Man and wife both sick...failed medical...help?

xxkelly888

I am asking for my sister.

She is 22yrs old and has had a terminal illness from birth. The average life expectancy for this illness is around 32. She suffers very badly and takes around 80 tablets a day. She had a medical with ATOS who have deemed her fit for work scoring her 0. She had it reviewed and lost that too so she is now going forward for appeal. Her GP said he was flabbergasted that she could be deemed fit for work and has written a report on her health and the rate she is currently deteriorating. She has lost 20% use of we lungs in the last 5 months.

They are really struggling to live on the "appeal rate"x

Her husband is also ill and has suffered from manic depression for over 20yrs. He used to get Incapacity benefit but for whatever reason my sister then seemed to take on the claim and they or income support on top of he ESA.

Now that my sister has failed, is it possible that her husband could apply for ESA and see if he passes a medical. X

rogerblack

A couple of issues.
Firstly - 'a terminal illness' - has specific meaning in terms of DLA/PIP/ESA.
It means that death is likely within 6 months.
Exactly how likely is not specified.
The question is - is the doctor willing to sign a ds1500 to this effect.
If so - then they would not go through the normal process involving a medical.

If not - then the diagnosis of a terminal condition is largely irrelevant.
Only the actual symptoms and how it affects the person matters.
Yes, it is possible the husband could claim ESA.

Are either of them claiming DLA/PIP?

xylophone

Cystic Fibrosis? Then a "life limiting" condition.

http://www.gosh.nhs.uk/medical-conditions/clinical-specialties/cystic-fibrosis-information-for-parents-and-visitors/conditions-we-treat/

These might be worth a look?
https://www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk/

http://forum.cysticfibrosis.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=42339

xxkelly888

Yes, my sister has cystic fibrosis.

Those links are very helpful, thank you.

It's very unlikely she will pass away within the next 6 months...she could even live another 10yrs but with her lung capacity issues, I would doubt it.

The previous three years she has been hospitalised with chest infections in the winter, any one of which could easily have killed her if the infection wasn't treated so quickly.

She has been told to expect the appeal process to take at least 12 months...is this an accurate timescale?

She gets high rate care component of DLA x

Torry_Quine

xxkelly888 wrote: »

Yes, my sister has cystic fibrosis.

Those links are very helpful, thank you.

It's very unlikely she will pass away within the next 6 months...she could even live another 10yrs but with her lung capacity issues, I would doubt it.

The previous three years she has been hospitalised with chest infections in the winter, any one of which could easily have killed her if the infection wasn't treated so quickly.

She has been told to expect the appeal process to take at least 12 months...is this an accurate timescale?

She gets high rate care component of DLA x

Sadly the appeal process can easily take a year or longer.:(

onetomany

mine was 6 months

xxkelly888

Did you win onetomany? X

DomRavioli

CF patients can get a transplant. I know of many who have had them successfully, which is why it may be seen as fit for work - I don't agree with it but having CF isn't terminal, and hasn't been for a long time. Some will die of the disease, but most do end up with donor lungs - they are pretty high up on the list when the time comes for transplant.

I may as well say my illness is terminal because 30% of people commit suicide who suffer from it.

~Chameleon~

DomRavioli wrote: »

I may as well say my illness is terminal because 30% of people commit suicide who suffer from it.

Ditto!

And I certainly wouldn't describe having a life expectancy of 30+yrs as 'terminal'. None of us are immortal and many healthy people will die or be killed before they are 30yrs old.

xylophone

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2165943/Music-prodigy-battling-terminal-disease-graduates-Cambridge-2-1.html

snookey

xylophone Id get your sisters mp involved and also the national newspapers.

As for people saying lung transplants cf effects more than a persons lungs and even if a transplant was carried out cf would not be cured.

Xylopone good luck to your sister.