Scared to come off benefits

[KIP.]

I want to do voluntary work but that means telling the benefits office that I am volunteering which means I’m drawing attention to myself and scared that they try to push me back to paid work which is what they did in the past. So I had my ex abusing me not to work and the benefits office trying to force me to work. The whole system terrifies me that I’m not capable yet and I fall flat on my face and am left with no money. Has anyone made that successful leap? I had thought of volunteering and not saying anything for a while to see if I can manage but this brings its own anxiety.

[Confused123]

hi hun

i would recommend u do that , try it first and see how u get on first and if you can get regular hours

[SunshineRainflower]

Volunteering shouldn’t affect your benefits, depending on which type you are on. There were a lot of people who had a disability and received related benefits who volunteered at my last volunteer place, it is very normal and healthy for people to want to volunteer. I think the only time it can affect it is say if you were on jobseekers allowance and it meant you were missing their appointments, but otherwise I don’t think it usually affects it or at least it shouldn’t. Do you have a support worker at the job centre who you can talk to about it? I totally get the fear though as this week I took on my first work shift in ages and I’m terrified it will mess things up and I’ll be without money but I took a leap of faith because I can’t bear the thought of being stuck on benefits forever and never being able to earn money again, I never intended to end up on them in the first place. I think if you start small like Confused123 said it would be best and I am not even certain you have to declare all types of volunteering because you are not gaining income from it?

[KIP.]

I’m on JSA but the kind you don’t need to report to job centre. Basically they wrote me off because of my mental illness. He went nuts when I volunteered before so it didn’t last long. The rules are that I have to tell them if I do voluntary work. It won’t affect my benefits but it’s been a while since I had an assessment (years) and the last time they tried to force me to go in for an assessment which traumatised me. I told them I suffered from panic attacks and needed the first appointment. Which was given to me 9am. They took me at 920 and by then I was climbing the walls and in tears. The doc told me she needed 20 minutes to read my file! I really really want to do this voluntary work. I think I will try it first before telling them and if they find out I will just have to explain that I didn’t know if I could handle it. The job centre were really bad the last time.

[Serenity]

Hi KIP,

I’m not sure about what affects your benefits, but I
suppose engaging in some volunteer work will help you to
gauge how ready you are to be back in the world of work.

I would say go slowly, and maybe go for something that you will find therapeutic. I remember a while ago you spoke about taking care of pets for women who have to leave them behind when they go into refuge? Animals are a comfort and a good icebreaker when attempting to go back into the real and busy world.

[Ayanna]

Back yourself up with a solicitor from the CAB.

[gold for a king]

I used to sell cosmetics as a rep for a well known company and I got a lot out of it. Being able to work as much or as little as I wanted was great. Getting out and about but never too far from home was ideal. I only did it to meet other women in my local area even if it was only briefly. I didn’t have to worry if I messed things up because it was only make-up after all which gave some relief from the stress at home. I packed it in when the domestic abuse got bad but it gave me a lot of confidence which I fell back on after I left my abuser.

When I left I went on JSA but after only 2 days they put me on Enterprise Allowance for self employment. I told them that I was drawing and painting and they helped me make a business plan. I got £65 per week for the first 13 weeks and £33pw for the second 13 weeks on top of £53pw working tax credit. It was a lot more than JSA and part of the deal was that I could keep any profits and they wouldn’t hassle me to go into employment. Really I used the 26weeks as a break and the drawing and painting as a therapeutic hobby.

After the 26 weeks was up I only received the £53pw working tax credit so I used the skills and confidence I gained from selling as a rep to set up my own business working from home. It was tough but I managed to do it gradually getting myself into full paying work.

Hope that helps in some way.

[Author]

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