Benefits I could be entitled to??

Doom_and_Gloom

Okay I've been putting this off for as long as I can really as it's nearly been a year since I last worked so I've at long last realised I have to sort the finacial side of this out .

I've been going back and forth to different hospitals for that time and they finally believe they know whats wrong. Long story short I have a split vertebrea as well as split spinal cord that is also slightly tethered (the spinal cord I mean here obviously) with a syrinx (cyst) in my the spinal cord (that has occured due to the other congenital problems to do with my spine and spinal cord) causing pressure and so pain, in my back and left leg mostly, and slight weakness in my left leg also. The doctors from the hospital I see in London are not keen on surgery on the syrinx to get rid of it as they are worried they will cause more damage due to everything else around it. So they are not sure how long I will be in pain and not very mobile and they are not sure they are able to sort this out at all .

I have put a claim in for DLA recently but will have to wait a while yet to find out if they believe I'm entitled although my GP is very certain I should be able to get Low for both parts at least. My GP has signed me off and I'm working on sorting all that out but will have to wait after the bank holiday Monday. My GP believes that I am not suitible for any work right now due to constant pain and my lack of getting around easily and wants me to concentrate on getting healed if possible as stress can make it worse as the muscles 'lock up' in my back and leg.

I live with my partner at my parents. My partner is working 14.5 hours/week contract at the moment and recives around £455.68/4 weeks gross (from what I've worked out) but will be going up to 22.5 hours/week contract for around £650.24/4 weeks gross (again from what I've worked out) as he's asked for more hours. He get's unsociable work hours for Saturday after 6:30pm and he gets paid time and a half for Sundays so if he doesn't work these days due to being ill or for time off he doesn't get these extras in pay (the calculations above take them into account though if that makes any difference ). He's being doing all the over time he can recently as we need the money but he doesn't like leaving me alone if he doesn't have to in case I fall down the stairs/trip over badly etc. and injure myself .

I'm wondering if we will be entitled to anything or if my NI contribution stamp is all that will get paid (which will still be good as it hasn't been getting paid for nearly a year :eek:). I know if I get the DLA that won't be effected but I realise that my parnters earnings could effect anything else. He has no savings but I have around 4K still sitting in my savings account.

I'm hoping I've given you all the relivent information to help me. I've tried finding out myself but I've found it very confusing to work it out myself.

Thank you if you are able to help. I am sorry for the essay length post by the way .

alwaysonthego_2

Did you work during tax years 06-07 and 07-08?

dmg24

Have you been working for the past few years? If so, you may be entitled to ESA on the basis of your NI Contributions. If not, you can still claim, but you will just get your stamp paid, you will not receive any money.

Doom_and_Gloom

I worked a little during those year yes alwaysonthego but I doubt enough to mean I'd get contribution based as I didn't earn all that much. One job I only earnt £62.50/week and the next I only got £5.53/hour then £5.73 after the raise in minimam wage and worked on average 3 days (7.25hours in the day paid) as it was temp work and not garenteed (sp?) work. So as you can see it's unlikely contribution based is possible.

dmg24 I had a feeling that might bee the case but I thought I would make sure just incase. Means we are going to be stuggeling (sp?) as his wage is not easy for 2 people to get by on .

I forgot to mention that I'm 20 and my partner is 23 but I doubt as he is not over 25 that that will make any difference either.

dmg24

When did you leave full time education? You may qualify under the Youth Rules.

Doom_and_Gloom

I left full time education in January 2008 as I got to ill with a viral infection to continue the BTEC as well as the part time job I had. As soon as I got better I looked for work and found the temp job after being on JSA for a while and the job started early July 2008 but by mid September 2008 my problems were to bad to continue working; although even if they hadn't I probably would have been out of work as they got rid of half the temps :rolleyes:. I haven't had much 'luck' with these things as they say .

dmg24

I'm pretty sure you will not qualify for payment under the Youth Rules, but it might be worth double checking - I would but I've had a drink so all looking a bit hazy!

Doom_and_Gloom

dmg24 wrote: »

I'm pretty sure you will not qualify for payment under the Youth Rules, but it might be worth double checking - I would but I've had a drink so all looking a bit hazy!

Lol, that's fair enough you have helped me somewhat already. I will find out about the Youth Rules but I doubt it also as it's probably been too long or what have you which is fair enough. Have a nice time drinking dmg24, just don't over do it :beer::rotfl:. Thank you for your help.

alwaysonthego_2

you are aged between 16 and 20, or
●
you are aged between 21 and 25, and you
were in education or training during the last
three months before your 20th birthday, and
●
you have been unable to work because of
illness or disability for at least 28 weeks, and
●
you normally live in Great Britain, and have
lived in Great Britain for 26 weeks in the year
before you claim
http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:h9MUyivTnfkJ:www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/claimforms/esa1.pdf+employment+support+allowance+in+youth&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk

Doom_and_Gloom

alwaysonthego wrote: »

you are aged between 16 and 20, or
●
you are aged between 21 and 25, and you
were in education or training during the last
three months before your 20th birthday, and
●
you have been unable to work because of
illness or disability for at least 28 weeks, and
●
you normally live in Great Britain, and have
lived in Great Britain for 26 weeks in the year
before you claim
http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:h9MUyivTnfkJ:www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/claimforms/esa1.pdf+employment+support+allowance+in+youth&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk

Hrm I was 18 when I was still in education so that doesn't look possible does it as I assume it would mean the 3 months right before your 20th birthday . I however have certainly not been able to work for at least 28 weeks and have lived in England for all of my life :rotfl:. I would say that I'm not under the Youth Rules due to the education part not being right. Oh well I had a feeling that that would be the case. Thank you for your help as well as it's helped .

alwaysonthego_2

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

Hrm I was 18 when I was still in education so that doesn't look possible does it as I assume it would mean the 3 months right before your 20th birthday . I however have certainly not been able to work for at least 28 weeks and have lived in England for all of my life :rotfl:. I would say that I'm not under the Youth Rules due to the education part not being right. Oh well I had a feeling that that would be the case. Thank you for your help as well as it's helped .

you are aged between 16 and 20, or
●
you are aged between 21 and 25, and you
were in education or training during the last
three months before your 20th birthday, and
●
you have been unable to work because of
illness or disability for at least 28 weeks, and
●
you normally live in Great Britain, and have
lived in Great Britain for 26 weeks in the year
before you claim

The red bits apply to you as you are not between 21-25 the black bit wouldn't apply to you.