irritable bowel syndrome..... ibs

ally67_2

i have ibs so my doctors told me ....very unpleasent ..... can i claim for anything as i had to give up work with it and dreppression ,my partner works full time and is on dla him self ?
how does one cope with ibs .....

MrsManda

If you have care/mobility needs you can claim DLA.
If you cannot work and do not get Statutory Sick Pay, you can apply for Employment and Support Allowance which is either contribution based if you've paid enough N.I. when you were working or income based.

You may be entitled to income assessed benefits such as CTB but it depends on your circumstances. Have you tried filling out the Online Benefits Advisor or calling the benefits line for advice? The benefits line staff were really helpful when I got ill.

Indie_Kid

IBS doesn't normally cause significant care or mobility needs. (and before anyone says anything, I have it - I do have care needs due to IBS - but I also have other disabilities)

hannahO_2

MrsManda wrote: »

If you have care/mobility needs you can claim DLA.
If you cannot work and do not get Statutory Sick Pay, you can apply for Employment and Support Allowance which is either contribution based if you've paid enough N.I. when you were working or income based.

You may be entitled to income assessed benefits such as CTB but it depends on your circumstances. Have you tried filling out the Online Benefits Advisor or calling the benefits line for advice? The benefits line staff were really helpful when I got ill.

But chances are that OP's OH is in full time work and his income is high enough that she is not able to claim ESA?

pippa_h

ally67 wrote: »

i have ibs so my doctors told me ....very unpleasent ..... can i claim for anything as i had to give up work with it and dreppression ,my partner works full time and is on dla him self ?
how does one cope with ibs .....

You shouldn't have to give up work with IBS. You may need to take some time off for your depression, but IBS is manageable.

Change your diet. Cut out caffeine (switch coffee etc for peppermint tea - it will work wonders), cut out heavily spiced foods, bread and dairy. You should notice a big improvement from that alone and then you can get back to work.

Indie_Kid

hannahO wrote: »

But chances are that OP's OH is in full time work and his income is high enough that she is not able to claim ESA?

You can claim contributions based if you've paid enough national insurance in the relevant tax years.

soolin

I know we can't discuss medical things on here, but I'm with the above. Do some proper research into your diet, there are more special diets for IBS than there are foods, you just have to find what suits you.

My mother (in her own words) has been a martyr to this for years, she tried the diet the doctor gave her and it made her worse, she then experimented with going on a very strict bland diet and slowly added things in one at a time and when something upset her she cut it out and started again. She is now controlled, although she does have flare ups where she is quite incapacitated but certainly not enough to have enough disabilities to claim anything.

I have coeliac disease and often come across people on a gluten free diet like mine as some find that helps with IBs. It did with my mother in fact but she just couldn't give up bread and so accepts that when she eats bread she is ill again.

Mupette

ally67 wrote: »

i have ibs so my doctors told me ....very unpleasent ..... can i claim for anything as i had to give up work with it and dreppression ,my partner works full time and is on dla him self ?
how does one cope with ibs .....

Depending on how severe it is..
Had mine for 15 years now, i am not ruled by it, i know what foods irritate it and what to avoid.

You need to learn not to let it get at you.

Unless you can't walk because of it, i can't see you getting mobility dla, and what care needs do you think you have...

There is ESA but this all depends on how much your OH works and earns so i would post on Benefits board as *ahem so experts know everything there.

Good luck.

Definately advise looking at what triggers yours and what foods to avoid, and stress isn't good for it either.

hannahO_2

@sh1305
I don't think so. Like Mupette said, if the total household income is above certain amount, which I can't remember how much, ESA claim will be refused.

@ally67
As for DLA, it depends on the severity I think.
I used to suffer from IBS type symptoms and I find stress is a definite trigger/contributor.

As for foods, have a read into OATS.
Apparently, there is something in the oats that sooth IBS symptoms (sorry I can't remember specific name but it helped me at the time). Something to do with layering with some chemical. There are many things you can make from oats eg HM flapjacks, HM Twink's Hobnob, porridge in the morning, OATCAKES nomnomnom

Also, I'd regulary take good bacteria (yoghurt, drink type).

babymoo

I've had IBS for years after having an emergency bowel resection. My IBS was rather debilitating and still is most days but I have found that changing from normal cows milk to lacto free milk helps a great deal and so has cutting as much wheat out of my diet as possible. Of course I spoke to my GP before doing either and I would never suggest to anyone to do anything or take anything before they had spoken to their GP's. It may be an idea though.

ally67_2

thanks guys .....for the infomation......going to get a another job benefits wouldnt help ...... will try oats made things its something ive got to live with ..... no more bread .... and see what happends