Poorly parents (in their 50s) - can they claim benefits? Advise please

lea

Hi everyone.

My mum (nearly 55) and my dad (57) have had a rough few years health wise and I'm wondering if anyone can give some advice.

Here's the history....(and its long, sorry!)

2 years ago my mum had a massive heart attack, which I'm afraid to say was due to smoking heavily throughout her life. She hasnt touched a cigarette since that day but unfortunately the damage has already been done. She has been diagnosed with COPD, is asthmatic, and cannot walk far. She wheezes and coughs all the time, and is generally not the person she was a couple of years ago. She is struggling holding down her full time job, a supervisor in a cardboard box factory. This job is very manual, involves being around machinery, dust, and she is on her feet all day. She has also recently been given a disabled badge for her car, I'm not sure if this is relevant or not.

My dad - has worked all his life as a plumber (not self employed). 9 years he was struck down with a virus that caused all his hair to fall out (yes, all of it!) and while he was in hospital for investigation, he had a heart attack, totally random and out of the blue. The doctors think the virus attacking his body caused it. Nearly 2 years ago he was suddenly struck down with E-Coli while at work (though we don't know if anything at work caused it). All his organs began shutting down, he was in intensive care and he nearly died. Thankfully he pulled through, and he was off work for about 3 months to recover. He is not as strong as he used to be, but was managing work again, despite being exhausted all the time. In March this year he had heart and stomach pains, started fitting and was admitted to hospital where he was eventually found to have appendicitis which hadnt been spotted and had turned into peritonitis. Again, he was in intensive care and it was touch and go for a few days. He pulled through and is still at home recuperating. He went to the doctors last week and has now been diagnosed with a hernia (non life threatnening) and is waiting for an appointment for surgery. The doctors also think that he has some sort of heart defect which means every time his body is ill/under stress, it goes haywire, hence the heart attack, and then the heart pains and fitting. He is under Papworth hospital for investigation and they think he will need some sort of laser treatment on his heart.

They have recently been allocated a bungalow through the local housing association and are in the process of moving into it. They are selling their 2 bed cottage for £125,000 and are expected to receive only approximately £15,000 due to debt and outstanding mortgage.

I really don't think either of them are well enough to work full time, at least not in their current jobs. Dad's job is very manual, getting under sinks, climbing into attics, unblocking drains, etc etc and although he is nowhere near having a date to return to work, he is already stressing about it. Mum cannot really cope either, but she is struggling through as dad is off and only receiving statutory sick pay. When the house sale goes through they will get the £15,000 which will tide them over for some time but its not a permanent solution.

So, my question is, what should they do? Would they be able to claim anything financially if they gave up work? I really don't know what advice to give them, can anyone help?

Thanks for reading, I know its very longwinded!

Lea

[Deleted User]

if they were to give up work on ill health grounds having been signed off sick by a gp they could claim esa
if either of them have care and or mobility issues then they could claim dla(this can be paid as an in or out of work benefit additional to any other benefits).
means tested benefits like housing council tax can only be claimed if they have savings below 16k,but anything over 6k reduces whats paid.
So there are options if they feel and a gp agrees they are unable to go on working,although after 13 weeks of claiming esa a medical has to be undertaken.

Caz3121

lea wrote: »

They are selling their 2 bed cottage for £125,000 and are expected to receive only approximately £15,000 due to debt and outstanding mortgage.

You need to also be aware that whilst redeeming the mortgage is a necessary debt (cannot have the mortgage if they don't have the house) if they pay other debts off they may still be classed as having the money
have a look at 'deprivation of capital'
this would affect any means tested benefits as they may decide they 'have' over £16k

sunnyone

lea wrote: »

Hi everyone.

My mum (nearly 55) and my dad (57) have had a rough few years health wise and I'm wondering if anyone can give some advice.

Here's the history....(and its long, sorry!)

