Need benefit advice if possible please

[kirsty b]

Hi all

I am trying to help a member of my family find out what benefits they may be entitled to. They have just been told they cannot work anymore due to long term progressive illness and they are quite naturally worried that they may not be able to make ends meet.
I'm trying to help but am getting very confused and would really appreciate some help from any of you who actually claim as to how it actually works out as its often different in reality to how it is on paper.
We are not interested in fiddling or beating the system, this is going completely by the book.
I won't go into anymore detail on a public thread, but have permission from family member to discuss in private (via PM) if it ends up helping.

Ta
Kirst

JUST A NOTE: This is not intended to open a discussion on the rights and wrongs/cheats etc. This family member has worked and paid NI all her life and is really worried about the future now and we just want to make sure she's OK.

[sharonr]

Sorry I can`t help you but I hope you get it sorted for them.

[selfraising]

Hi, I will pm you

[Mcbee]

Try Citizens Advice or the DirectGov site Beginner's guide to benefits : Directgov - Money, tax and benefits.

Good luck

[SarzWix]

Just found this thread Kirsty. I know you've had some help but I've been through the Disability Living Allowance system, so if I can be of any assistance there, please give me a shout. Also, see this website Benefits and Health Information Service which is invaluable for explaining DLA/Employment Support Allowance/Attendance Allowance and the way 'they' come to decisions.

[bubblewrap]

I will ask Madderbat to contact you as the level of incapacity can determine the level of benefit & there are other benefits you can claim.
There are many forum which Madderbat is a member of.
Madderbat has not worked for over 3 years due to ill health.

[daleclarke]

Kirst

As someone with MS and its daily struggles, benefits are a minefield and I found the Citizens Advice brilliant also the MS Society, so therefore if you're family member has a recognisable disease see if it has a Society of sorts and contact them ASAP as they normally have forums etc that can help. Good Luck, it can be a long struggle and contrary to what others say it can be extremely hard to get the right benefits. Also if its MS please do not hesitate to PM me if you would like advice.

[shirlthegirl43]

Good luck helping them Kirsty. I am about to try claiming Disability Living Allowance again (boy I am not looking forward to that form)

[tricky]

We have a number of associations in Scunthorpe that help with disability living allowance forms , i find them brilliant as they have a great deal of experience in this matter.Maybe you have some of these associations where you live.

[kirsty b]

Guys, thanks. I have been searching the Government sites but each time come away none the wiser. Will definitely try these links you have posted.

Its my mum who is poorly with ischaemic heart disease (its OK she said I could say), we are just trying to make sure she gets enough to see to her needs. She's worried about gas and electric etc etc and how she's going to pay for stuff like that. Had a good long chat with one of you (you know who you are ) last night and it was a massive help. We'll get her sorted out, but its frustrating trying to figure out whats what!

Thanks a million all of you.

xx

[shirlthegirl43]

Hugs for you and your mum Kirsty.

tricky, thanks for the advice but the problem is the actual holding the pen long enough to do the writing

[daleclarke]

Filling in the DLA form, do not forget that you need to think of your worst day and do not be a trooper (or too proud) as that was my first mistake. I did not want to admit that I was ill, so of course that showed on the form, also ask your family as they sometimes see more than you, in my case not being able to walk in a straight line (My family now walk to the right of me and that stops me wandering into shop windows but they do suffer, especially stepped on toes), this can be very embarrassing.

The problem with society is that they think that you are not disabled unless you have something physical about you i.e Wheelchair. If you see me walk I look like I am drunk all the time, I had one woman hit me as I got out of my car in a blue badge spot because I did not have a stick, little did she know I had just got over broken ribs 2 weeks prior from falling over with a stick which went into my side as I fell. I now struggle with a crutch on bad days and have a shoulder that keeps coming out of joint because of it, so do not use as often as I should.

Alas, the worst part of it all is my poor wife, she gets more upset at my treatment than I do, as she sees the problems up close she says she can not believe in people's attitudes.

[kirsty b]

Some people can be so ignorant! Mum got her blue badges when her knee started getting really bad and she was stunned when she was told she could have got them for the heart attacks and angina alone. She used to be embarrassed about using them because she didn't feel she should because she didn't need wheechair etc.
I'm waiting to get a call back from someone about changing her DLA (mobility component) from payments to a motability car, cos then she can still get about with worrying about anything beyond putting fuel in. As she needs help with housework etc we are going to look into eligibility for care component of DLA for her. I am likely to be a carer of sorts for her even though she live 50 miles away, because my elder sis has her hands full taking care of her son, and my other sis is in the Forces! Thankfully I only work part time, so have time on my hands to do it!

[madderbat]

Hi Kirsty,
I don't log on here much any more as I can't do any gardening and Bubblewrap has taken on our allotment.
I'm sorry your Mum is having such worries and I'm sure other people have given you good advice which I may have trouble improving on.

This website is one which is highly recommended for advice, there is a fee for joining, but it is well worth it for reliable advice, support and good information. Home : Benefits and Work

Please tell your Mum to try not to worry I'm sure it won't help her health.
Wishing you well
Jane

[shirlthegirl43]

Hi Madderbat, nice to see you onlline. You should join us more often - even if you are not doing the gardening