benefits for eczema? help

andy2005morrell

ok my girlfriend (19) suffers from severe eczema for which she has to visit dctors and hospital regular and we have heard a rumour that she is able to claim disability, for help with finances we are struggling to cope with eg; her lotions, special washing powders etc..

does anyone know if this is true as benefit websites are unclear any help is greatly appreciated

cattie

The benefit you are probably talking about is DLA. This isn't paid to help with such things as you suggest, ie, lotions etc, but to help with any care needs the claimant might have.

DLA is not paid for the condition a person suffers, but from care or mobility needs that arise because of their illness or disability.

Consult an experienced welfare rights advisor with help with making a claim, though I'm not sure how successful a claim with exzema in an adult would be. It's worth a try anyway.

SuziQ

You could cut the cost by buying a prepayment certificate. These can be bought monthly now so you can spread the cost.If she has more than 4 prescriptions in 3 months or 14 in 12 months then it works out cheaper.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Medicinespharmacyandindustry/Prescriptions/NHScosts/DH_4049383

In my experience the non bio washing powders are not really muxh dearer than any other. If she has a specialist nurse at hospital or GP surgery who deals with her then they may be able to advise her.

pupsicola

My youngest son has extremely bad eczema and requires round the clock care. My health visitor advised we apply for disability living allowance. I had to prove that he required help with all his bodily functions for more than 35 hours per week.

They send you a form where you need to state what creams etc you are using, they want to see prescriptions and need statements from health proffessionals involved in the treatment.

You normally hear within 12 weeks once they have considered your case. If it is granted the payments are backdated to when you first applied for the application forms.

Good luck with it

Sarah

SuziQ

pupsicola wrote: »

My youngest son has extremely bad eczema and requires round the clock care. My health visitor advised we apply for disability living allowance. I had to prove that he required help with all his bodily functions for more than 35 hours per week.

They send you a form where you need to state what creams etc you are using, they want to see prescriptions and need statements from health proffessionals involved in the treatment.

You normally hear within 12 weeks once they have considered your case. If it is granted the payments are backdated to when you first applied for the application forms.

Good luck with it


Sarah

Obviously the care required by a child with excema will be much greater in most cases than that for an adult,so that it would be far more common to see DLA awarded in your case than in the OP's. His request is based more on the cost of prescriptions,washing powder and travel than on the care requirement,whilst DLA is assessed on care and mobility needs.

richard9991

andy2005morrell wrote: »

ok my girlfriend (19) suffers from severe eczema for which she has to visit dctors and hospital regular and we have heard a rumour that she is able to claim disability, for help with finances we are struggling to cope with eg; her lotions, special washing powders etc..

does anyone know if this is true as benefit websites are unclear any help is greatly appreciated

if on a low income she may get free prescriptions fill in form hc1 from gp surgery dwp office orlocal chemist.

pupsicola

SuziQ wrote: »

Obviously the care required by a child with excema will be much greater in most cases than that for an adult,so that it would be far more common to see DLA awarded in your case than in the OP's. His request is based more on the cost of prescriptions,washing powder and travel than on the care requirement,whilst DLA is assessed on care and mobility needs.

Why come on here and just pick at my advice. Some adults suffer tremendously form eczema too. Had you ever had it you would be aware of this.

Sarah

dmg24

pupsicola wrote: »

Why come on here and just pick at my advice. Some adults suffer tremendously form eczema too. Had you ever had it you would be aware of this.

Sarah

I think you are being over sensitive. SuziQ does not appear to be picking, just stating fact. The care needs of a child with eczema are much greater than those of an adult.

BritRael

dmg24 wrote: »

I think you are being over sensitive. SuziQ does not appear to be picking, just stating fact. The care needs of a child with eczema are much greater than those of an adult.

Didn't see any facts stated there my friend. All I see there is opinion. Have you or SuziQ ever really suffered with it?
Although I probably haven't got the experience of you two knowledgeable people (I've only had it for 53 years), in my humble opinion, the care required is relative to the severity of the current condition, not the age of the sufferer.

alwaysonthego_2

BritRael wrote: »

Didn't see any facts stated there my friend. All I see there is opinion. Have you or SuziQ ever really suffered with it?
Although I probably haven't got the experience of you two knowledgeable people (I've only had it for 53 years), in my humble opinion, the care required is relative to the severity of the current condition, not the age of the sufferer.

I think what both DMG and Suzie are getting at is that a child would have far more care needs than a adult. A child would need to be helped to apply the cream and apply any dressings if neccessary, whereas a adult could apply the cream themselves and therefore would have no care needs. DLA is not related to the severity of the condition it is related to care needs or and mobility needs.

brightonbelle62

alwaysonthego wrote: »

I think what both DMG and Suzie are getting at is that a child would have far more care needs than a adult. A child would need to be helped to apply the cream and apply any dressings if neccessary, whereas a adult could apply the cream themselves and therefore would have no care needs. DLA is not related to the severity of the condition it is related to care needs or and mobility needs.

Not always true - some eczema is so severe that skin is split, inflamed and weeping and any movement causes pain and more splitting - try using your hands in that situation. Also, if severe eczema is on the feet (esp the soles) then mobility can be severely restricted.