Going to the gym when on sickness benefits.

Pink_Princess_5

I need to start going to the gym to loose weight, which in turn will be beneficial to my health.

atm I receive dla and ib but a friend has just said to me that if i am well enough to go to the gym then i am well enough to be working and if the dwp find out im at the gym i will be done for fraud.

Is this true ?

Its like a visious circle. if i dont work out then my health dertoirates and then if i do i get accused of being a fraud.

What can I do.

Thank you

donnalove

have you tried asking your doctor if he could recommend you to one, they do do this.
i am asking mine next time i see him

donnalove

Happychappy

Why not try it the other way round ? try work first and if that is too much, go to the gym, or try a job which includes excercise like working for the post office ? :rolleyes:

Garnet_Gem

Is your illness physical or mental? If you've stated that you can't lift, bend etc (physical) or that you can't go out because of panic attacks, agrophobia etc (mental) I think that you shouldn't be claiming benefits if you can go and work out in a gym. Sorry but that's my personal opinion. If you feel well enough to exercise in public it would be good for you to try a job and get out of the rut that you've probably been in.

prudryden

If your Doctor will give you a signed letter stating substantially that you are capable to go to the gym, but incapable of going to work, then you're covered, but I would verify with the benefit dept. first.

Garnet_Gem

Maybe now that you can get as far as a gym your condition is improving so that's good healthwise for you. I would take prudryden's advice and check with your doctor and the Benefit Agency as it won't do you much good to be worried every time you visit the gym.

bestpud

Hiya

Check whether there is a health and fitness referral scheme running in your area. Here GPs or the practice nurse can refer people who would benefit from exercice to the local leisure centre.

It is cheaper than normal sessions and would obviously cover you with benefits, as you would have been referred.

Otherwise, it may be best to speak to your GP anyway, and if they agree it would help, then go to the benefits office and run it by them?

I think it wise to be careful, especially if your reason for not working is that you can't leave the house. I assume your brother would go to the gym with you though?

Btw, there is a scheme now that lets you try a job and you don't lose your benefits if it doesn't work out for health reasons. It's designed for people like you, who are not sure how they will get on and want to give it a try. Not sure what it is called but a benefits advisor could tell you, or there is probably info about it online.

Hth

Bestpud

christabell

And your friend (!) got her Medical Degree when/where? Is it any of her business?

peter999

Pink_Princess wrote: »

I need to start going to the gym to loose weight, which in turn will be beneficial to my health.

atm I receive dla and ib but a friend has just said to me that if i am well enough to go to the gym then i am well enough to be working and if the dwp find out im at the gym i will be done for fraud.

Is this true ?

Its like a visious circle. if i dont work out then my health dertoirates and then if i do i get accused of being a fraud.

What can I do.

Your friend's comment seems a warning to be careful
(is also a warning how people may misread what you tell them).

Being on benefits doesn't mean you should be persecuted and shouldn't stop you trying to be active & healthy. This all helps with your recovery.

Check things out regarding your sickness to see if there could be problem, but I think you try to stay active & healthy.

peter999

Elle00

Good for you for wanting to help yourself get better - that's half the battle won.

If you have the support of your GP then you should ignore your friend; she is basing her opinion on all the horror stories you hear which is understandable and good that you have a friend that cares.

If I was an interviewer for IB and you told me what you've said in your opening post I would find that perfectly acceptable and encourage you to do it. As long as you show willingness to return to work once you can cope a bit better I can't see you getting into any bother. The best thing to do to cover yourself is to discuss the matter in brief with your GP and ask her to pop a short note on your medical record as this will show you have acted correctly in the unlikely circumstance of anyone bringing your actions into question.

I've had depression all my life and only recently have really managed to break the cycle. When I first split from my ex I was 6st overweight, had chronic back problems following my caesarean section and found myself all alone with a 6m old baby. I even had to move three times all on my own with my baby in tow and boy, you just couldn't imagine how amazingly hard that was for me and the bucket loads I howled.

But I kept at it by doing things just like you're thinking of doing. To start with I took my baby to one half an hour activity a week and attended physio for my back.

From there I joined a playgroup for my son and started working 4hrs a week in a shop.

After 6m I was able to work 16hrs a week plus attend college for one afternoon a week and I continued to do so for 6m. I only stopped after I had an illness in March that meant I couldn't work so it was better to resign as I wanted to move back to doing an admin job anyway and am well enough to now do so.

I'm now 3st lighter, happy with myself, have a gorgeous little boy, a decent group of friends, an employable CV again and generally, I can't complain with how my life is working out.

Good luck to you I say, starting with one short activity a week is probably the best way to start getting back into the swing of things. Please don't be afraid to try; no-one will force you to work if you are genuinely not able to cope with doing so long-term. IB is only abused by a small percentage of claimants and the IR are perfectly aware that recovery for most is a gradual affair. Only when you have been coping with three or four activities a week for a month or two will anyone expect you to look for part-time work.

Hapless_2

It depends on the disability, I have FMS and although things are difficult day to day walking and such, I am encouraged to do so as "non strenuos aerobic exercise" to keep my muscles working. I still recieve DLA mobility and legally too. try swimming instead as it improves the muscle tone but supports the body and is relaxing. Your "friend" is not a friend if they go and scare you like that.