Unable to work due to illness

GannonP

My girlfriend is 23 and has recently had to resign from her job of 2.5 years due to illness.

She's been off sick since March last year and was diagnosed with endomitriosis in May. Since then she has wanted to return to work, however the chronic pain she endures has put a stop to this, along with the medical side effects she puts up with.

She receives Employment Support Allowance which is around £100 every 2 weeks but is there any other support/benefit she'll be entitled too?

NASA_2

DLA, maybe, other than that there is nothing.

Oldernotwiser

Having suffered from this myself, I can't see that DLA would be very likely.

FleurDuLys

I have it too (yes, on top of my other illnesses - I'm not making this up, just been quite unlucky!). Has she had surgery for it yet? I wasn't in chronic pain but it used to get so painful just before my periods that I'd occasionally have to be taken into hospital and put on morphine or given pethidine. After I had a very simple laparoscopic surgery to remove the stray tissue I took the contraceptive pill in order to prevent it from returning and it ceased to be a problem.

Hope things improve for your girlfriend, good luck to her.

SailorSam

Where does she live, with her parents ? with you ?
Can she claim housing benefit.
Then their are things like free prescriptions and dental work, maybe.

SingleSue

I'm another one who has had endometriosis (diagnosed aged 20) and I kept working. Yes, it was bi monthly morphine and pethidene injections (at time of period and at ovulation) plus danazol and daily painkillers but it never impacted on my ability to go to work...I just dosed myself up and got through it, I actually found having my mind diverted from the pain by working helped and work got used to me taking in a hot water bottle and at times passing out! They just put me in the staff room with a cup of tea until I felt a little better and then I carried on.

I had (I think), 7 laparoscopies in total removing tissue/freeing my right ovary from the abdominal wall) before having a hysterectomy when I was 31.

In my case, the hysterectomy only worked in a small way (as they left the ovaries!)....endometrial tissue still grows on my ovaries and kidneys which has required morphine injections on a few occasions when ovulation has occured post surgery.

To be honest, I would be very surprised that DLA could be claimed for it and it is quite surprising to find that ESA can be.