2 years ago my mum had a massive heart attack, which I'm afraid to say was due to smoking heavily throughout her life. She hasnt touched a cigarette since that day but unfortunately the damage has already been done. She has been diagnosed with COPD, is asthmatic, and cannot walk far. She wheezes and coughs all the time, and is generally not the person she was a couple of years ago. She is struggling holding down her full time job, a supervisor in a cardboard box factory. This job is very manual, involves being around machinery, dust, and she is on her feet all day. She has also recently been given a disabled badge for her car, I'm not sure if this is relevant or not.

My dad - has worked all his life as a plumber (not self employed). 9 years he was struck down with a virus that caused all his hair to fall out (yes, all of it!) and while he was in hospital for investigation, he had a heart attack, totally random and out of the blue. The doctors think the virus attacking his body caused it. Nearly 2 years ago he was suddenly struck down with E-Coli while at work (though we don't know if anything at work caused it). All his organs began shutting down, he was in intensive care and he nearly died. Thankfully he pulled through, and he was off work for about 3 months to recover. He is not as strong as he used to be, but was managing work again, despite being exhausted all the time. In March this year he had heart and stomach pains, started fitting and was admitted to hospital where he was eventually found to have appendicitis which hadnt been spotted and had turned into peritonitis. Again, he was in intensive care and it was touch and go for a few days. He pulled through and is still at home recuperating. He went to the doctors last week and has now been diagnosed with a hernia (non life threatnening) and is waiting for an appointment for surgery. The doctors also think that he has some sort of heart defect which means every time his body is ill/under stress, it goes haywire, hence the heart attack, and then the heart pains and fitting. He is under Papworth hospital for investigation and they think he will need some sort of laser treatment on his heart.

They have recently been allocated a bungalow through the local housing association and are in the process of moving into it. They are selling their 2 bed cottage for £125,000 and are expected to receive only approximately £15,000 due to debt and outstanding mortgage.

I really don't think either of them are well enough to work full time, at least not in their current jobs. Dad's job is very manual, getting under sinks, climbing into attics, unblocking drains, etc etc and although he is nowhere near having a date to return to work, he is already stressing about it. Mum cannot really cope either, but she is struggling through as dad is off and only receiving statutory sick pay. When the house sale goes through they will get the £15,000 which will tide them over for some time but its not a permanent solution.

So, my question is, what should they do? Would they be able to claim anything financially if they gave up work? I really don't know what advice to give them, can anyone help?

Thanks for reading, I know its very longwinded!

Lea

Do either of them have private pensions?

If they do depending on when they were taken out they could claim them at 50 and older or for ill health now depending on the pension plan.

ESA and/or DLA as woodbine says are also possibilities.

lea

Thanks everyone for your replies.

So would the best next step to be for them to visit the doctors and see what they think and whether they would sign them off work?
Dad is signed off anyway, he is currently getting SSP but I can't see his employers letting him be off for too much longer without them taking action - could they make him redundant or anything?

They don't have private pensions unfortunately.

They are currently just surviving on mum's wage (not much), and dad's SSP. However like I said, I think if mum is to try and carry on working full time for much longer, I think she will end up having another heart attack or worse.

Thanks again for your advice, if anyone has any further comments please post them.

Lea

seven-day-weekend

DLA (Disability Living Allowance) can be paid whether you are in work or not. It is awarded on whether you have extra care and/or mobility needs caused by your condition.

Your father's employers could indeed 'let him go' on grounds of incapacity (although not make him redundant unless his job actually IS redundant. They can't make him redundant and then give someone else his job).

When his SSP finishes he could apply for ESA (Employment Support Allowance), this can be either Contributions-based or Income-based. If he gets Contributions-based (which he should do if he has worked for the last few years and paid his NI), then savings and other income will not be taken into account (other than if he has a Pension of over £85 a week).

A Benefits Advisor at the CAB will be able to advise your parents what they might be entitled to and help them apply if necessary.