Help for my cousin

Pobby

I was out with my cousin at the weekend. We have always been big buddies. He was the bright one and went off to uni about 40 years ago. During that time he suffered what was then known as a nervous breakdown and was hospitalised for nearly a year. He was offered life time disability at that point but refused to take it.

He struggled to find work after that, getting menial jobs but eventually he found something he loved and helped him on the way to recovery. I can remember that he funded therapy himself for years. Although he did well with promotion I know that he always had to fight his demons and would for periods of time need medication to fight his depression,ocd and anxiety attacks.

He was fortunate to marry a loverly lady who is a tremendous support.

When we met at the weekend he seemed quiet and when I asked him if he was OK he said work was getting him down and his symptoms were returning making life difficult. He said he didn`t want to go back on medication as he knew it was work pressure that was causing it. He is self employed consultant to a medium sized business in the area of sales and marketing.

This got me thinking. Surely at 60 he doesn`t need this. I think they are fairly well set up. I think the mortgage is cleared and his wife works. Do you think he would qualify for any benefit if he decided that he had enough of work bearing in mind that at 20 he was offered lifetime disability. My thinking is that he has a long track record of various treatments and I know some years ago he had more counseling from the NHS. No one would point the finger and accuse him of "swinging the lead".

Any thoughts please before I see him again in a few weeks?

seven-day-weekend

I think at 60 he can apply for Pension Credit, but it is means-tested, so with his wife working he may not get any.

If he has paid NI Contributions in the last few years AND the Doctor thinks he is sick enough, he could apply for Employment Support Allowance (fka Incapacity Benefit). I 'm not sure how this works yet, (it's only just taken over from IB) but someone else will be along soon who does, I am sure.

Can he draw any Personal/Occupational Pensions?

I feel for him, I agree at 60 he doesn't need the anguish he's fought all his life. I hope he feels better soon.

http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/pensioncredit/
http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/Dev_015412.xml.html

Pobby

Thanks for the above. In fact he has paid in all the while so that would not be a problem. As far as means tested benefit I am sure he has a lot of savings because strangely, for all the problems, he has always had a decent income and they very careful with money. Not sure about pensions though.