Disability allowance

SparklinDiamond

Hi guys,
I have been to my local citizens advice bureau and the lady advised me to use a website called entitledto, but it didn't seem to ask me any questions about disability or illness. I didn't understand what ( if anything) I was entitled to.

Here is the problem:
I currently work 6 hours in a jewellers but struggle with even that, I am 21 and have had bad muscle and joint pains since the age of about 13. I have had loads of tests and am still having more while they try and figure it out. I need help doing things such as drying my hair as the hairdryer is far too heavy for me to hold for long periods of time and struggle doing easy tasks like hoovering or ironing (repetitive motions kill my shoulders.) I also struggle with prolonged periods of standing. They are testing for lupus atm, but haven't got my results. Does anyone know if lupus is covered in disability allowance if I do have it? And if not, should I be getting anything? I know I will never be able to work full time and I am really worrying about my future.
Thanks for reading my longwinded explanation.

nannytone_2

diagnosis is irrelevant to claiming disability benefits ( now called personal independance payments)
it is your personal care and mobility needs that count.
is your doctor willing to sign you off wprk?
if they are you could try applying for ESA. you would have a 'medical' after about 13 weeks to assess your eligability.
you could also apply for PIP, but as it is a new benefit, no one can really say what chance you would have of success.
if your only personal care issue is drying your hair, then it would be highly unlikely

SparklinDiamond

Thankyou for replying and thanks for your helpful advice.

rogerblack

SparklinDiamond wrote: »

I currently work 6 hours in a jewellers but struggle with even that, I am 21 and have had bad muscle and joint pains since the age of about 13.

Are these pains such that they usually cause you severe pain on walking, or would cause you severe pain if you attempted to use a powered chair?
If so - you are possibly entitled to the mobility component of PIP.

Similarly - if you can't do daily tasks without severe pain - then again - you may be entitled to the daily living component.