Help please - I've resigned from my job

[venetian fire]

Hi everyone,

I'll try and give a brief overview of the situation:

I've recently resigned from my job due to health problems and now I'm in a fix because I'll have no income and won't be able to make rent for my flat.

I've heard that if you resign, you aren't entitled to any benefits, is this true?

I suffer from depression and panic attacks (I almost got sacked when I diclosed this) and the situation is unbearable, what I've been doing for the last few months is not living.

I've tried, bloody hell have I tried hard, but there are certain parts of the work I can't even do properly anymore because of my nerves and I'm spending a bomb of taxi fares becasuse I can't cope which the public transport.

Apologies, I'm digressing.

My flat is housing association and has a ground possession 8 clause or something which means that if the rent goes unpaid for longer than 8 weeks, they have the right to take it away immediately. I have no saving as a lot of my money has been spent of private doctors, hypnotherapists and living costs. Now, I'm **** scared I'm going to lose my flat. Due to my contract I'm working 4 weeks notice and I'm on my last week, the only thing getting me through this is knowing i finish soon but now I have the consequences to deal with. It's pride which made me not get a sick cert from my doctor and go on leave. Has my pride screwed me?

Anyone in the know?

P.S My doctor is aware of my health problems as I'm on medication and it's a chronic problem.

Thanks in advance

VF

[Conniff]

It's pride which made me not get a sick cert from my doctor and go on leave.

I can't say I really understand that statement.

[venetian fire]

"I can't say I really understand that statement."

There's a lot of gossip and bitchiness at my workplace; snobbery from both working class snobs and trust fund brats - I guess it got to me, I didn't want to admit I either needed help or benefits. No matter how confidential they say these things are, it WOULD have got around and I didn't want certain people who know other people, knowing MY business.

Getting a sick note would have meant detailing my issues to my boss, DWP contacting them etc. Yes, I have several issues; being able to not give a damn about what people think is one of them. I also didn't want it to affect my record for when I feel ready to work again.

[Fuzzgin]

People at your workplace shouldn't have to know anything about your health issues. I've had to leave a job because of stress/depression and I remember the doctor issuing me with a sick note which I used to get incapacity benefit. I know the situation's changed slightly since then(2003), but I think you need to talk to your doctor and whoever you apply for IB with. You need to put your health first here. I hope someone with more knowledge than I have can offer practical advice. Good luck.

[venetian fire]

"People at your workplace shouldn't have to know anything about your health issues"

I know that should be the case but unfortunately it's not. How do I know? I'm not even in the hub drub of social circles at work and even I know some things which I definitely shouldn't, I can just imagine what I don't hear.

Regardless, thank you Fuzzgin (interesting name) for taking the time to respond.

VF

[surprise]

You can claim housing and council tax benefit - however you will need to claim incapacity benefit or income support as in the eyes of the local authority there is no such thing as nil income - your capital must be under 8k for income support / 16K for housing benefit


Regarding notice seeking possession a housing association will issue a notice seeking possession then they take you to court - can take up to 3 months for them to possession

[poppynurse]

I suspect you are worried that the DWP will say you have made yourself voluntarily unemployed and therefore not entitled to benefits, I'm not sure how they respond to this these days....anyone else know?

[emmaf01]

Its worth a try- get a sick note now from your doctor and apply for incapacity benefit. If your doctor knows your health problems he should be able to do this for you.

Deal with one thing at a time- apply for housing benefit and council tax benefit also. Ring and tell your housing association that you have/are applying for housing benefit. They should show some understanding for the amount of time it takes for this to come through.

If you have any problems applying for these get help from your local council welfare rights officer.

Remember this (and tell your doctor) about leaving your job- you are suffering from depression and panic attack. These are mental health issues and we do not always act in a calm and rational manner when we are suffering from them. Explain all of this to your doctor and get the care and support you need.

Shout if you need a hand.

[surprise]

Before the poster can apply for housing benefit or council tax relief she must get either incapacity benefit or income support. The poster needs to go to the JC asap and fill out all the relevant forms.

[emmaf01]

You do not have to be already receiving a benefit to claim housing or council tax benefit. Get the council application form as many DWP council/housing benefit forms can get lost and delayed.

I would strongly suggest the OP gets the Incapacity benefit and Income Support application forms and the Housing and Council Tax benefit application forms. Then if the OP gets a sick note from their doctor (preferably with another backdated to the day they left their employment as the GP is already aware they are unwell).

Then if the OP fills all of these in, or visits a local council welfare rights officer who can do this for you. In case there is any worry that the DWP might cause a problem, the welfare rights officer would be able to handle any appeals, so it might be good to involve them asap.

[Zamzara]

Originally Posted by surprise

Before the poster can apply for housing benefit or council tax relief she must get either incapacity benefit or income support. The poster needs to go to the JC asap and fill out all the relevant forms.

