Questions after a stroke

mah_jong

I am asking for some info for a relative. He sufferred a pretty major stroke three weeks ago, he's still in hospital and as yet cannot stand unaided. Its early days yet in stroke recovery and whilst he has come a long way hes still got a long way to go.

He got a sick line for 6 weeks and SSP has kicked in but we need to know how what happens long term, he hopes to get back to work (being in his 50's and having worked all his life) but who knows when or if this will happen.

What allowances should he be looking for ...mobility...disability ... we have no idea? Do you still get a tax rebate when you have been sick for months? Better having any information up front.

He'll be in a wheel chair when he does get home, I think after least another three weeks in hospital.

TIA

firesidemaid

i think that ssp runs for as long as he is employed still. incapacity benefit would follow if he ws unable to return to work.

i presume also he would be entitled to income support if he qualified too.
mortgage help does not kick in for a few months.

dla would also be a possibility depending on what assistance he might need after leaving hospital.

all benefits are affected/reduced whilst someone is in hospital i think.

is there a patient liason person or similar available at the hospital to help with this?

Glyndwr_2

No, SSP only runs for 28 weeks (see here), then you have to apply for Incapacity Benefit.

To claim DLA (unless under the terminal illness rules) a condition has to have lasted 3 months and be expected to last at least a further 6 months. It's not the condition that enable you to claim (and potentially receive), but the care/mobility needs that arise because of the condition. Any claim can only be backdate to when you ring the benefit enquiry line (0800 88 22 00) and they normally give you 1 month in which to return the booklets. Look here for more in depth info if you claim.

Most benefits are not affected by you being in hospital short term. Certainly SSP wouldn't be affected as it is paid by the employer.

Depending on other household income & savings Income Support could be a possibility, but there would have to be very little other income to the household. Income Support is a 'passport' benefit and would mean they could automatically (on applying) be entitled to full Council Tax benefit & Housing Benefit (if renting).

Mortgage help - if they do not have any insurance to cover this (if they do, they need to look into it asap as there are often clauses about how soon you have to inform them) he would need to be on Income Support to be able to claim this & it would depend on when the mortgage was taken out as to how quickly you can claim help on paying the interest. If he took out his mortgage after 2 October 1995, payments normally won't start until 39 weeks after you claim. If he had his mortgage before this, he would probably be eligible for no interest at all for the first 8 weeks, half of the interest for the next 18 weeks, and all of the interest after 26 weeks. The maximum mortgage they'd pay out against is £100k. Look here for further info.

Council Tax - if the household income is low, they may be able to claim some help.

Will all benefits they will normally only backdate a claim to the date you contact them, so you're right to be thinking about things for them now.

changkra

Can't help on the benefits side but when he does come out of hospital make sure if he can afford it to have private physio therapy as the NHS physio will more than likely have a waiting list of up to 4 months. My father had a major stroke 18 months ago and was in hospital for 7 months, he believes he will walk again but the professionals say it would be a miracle. Hang in there he's in the right place and getting the right treatment but watch out for some really moody days.

calleyw

My husband suffered a stroke last september.

Lets just say it is a long and hard road for everyone involved. My husband was in hosptial for nearly 4 months and he nearly died.

He was working via agency so it was Incapacity Benefit and DLA. If they have no savings then you get more than if you do. We can only get the above because we have savings.

My husband had no movement in left side for weeks and was took a couple of months to be able to stand unaided. I had to work on the theory that he was at his worst and what ever he could back was a bonus. I am lucky that husband can walk around now.

But to be blunt there is a lot is a lot of unseen damage e.g emotions and mental capacity. And it is normally the wife/partner to take the brunt. I know I have to put with mood swings etc and we are 8 months further down the line than your relative. And the main recovery period is 18months to 2 years. Does not mean you will not get any better but most progress is made then.

Saying that it is not all bad. The joy for the stroke patient when they can start to do normal things like walk is amazing. Made me cry when my husband could stand unaided and walk.

My husband still is unable to use his fingers and we never know if he will. But don't dismiss anything like Ti Chia.

We are off to the herenext week as I prepared to try anything. Worth thinking about once your relative is out.

And make sure they push for everything. We had to wait about 8 weeks to get stair rails in as they had to wait for backing boards and the same for a shower board. Would have paid to get them my self if I had know.

My husband has gone back to one his hobbies which is archery not bad when he only has one arm. So they need to be encouraged to go back to old hobbies. And start new ones. I use to take in puzzle books to help with the mental side of things.

It also helps if they are driven and determined like my husband is as he was only 44 when he had his stroke and he wants to get back to doing everything now.

It does not help that he has underlying condition which caused the stroke in the first place. Still needs treatment for the next 2-3 years.

Make sure they apply for everything they can. Such as blue badge. We got ours before my husband was granted higher rate mobility. My local area even do a free bus pass which my husband has ready to use when he can walk a little further unsupervised.

And don't forget about things like driving licences. My husband redeemed his as he is no way ready for driving at the moment. Better that then they take it away.

All the best.


Yours


Calley