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disabled and not entitled to benefits?
weeziebeth
Posts: 13 Forumite
Hi 
My mother (52) has diabetes, and suffers with a lot of numbness and pain in her feet due to diabetic neuropathy, and also has a lot of pain and a very swollen leg due to lymphodema. She has been in and out of hospital with infections because of cellultis and then lymphodema, and has depression amongst other things! I am trying to find out on her behalf (she's a bit technologically challenged
) if she can get any financial help but theres so much information (some outdated) that it's quite confusing so I was hoping someone on here might be able to help.
She cannot walk even a few steps without being in a lot of pain. In theory she is eligible for some Disability Living Allowance (at least the mobility component), although she was refused when she applied for it months ago. I've heard it's very difficult to get but we have since realised she should have got some help from the CAB filling in the forms as they are complicated, and she didnt back it up with medical evidence. She also would have had more luck on appeal, so my mother is applying again, and if refused again, will appeal this time.
I don't know if she is eligible for Working Tax Credit, because you need to work at least 16 hours a week, and she currently works 16 hours one week and 12 the next. Does anyone know if she is able to claim it one week and not the other?
My main concern is that she should not be working at all. Being on her feet at work is making her worse and she shouldn't have to put up with being in constant pain. I don't think she will physically be able to keep going for much longer. However I don't think she is eligible for Employment Support Allowance as her husband works full time. They are in financial difficulty now, while they are both working, so would not be able to manage on his wage alone. So she just doesn't know what she can do. Is there any other help out there? I know if she went to her doctor he would confirm that she is disabled and fully support her application, and she would pass any test, but if she gets no financial help, she cant afford to do this.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you
My mother (52) has diabetes, and suffers with a lot of numbness and pain in her feet due to diabetic neuropathy, and also has a lot of pain and a very swollen leg due to lymphodema. She has been in and out of hospital with infections because of cellultis and then lymphodema, and has depression amongst other things! I am trying to find out on her behalf (she's a bit technologically challenged
) if she can get any financial help but theres so much information (some outdated) that it's quite confusing so I was hoping someone on here might be able to help.She cannot walk even a few steps without being in a lot of pain. In theory she is eligible for some Disability Living Allowance (at least the mobility component), although she was refused when she applied for it months ago. I've heard it's very difficult to get but we have since realised she should have got some help from the CAB filling in the forms as they are complicated, and she didnt back it up with medical evidence. She also would have had more luck on appeal, so my mother is applying again, and if refused again, will appeal this time.
I don't know if she is eligible for Working Tax Credit, because you need to work at least 16 hours a week, and she currently works 16 hours one week and 12 the next. Does anyone know if she is able to claim it one week and not the other?
My main concern is that she should not be working at all. Being on her feet at work is making her worse and she shouldn't have to put up with being in constant pain. I don't think she will physically be able to keep going for much longer. However I don't think she is eligible for Employment Support Allowance as her husband works full time. They are in financial difficulty now, while they are both working, so would not be able to manage on his wage alone. So she just doesn't know what she can do. Is there any other help out there? I know if she went to her doctor he would confirm that she is disabled and fully support her application, and she would pass any test, but if she gets no financial help, she cant afford to do this.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you
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Comments
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weeziebeth wrote: »My main concern is that she should not be working at all. Being on her feet at work is making her worse and she shouldn't have to put up with being in constant pain.
What has her GP said about this? Are there any adjustments that can be made to her job, so she's not stood up all the time?However I don't think she is eligible for Employment Support Allowance as her husband works full time.
If her husband works full-time, she might be entitled to contributions based, if she's paid enough NI over the last 2 tax years.Sealed pot challenge #232. Gold stars from Sue-UU - :staradmin :staradmin £75.29 banked
50p saver #40 £20 banked
Virtual sealed pot #178 £80.250 -
She can't claim full stop, unless she has dependant children in education she has to work 30 hours per week to get WTC.weeziebeth wrote: »I don't know if she is eligible for Working Tax Credit, because you need to work at least 16 hours a week, and she currently works 16 hours one week and 12 the next. Does anyone know if she is able to claim it one week and not the other?*SIGH*
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What has her GP said about this? Are there any adjustments that can be made to her job, so she's not stood up all the time?
Her GP has himself said on several occasions that he would support her in this as he knows the amount of pain she is in and that she shouldn't be working. But it is ultimately her decision, and it doesn't seem as if she can give up work due to the money situation.
Unfortunately there are no adjustments that can be made to her job.If her husband works full-time, she might be entitled to contributions based, if she's paid enough NI over the last 2 tax years.
Thanks, I'll look into it. This would only be temporary though
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She can't claim full stop, unless she has dependant children in education she has to work 30 hours per week to get WTC.
Well, this is what it says on the government website: "You may be able to claim Working Tax Credit if you are disabled and work at least 16 hours a week. Working Tax Credit is paid by the HM Revenue and Customs, and depends on your income."0 -
disabled element of tax credits can only be claimed by people on DLA or who have just come off IB/ESA/IS. As your mum does not claim any disability related benefits she is not entitled to the disabled element of tax credits (which allows disabled people to work 16 hours per week and claim instead of the usual 30).0
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disabled element of tax credits can only be claimed by people on DLA or who have just come off IB/ESA/IS. As your mum does not claim any disability related benefits she is not entitled to the disabled element of tax credits (which allows disabled people to work 16 hours per week and claim instead of the usual 30).
Thank you! I know now she can only claim for this if she is awarded the DLA. I couldn't find this info
If she is successful with the DLA, would she be able to claim it for the 2 weeks a month she works 16 hours? Or not due to the 12 hour week?0 -
Mightn't it be better for her to look for an easier, less physically demanding job?0
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Oldernotwiser wrote: »Mightn't it be better for her to look for an easier, less physically demanding job?
No, I see what you're getting at but she has other medical problems too that I havent gone into, and as I have said her doctor has advised her that she shouldn't be working.0 -
Why would claiming contribution based ESA only be temporary?
It's reliant on you paying enough N.I. credits in the two years prior to your claim but you can continue claiming it idefinitely providing you continue to satisfy the conditions .
Did her doctor say that she shouldn't be working at all or just shouldn't be working a physically demanding job? It's usually better for a person's mental health to work or at least do voluntary work which is why if you are claiming ESA and placed in the Support Group you are allowed to work on a voluntary basis.0 -
You need to be working for at least 4 weeks to claim WTC.Sealed pot challenge #232. Gold stars from Sue-UU - :staradmin :staradmin £75.29 banked
50p saver #40 £20 banked
Virtual sealed pot #178 £80.250
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