DLA/ESA/Not sure what :)

Ettenna

Basically, my 18 year old daughter was involved in a RTA 2.5 weeks ago. She is still in hospital with a severe traumatic brain injury. She is likely to be in for some time.

I am trying to do some "planning". She isn't entitled to sick pay from her employers because she was told she wouldn't be continuing with the job (at completion of her probationary period) 2/3 days before her accident. The accident was on a Thursday and she was to have left the following Sunday.

At what point will she be eligible for any form of disability benefits/ unemployment benefits, if at all? I know nothing about this sort of benefit. She may not be able to get anything in the immediate term but I am also looking to the future.

Thank you.

Horseunderwater

She might be able to get Employment and support allowance if Stat sick pay not payable as she is not employed. It is a long drawn out process however. She will need what is now called a Fit note from her GP or the hospital and if she cannot sign it herself then you can do that for her. I assume this to be the case as she has a severe brain injury at present, which may or may not improve. You can also ring up the DWP and fill out the ESA application over the phone mon-fri 8am-6pm. They will tell you what you need to do next.
DLA will only be available after she has had her injuries for more than 3 months and is expected to go on beyond 6 months+ or that is what I recall from when I applied for mine.

Ettenna

Thank you. I will give the DWP a ring and ask them for advice. She will be in hospital for the foreseeable future. She had a craniotomy and is still not breathing without ventilator support. I didn't know if anything would be available for her while she is still in hospital. And I didn't know we could sign on her behalf.

rogerblack

You need to get made an appointee for benefits purposes.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/BeginnersGuideToBenefits/DG_199109

DLA will not be payable as she has not had the injury for 3 months.
(However, once the prognosis is clearer, it may be worth making an application before this, as an award can be made for when 3 months rolls around)

ESA, as others have said depends on her employment status.
If she was not employed or entitled to SSP, then make a backdated claim, backdated to the date of the accident.

Housing benefit/LHA, and council tax benefit may be appropriate.

Compensation, if at all appropriate.
(This may be partially repayable if you claim ESA).

Later on, help from social services may be appropriate.

krisskross

Nothing to add on the advice front but very best wishes to you and your family at this very difficult time.

McKneff

As a parent, I feel for you.

And as a parent I'm sure you feel that you would rather it was you lying there instead of her.

Hope she recovers fully, its going to be a long road for her, bless her.

Poppie68

Sorry no more to add to the benefit side, but i truly wish your daughter a very speedy recovery.

Ettenna

Thank you for the wishes. We are taking it day by day to see if there will be any improvements. At least she isn't sedated any more but there is still little response from her.

Just to throw something else into the mix, she is still classed as my dependant as she was still in education. This won't be the case anymore - she won't be going back to education for the foreseeable future. I've got to let CTC, CB, HB & CT know she is in hospital and not at college. It never rains but it pours.

zaksmum

Hope your girl is ok, OP

Ettenna

Thank you. She is now in HDU rather than ICU because they needed the bed for another patient and she was the best person to move. She has been weaned off the ventilator/CPAP which is great news.

The hospital are talking of moving her to a specialist neuro rehab facility sometime in the next few weeks/months. This will be either Salisbury, Bath or Romford. Hopefully she will go to Salisbury because it is closest to where we live.

Parva

Can't add much to what's already been said but having been through a traumatic op myself and the distance involved for relatives to visit me (120 miles or so) I really feel for you. The NHS gets a lot of grief on TV but she couldn't be in better hands, I have nothing but praise after my experience. Even if your daughter is placed at the one furthest away I'm sure this will be done as that hospital has the specialist knowledge needed to make her better. I was moved from Leeds General Infirmary (my home city) to Birmingham Royal Orthopaedic Hospital as they had the specialist knowledge needed. Yes it wasn't great being so far from home (especially for my relatives access) but I undoubtedly got the correct treatment that ultimately cured me of cancer.

My thoughts are with you and also, make sure you take care of YOU, it's a traumatic time I know but please put your faith in the doctors and nurses involved and don't feel guilty about missing a couple of days here and there visiting if it's a long distance, the last thing your daughter would want is you making yourself ill. Take care.