A common misconception.

[Jase1982]

Do they even give incapacity benefit these days for depression?

Not an expert on housing, but I'd say that because you've made yourself unemployed, you won't immediately be entitled to anything...I only know this through experience with family members trying to claim JSA after resigning from a position.

With regards to depression and panic attacks, I've suffered with something similar and I'd advise seeing a therapist rather than spending money on private doctors....

Also, do you work in an office?? What you described is pretty much the norm. you learn to live with it, or find another job. Paranoia is usually part of depression, so, "There's a lot of gossip and bitchiness at my workplace; snobbery from both working class snobs and trust fund brats"....that sums it up....the thought that people are gossiping and bitching about you behind your back eating away at you...not nice.

Can you withdraw your resignation? I would personally try to do that, go to the doctor, get indefinitely signed off, during that period look for another job, and take therapy courses...rather than having countless drugs shoved down your throat....sorry, I'm really anti 'medication'!

I know its hard because you don't want people talking about you and your problems, but your problems are confidential and no one elses business. It's got to be easier to swollow your pride than getting kicked out of your flat, which will only result in further ongoing problems.

[Zamzara]

Originally Posted by Jase1982

Do they even give incapacity benefit these days for depression?

Yes, for the first six months it can be claimed just with a doctor's certificate. This will change in October for new claimants though.

JSA can be sanctioned for up to six months for leaving a job voluntarily, but the sanction can be reduced or not applied if the claimant shows it was reasonable to leave. No other benefits are affected in this way.

[emmaf01]

Venetian Fire, you are in a Housing Association flat. Which means they have alot of experience of dealing with people getting housing benefit, so the wait for it to get sorted shouldn't be a problem.

Is the doctor who is aware of your problems and giving you medication your usual GP? If so I would stop spending money on other doctors and therapists and just try to get referred to a good consultant psychiatrist.

As for benefits, ring up your local council and get an appointment with the welfare rights officer.

Funnily enough I've been in a similar situation to yours and I got through it. Just PM me if you need any help.

[venetian fire]

Thanks for the advice all:

"Regarding notice seeking possession a housing association will issue a notice seeking possession then they take you to court - can take up to 3 months for them to possession"

My housing association have this thing called ground 8 possession which they apply if rent goes unpaid for more than 8 weeks, i quote:

"Ground 8 is a mandatory ground on which the courts must order possession - the question of reasonableness is not applicable. This means that when you are taken to court the order made against you will be an "Outright" order and you will be required to give your home back to the association."

As for seeing my GP, I saw her today and got a sick cert for 2 weeks, no longer as "these things can be unhelpful in the long run" - what does that mean? Will i feel better in 2 weeks? will the CBT she's organised come through in 2 weeks? last time i waited 6 months.

"I would stop spending money on other doctors and therapists and just try to get referred to a good consultant psychiatrist."

My feelings on the NHS would need a whole new thread; they don't have time to listen to you so they hand out antidepressants like smarties, i dont even want to be on Seroxat, it's not helping anymore, but i can't bloody get off it. Suffering from side effects to do with the medication? sorted, take a next medication. Private doctors actually listen, going to my GP is enough to bring on panic attack, i feel as if i need a lawyer beside me. I also think there is a medical condition causing my anxiety but NHS don't want to know, it's all in my head.

For me personally, psychiatrists are almost useless- i get nothing from someone asking me questions and taking notes then sending me home to deal with the fallout. I know they are helpful to some people, just not me.

To Jase1982, I know your suggestion of withdrawing my resignation was a good one but my last day was friday and I physically don't think I've could have gone but to my boss and tried to un-resign myself, they also got in someone else to replace me by then.

Emmaf01, I'm going to give the council welfare right officer a call, thanks for the tip.

Thanks again everyone,

VF

[Muggins Nomore]

Hello There,

Ask your HA if they have an in-house advice and support worker they can refer you to. If not then Welfare Rights will be your best bet. As will Shelter if you need to defend a posession case.

The HA cannot evict without a court order, even a mandatory ground requires court action and any action will be stayed whilst your claim for housing benefits is assesed. I would say that you should be entitled to Incapacity Benefit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, and possibly Disability Allowance.

Claims are started over the telephone these day and you can get the number from the DWP website as well as info about Incapacity Benefit.

Go see another GP at the surgery as it makes it easier with a sick note.

If you get bounced and have to claim JSA, you need to raise the "constructive dismissal" element of your job in that you were forced to resign due to unacceptable working conditions, which it sounds a bit like. Again welfare Rights can help there. Again claim HB and CTB.

Good Luck and remember the eviction cannot happen overnight, you will have plenty of time to defend yourself and your are entitled to at the very least duty housing advice during the court process.

M N