Osteroartharitis any benefit or support?

carole.uk

Hi guys sorry long post. I have being diagnosed with Osteoarthritis in both my hips & maybe my knees. My Dr is recommending 2 hip replacements ASAP. I am still managing to work full time but it is a real struggle and I am so tired on a weekend I have no energy to do anything. I will be paid sick leave when I am of work. I am just wondering if there is any other benefits or support I can claim ie PIP, help with transport I don't drive & been told even if I didn't I couldn't at the moment but my boy friend is spending more & more time helping me around the house & driving me about. I am in constant pain especially when its cold, have lots of bad falls recently Thanks for reading

schrodie

PIP is based on your care and/or mobility needs not the cause of those needs.

carole.uk

Thanks Schrodie, I have problems with mobility & it looks like it will get worse My BF is now having to help me up the stairs, get in & out of the bath and when putting on my shoes & socks

McKneff

You have to have been seen to have had those needs for the last 3 months and expect them still to be there in 6 months time.


If you are having ops to correct things I don't think you will qualify to be honest, because once you have the ops you wont have those same needs.

carole.uk

Thanks Mckneff the problem is that I could be waiting between 6 months to 2 years before I have the op. Been told there ther is a long waiting list in my area & up to 2 years is quick apparently

rogerblack

If various personal tasks - washing yourself, toilet, grooming, ... cannot be completed without excessive pain, discomfort, or being unsafe, or if you take more than twice the time a normal undisabled person would - you might in principle be entitled to PIP.
Again - as others have said - if it's expected to last >6mo.
You do not have to be able to be utterly unable to do these things.
If adaptions at work would help - your employer should fund these, though 'access to work' may also in principle have a role.

carole.uk

Hi Rogerblack, thanks for the comments. I have asked for a referral to Work Able at work . I want to keep working as long as I can because I love my job but it is very demanding & I have to be active( I work with teenagers). At present with the pain and how long it takes me to do the task are really getting me down and I am not sure how long I can keep working till I have the operation especially if they say i can be up waiting up to 2 years. Should I even bother applying for PIP or disabled travel support like a bus pass etc?? Thanks again for reading

rogerblack

carole.uk wrote: »

Should I even bother applying for PIP or disabled travel support like a bus pass etc?? Thanks again for reading

As a general point - if you don't apply, the result is pretty guaranteed.