Help with benefits

Lou62

Hello , im looking for any advice on financial support . I’m really struggling right now , I am working but not sure for how much longer I can cope . I have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my right hip , base of my spine , right knee and neck , the pain at times is unbearable... I am exhausted and feel like crying every day at the thought of having to deal with pain and work pretending I’m ok when I’m not . I’m 59 and feeling lost and alone with the grinding pain constantly. I take codeine and paracetamol which only makes me feel sick and spaced out , I’ve been looking into PIP but it’s scary and daunting. Any help would be much appreciated, thank you.

Mike1

I understand what you are going through as we all have a very difficult decision to make when our inabilities become too much to continue to work. PIP is designed to provide for the additional costs of disability such as aids around the house, additional food costs and so forth; and you are right it is not that easy to get as it is not paid just because you are in pain it depends on what you can and cannot do. There is also Employment Support Allowance and Universal Credit, which then open up other benefits such as Housing Benefit and Council Tax rebate. Have a look athttps://www.gov.uk/financial-help-disabledIf you have an occupational pension with an employer it may be worth investigating if you can claim that now; when I had to give up work I was self-employed but had a pension with a previous employer, I contacted them and said that if I was still working for them I would have been medically retired, they agreed and I had an independent medical which resulted in the payment of my pension immediately. I was about 54 at the time that I had to give up work on the advice of my GP and the fact that I could not perform despite being on Morphine. It may also be worth chatting to the CAB. In addition ask your GP for a referral to your local Pain Clinic as stronger drugs than Codeine and Paracetamol may help, although in my experience no pain killers get rid of pain they merely knock the edge off.

frogmorton

Great advice there from@Mike1

This might be worth a look too:

//www.wfysxh.com/about-arthritis/living-with-arthritis/financial-support/

We will support you if you decide to apply for anything here just an ear and share our experiences too@Lou62

Lou62

Thank you for your helpful advise and support , this is all new to me as I’ve never had to claim any help before and it’s all a minefield it really is and so confusing I didn’t know where to start , all I do know is worked and being in constant pain is really depressing as you will know . I appreciate all your advice as it helps me on the right track . I’m sorry you’ve suffered but glad things are sorted for you now financially hopefully. Im self employed with no private pension or otherwise, the thought of all the paperwork fills me with dread but I’ll face it and look into it all . Many thanks .