Benefits after resignation - health reasons

wibblywobble_2

Under another username as it contains personal info I'd rather not have public to my profile :-)

Been in my current job for 6 years, on a computer 9 hours a day, unfortunately i've developed problems with both hands, due to the ulnar nerve being compressed at both elbows i've been told i need surgery, potentially in both arms. My left hand has deterioated to the point i'm unable to pick up a mug of tea and it's becoming extremely difficult to type.

I'm 26 stone, and i've been told i cannot have the surgery because i'm too heavy and it's dangerous given i suffer from sleep apnea at this weight.

So ultimately, enough is enough I had to resign from a job I did enjoy. I'm not a slacker, i've worked all my life (at 15 years old i started an Ltd. company, at 18 a game project that I later sold that is going retail on the pc & xbox soon!)

I am however needing to take time off work to lose weight and let my hands recover.

I'm also going to move in with my girlfriend to save money, she has 2 young children from her previous marriage but i've found out shes pregnant with my first (yay!)

I have no idea what benefits I/we can claim now, she works 16 hours a week, my savings are under £4000 - debt free - (got about £20k access to credit on cards tho worst case scenario) - I heard something about JSA restricting income due to resignation - although technically I don't think i can be "seeking a job" with my hands the way they are (and getting worse).

Thanks for all your help!

wibblywobble_2

bump..........

dmg24

Are you fit for any work? From the rest of your post I am assuming you are otherwise physically capable? Have you asked your employer about making adaptations to your role?

wibblywobble_2

My expertise is IT, without my hands I'd be pretty useless. What jobs are there that don't require my hands?

The small business that i work for, the only job I can do here is 9 hours a day 5 days a week of typing at a desk.

dmg24

wibblywobble wrote: »

My expertise is IT, without my hands I'd be pretty useless. What jobs are there that don't require my hands?

The small business that i work for, the only job I can do here is 9 hours a day 5 days a week of typing at a desk.

Many jobs do not require such intense work with hands, perhaps you could look at the type of work those with arthritis do? A less sedentary job would help you in your weight loss efforts also.

wibblywobble_2

dmg24 wrote: »

Many jobs do not require such intense work with hands, perhaps you could look at the type of work those with arthritis do? A less sedentary job would help you in your weight loss efforts also.

Sure, and I do intend to get a job/start another business... however during which time my income is zilch. As I said before, are their any benefits i can claim in the mean time?

Newly_retired

Job Seekers' Allowance, if you are fit and available for work.
If not, Employment Support Allowance.

wibblywobble_2

Newly_retired wrote: »

Job Seekers' Allowance, if you are fit and available for work.
If not, Employment Support Allowance.

But technically I resigned, I can't claim JSA?

nannytone_2

if youre not actively seeking work ( and you gave many reasons why there arent jobs that you could manage) then youre not entitled to JSA anyway.
the way forward would be ESA.

clemmatis

wibblywobble wrote: »

My expertise is IT, without my hands I'd be pretty useless. What jobs are there that don't require my hands?

The small business that i work for, the only job I can do here is 9 hours a day 5 days a week of typing at a desk.

I had the same problem. It isn't of course only the pain and the risk of making the injury worse, I've lost fine motor control so can't do any job that requires, for example, handwriting.

Incapacity Benefit used to recognise this kind of issue, and pay the basic low-level benefit for people with this problem (I didn't claim it, I didn't find this out till too late). The RSI groups may know whether current benefits allow for it too. ESA is the benefit that's replaced IB.

Here's a list of support groups

http://www.rsi.org.uk/supportgroups.asp

edit: and of course there's DLA