Can you claim back your bus fares?

How do I claim employment & support allowance?

• I'm currently on Income support because I have a daughter who is nearly 5. I had worked for many years before I had my daughter, but then when she was 18 months old, non-related events caused me depression. For the last 3 yrs 4 months I have had severe depression, to the point where I usually have no energy to even get out of bed. My mother is caring for my daughter full time, but this in itself costs me a lot of money. My mother receives all my child's benefits, but I also have lots of extra costs that have to come out of my IS eg high bus fares to see my child as none of us can drive. I did not see a doctor until February this year about my depression, as I didn't know I had depression. I had a mental health assessment done in February this year, but the assessor was a social worker/psychiatrist? She did not seem to care that I told her I could not get out of bed & spent all day in it etc. She put that I have a depressive episode & recommended I take an anti-depressant + consider talking therapy! I have been taking many different drugs since february but I know therapy won't work, even if I could get there. Could I claim employment & support allowance & will my GP need to know? I know nothing about disability benefits, having never been on them. I'm due to see my GP again later today, I don't know if I should tell him I'm going to apply for it. I would prefer not to, as some professionals have been rude when they find out I'm on benefits

• Answer:

  How do you "know" that therapy won't help you? Group therapy was the greatest gift that was ever given to me. Opening my heart and mind to like-minded stranger who were supportive and nonjudgmental was a stress relief that my family could never give me. For your own sake, and for your child's sake, take the advice that experts are giving you.