Sister struggling at work

janninew

Hi

Would like some advice please regarding my sister.

She is a 22 year old women who works full time in a hotel (waiting on, receptionist, bar work) The money is minimum wage and she obviously isn't entitled to working tax credit due to her age. She rents a small flat and she works hard to pay her bills etc. The only issue is she has had a serious problem with her leg since birth. I'm not sure of the name of the condition, but it causes her alot of pain (sometimes can't get out of bed) She has seen a Doctor who says there is nothing that can be done for her, just rest when it sores and she has painkillers from him.

I really feel for her as when her leg is causing her pain she really struggles to get to work (expecially as she is on her feet all day). She will struggle in though and always walks with a noticable limp. On the days where she simple cannot walk, she calls in work and tells them she cannot come in, she doesn't get paid if she isn't at work. This then causes lots of worry for her as all her wage is budgeted on her rent, council tax, utilities etc.

I'm not suggesting that she should give up work, she is a hard worker and would never want to spend all day sat at home. I just wondered if there is any extra help she may be entitled to to help when she is really struggling with the pain.

Thanks all
Janninew

dmg24

The only potential benefit for someone in work is DLA. She would need care and/ or mobility needs to qualify. How often does she have bad days?

janninew

dmg24 wrote: »

The only potential benefit for someone in work is DLA. She would need care and/ or mobility needs to qualify. How often does she have bad days?

She has bad days aleast a few times a month. Not sure about the care and mobility needs? She can't walk a great distance. I don't want people to think we are looking at claiming benefit that she isn't entitled to, but for someone in as much pain as she is alot of times, I would hope some help could be given.

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

If you have mobility needs

To get the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, your disability must be severe enough for you to have any of the following walking difficulties, even when wearing or using an aid or equipment you normally use:

• because of a physical disability, you are unable or virtually unable to walk without severe discomfort, or at risk of endangering your life or causing deterioration in your health by making the effort to walk
• you have no feet or legs
• you are assessed to be both 100 per cent disabled because of loss of eyesight and not less than 80 per cent disabled because of deafness and you need someone with you when you are out of doors
• you are severely mentally impaired with severe behavioural problems and qualify for the highest rate of care component
• you need guidance or supervision most of the time from another person when walking out of doors in unfamiliar places

There are two rates of the mobility component depending on how your disability affects you:
Lower rate
If you need guidance or supervision out of doors.
Higher rate
If you have any of the other, more severe, walking difficulties.


It does look difficult to meet the criteria but there is no harm in her applying, they can only say no.


If she can get support from her GP it will strengthen her case.


I think your sister is incredibly brave & wish her good luck.

janninew

Thanks for the advice Breast Cancer Survivor, very useful. She has been under the care of her GP since she was a baby, she has had several operations and had untold misery through the pain she gets. I will try to get her to apply, as you say, they can only say no!

Thanks for the kind words.