Are there any government benefits for aspies out of work?

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Does Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) apply to us?
Does Disability Living Allowance (DLA) apply to us?
or Any Other Government Benefits?

I don't know about the planet emorf. What country do you reside in otherwise?

I'm on ESA. I really had to fight to get it though. Also, I think the rules are changing this year what with the cuts and everything.

i get both. apply for both and if you lose make sure to appeal.

Yeah i'd say so. It's 150 quid a week if you get both.

in the US there's VESID and Social Security, i dont know aboujt other countries but any americans who want to know the same thing can bring it up...

You are undiagnosed and a student who has no money to live on. Perhaps start by enquiring at your college about what payments there are for students, etc. The UK has standard unemployment benefits and the like. From what is in the media here about UK changes they are not cutting them just making them harder to get, making people who do get unemployment benefits, do some sort of training or voluntary work or the like, they are looking at using the Australian model. If you have insufficent income there will be some form of payment if you are a citizen of the country you are in, it is not just about being disabled. People are not disabled can still need money to live on. Here it is referred to as mutual obligation, if you get money you are expected to make a realy effort to find a job, improve your chances of finding and job and giving back to the community if possible. This means that many of them are required to do voluntary work or training or the like, to improve their chances of finding work, make them more employable, etc.

I'm not saying I agree with any of this, just stating what the theory and policy is here, and from what we are hearing here what is being pushed for in the UK. They will be asking people with disabilities to find appropriate work, as opposed to any work that the unemployed are asked to find, etc. The disabled are also usually only asked to find part time work, do part time activities and the like.

In the states it's possible, I don't know how because I haven't needed to look into it. Either way, you're undiagnosed per your profile so I don't know if it will do you much good..

TB,

When I lived in the UK last, I was able to get DLA, lower amount, for both care and mobility components, and there was a post-diagnosis increase in basic benefits because of an additional amount called a disability premium. Diagnosis might be critical for the disability premium but I'm not sure if it is actually necessary for DLA. Best to try and get one, though.

I live in Finland now, and the situation here is far worse than you would believe. I have documented disability issues (from UK and Finnish clinicians) and still there is no additional support being given. Moral here: do not believe that stuff you read about Finland being such a great place. It certainly isn't.

Benefit levels in Finland are much lower than most EU countries (although I'm aware that Estonia hasn't got much of a system yet). And the system is chronically outdated.