You CAN do it, Mountain Goat!

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That's the best!! !! Recently I've a few folks on the phone who were patient and helpful. It makes for an almost enjoyable experience.

She put my mind at ease, as I am concerned incase I need to look for work and I am not ready. If I am ready it is ok. But Iwant to avoid ending up in a mess again.
She said if it comes to it, she said lots of help is available.

Just stopping by to say 'hi' and offer support. Hope you're doing well, MG.

I am ok. Doctors appointment tomorrow. The nurse there wants to check that I have blood pressure.

I have done the forms. But I have a concern.

What is your concern?

The form says I could be fined if I omit any information. If I try and give my life story, it is going to take years to write.

All you have to do is answer the questions truthfully. You don't have to tell everything about yourself.

It is the words "Omit information". In theory this could be anything. They assume I know what information they are talking about!

It's implied: don't omit relevant information. What's relevant? For a recent investigation, a lawyer recommending saying, this isn't everything. Little did she know how true that is for me.

Those benefits are decided on a points basis. The key word to bear in mind is "but"
I am able to go the shops on my own "but" I have to go at times when they are not busy / am only able to use the 24hr supermarket at 11pm when it is not busy / can only use the self check out tills etc.

I am able to prepare a meal "but"

Often forget to eat until reminded / frequently forget that I'm cooking and burn food / usually lack the motivation to cook because of depression and only eat cold foods such as bread and cereal for days on end.

The advice I read was to answer each question from a worst case scenario ie you on a bad day.

PIP claims are very often rejected but very often accepted after repealling.

I never claimed PIP but I know about the system.

Its also worth noting that you are allowed to earn up to 5000 pounds a year while claiming ESA. That could come from privately earned income ie a bike repair, eBay etc.

I don't think ESA is still going? Can't remember what ESA is. I am on Universal Credit. They say six benefits are now merged into one. I can tell Universal Credit is trying to do too much because the way it reads does not always comply to my circumstance. The lady at the benefits office has said to ignore certain things as they don't apply, even though they say it. One would think that it would be a bit more thought out before they made this online system,,so it only shows aspects that apply to the right people rather then showing it all. I understand trying to just use the one system and I appreciate that doing this is not easy.

Oh, that must be confussing. I used to leave everything till the last minute then just let loose in a semi legible scrawl and do forms in half an hour. Write outside of the boxes etc....

Anyway, I know about the points system and advise you to think hard before answering yes to any question withoout using "but". Sometines it takes someone else who knows you, to point things out about your routines and remind you that you do do things differently - forget to put the heating on - avoid neighbours
- avoid city centers - can travel alone "but" frequently need to stop and reasess if I am on the correct route - have to carry spare fuel because I frequently get lost on route to places -

All that stuff is relevant and easy to overlook.

Best of luck.

The forms are already in the post now, so whatever happens happens. I am relieved as it is off my mind now and out of my hands.