social security for social anxiety??

im just curious as to how many of you on here actually recieve a dissability support pension for SA or depression, as compared to those working/studying? or on other govt benefits.

since i left my job a few years ago ive found life pretty tough going, with no job and trying to live off the very minimal unemployment benefit. so lately ive been contemplating applying for a dissability support pension to try and ease the burden on myself a little.

the anxiety has certainly affected my abilty to perform during job interviews and also when trialed out for new jobs as it affects my abbilty to retain key information when being instructed etc. im certain ive lost a few jobs and interviews due to anxiety, and severe depression causes lack of motivation to apply for them in the first place and when turned down for a job, or not finding any suitable jobs leads to a negative feeback loop situation with the depression and anxiety. *sigh*

in my country its very hard to get on a pension, and will be particularly hard when social anxiety is not widely recognised. but i know people that have got on it and plus i feel my options are simply running out...so i must try it. ive taken meds for depression for many years but as it seems most gp's dont know anxiety specific medication, i might have to start seeing a psych which i know will be a waste of time but a necessary evil in order to obtain the pension.
 
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recluse

Well-known member
I'm on job seeker's allowance because i am such an inept f###ing loser i could not perform in my last job which i left in October.

It's the second job i've left because of my shyness/social anxiety. The worst thing is that it does not look good on my cv that i've left two jobs, also i only have one former employer i can ask for a reference from.

Most jobs require a social and confident person and i simply cannot pretend to be one because it shows.

I'm worried that people think i am merely lazy for leaving jobs. Give me a job which requires no social interaction and i will work my ass off! For example if i was given a job like cutting logs, cleaning etc i would love it.

To answer your question i will try to avoid going on dissabilty benefits at all costs because i feel that i would be giving up, and there's such a stigma about people with mental illness being on benefits (because ignorant people think that mental illness is an excuse). The uk is clamping down on people on benefits hard now, my sister's partner hasd been forced to on job seekers allowance because he's not deemed bad enough for dissabilty allowance.
 
^all sounds familiar...it also looks real bad on your cv when there are these huge unexplained gaps of unemployment...or why you have been working as a cleaner when you have a university degree. i suck at life it seems..
 
About 20 years ago, when i "joined the workforce", i began peridically going on & off unemployment benefit (due to jobs only temporary, or ending, or getting sacked). Then several years ago i was able to go onto "sickness" benefit, which made me feel less guilty about "bludging", as i felt "deserving" of it then. And finally about 3 or 4 years ago the doctor put me onto "invalids" benefit (which i should have been on years before, so i got a pretty hefty lump-sum payout, most of which i have maintained as a "safety buffer" for whenever i "need" something urgently).
So i have no "money worries" nowadays, or "work worries". Of course i don''t have a "life", not one bit, but then i never have had one. Don't go anywhere. Don't do anything (except use the computer & watch tv).
Still am "trying" to get some form of income stream happening, but sure is taking a while (~10 years & counting - my OCPD & emotional problems tends to slow all progress in all areas right down to a snail's pace)
 
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