straight back for the Christmas fayre at the village hall at 1.30pm.
I had a think about things and I feel that no its not me that's awkward and unreasonable over things!
Yesterday I was at swimming and someone there asked me why did I apply to Newport for an interview that I went to last Friday and my reply was that I apply where jobs are available and see where it takes me!The woman concerned asked me had I retired one Monday morning all because I took the 10am slot!
She doesn't have a job and made up with all kinds of excuses why not applying for things can't happen which is ridiculous!
My sister in law said how it was none of her business where I apply for jobs and it's better than sitting around all day every day sorry for myself!
When they rang me on Monday morning to ask me would I like to interview this Saturday morning I didn't mind that and I decided to do it and then nip up to the Christmas fayre later on and get some fruit and veg at the market in town whilst I'm there which I think is a fair deal!
Great news as a place from Newport near the docks has just rung inviting me in for an interview for next Wednesday at 11.30am!
I'm glad that I am who I am and don't go hiding behind childish excuses not to do things!
I find it infuriating with people like that when there's always some kind of stupid excuse why things can't happen!
They claim to me that there's loads of help out there for those with health problems and I reckoned it was lies and it appears I was proved right as when things are too good to be true then they are!When I get told these things I don't listen to them and just say OK then and I watch how they behave as actions show intentions rather than going on what you're being told!
The beauty about being nearly 50 is that i have had many years of experience and have a good idea of when I'm getting fobbed off with silly excuses!
update.I went to the hospital today. I had chest pain last night after a very stressful day. they did tests and has said I had a spasm in the micro arteries/vessels. they said it was due to the stress. I have been advised not to do the phone call. I have be give some slow release gtn that I have to take every day. I will need to talk to my gp about it.
I have told my work coach about the a&e visit. he says he can let my dad do it unless he is my appointee. he also said they would do a home visit. that for me would be worse than a phone call. I cant believe they don't understand how serious this could be.
Can you make your dad or another family member your appointee for this? I noticed they don't use Power of Attorney, so maybe just for the DWP. It may only need a form filled in.
Just to add from my previous post, you have to have an interview to appoint a relative as an appointee. Can your work coach do that? As you already know that person. There is a form to fill in with them.
Although, isn't your appt tomorrow? Maybe it's worth getting it out the way and only speaking to identify yourself. Then focus on relaxing.
I agree I think you should let your dad talk, then you can sit and listen if you put it on speakerphone. It’s no good anyone say to you don’t worry, that doesn’t help. Try to keep calm just let your dad take over. You’re so blessed having a dad who will help, I lost my dad many years ago take care, God bless you love Liz🙏🤗
OK. I contacted my local mp. he raise it with the dwp but he hasn't got back to me. the phone call is still going ahead. I took my gtn slow release today. I have had a bad headache all day. but my heart feel OK so far. hopefully I will not have any mishaps in the night. I will let you all know tomorrow.
updateI had a lot of stress and even a few panic attacks leading up to this phone call. I had my dad and sister with me this morning ready at 8.50am
9 came and went. at 945am I had sent 3 messages on the journey to ask what was going on. Still nothing. in the end my dad phoned the UC phone number. they have sent a message to the local work coach department. no we have to wait.
I was just curious about the nitro use. I understand the workings of it but was just curious about the reason for no other meds. I'm always asking questions to learn things. Don't mind me.
Do whatever it takes to get through this stressful time
I had depression in my 20s. they put me on meds. I then started self harming so they took me of them. thats why they don't want to put me on them again.
update. well. my work coach didn't contact me until after 11am. he said my phone kept going to voicemail so he marked me down as a failed to show. I tried to contact him on the journal 3 times with no reply. I am not sure how much I can handle.
thanks everyone. where its left is I have another call on Monday. I have emailed my mp again and I am waiting to talk to my gp. I will keep you all updated.
Lack of sleep is something i know so well, its debilitating and distorts our view of life, but i have found nothing is as bad as first thought , and you can get through this. I wish you well.
What a horrible place to be in. Breathing and concentrating on my breath is important to me in these most stressful moments.
It’s good that after the security checks your father will take over the call. I’d allow my father to do that.
for me it’s also important, most important, to use basic self care in times of stress. By this I mean things like regular healthy meals and if I can’t get a meal in then regular healthy snacks. Showering is also important to me. I need to keep warm or cool depending on the season. You will know what works for you.
Focusing on an end result is also important. I don’t understand esa and universal credits but I’m assuming is a form of income support and that universal support is the better one to be on? So if that’s the case concentrating on that and getting together your data required for your father to convey would be something you can do without speaking to them and would facilitate te process for your father.
It’s pretty tough going through assessments, I’ve just been through two, and focusing on the end result, having all my ducks in a row, has bought about a positive resolution.
hi everyone. just got off the phone with Universal credit. it went well. he was really nice. it was 3 questions about me. I spoke to him instead of my dad. it was very hard. but its now done. he said it takes a few days for esa to transfer the data but once its done I should be put in the support group. which will be good. thanks for all the support.
I was just looking for your post for updates Spedyrecovry50. Oh my goodness, not an easy time for you last week!
I'm glad you have had contact with someone from Universal Credit. Fingers crossed it now runs smoothly for you. I hope you have been able to start to relax after your phone call today.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
I can't proceed my trauma. I feel like i'm going insane. My body and mind are agonizing. Plus ghost ocd 
Practicing what Michele posted
Guidance/help on level of care
