Any short term help for people requiring surgery?

sacha28

I wrote out a HUGE OP but pressed the wrong blimmin' button and it's vanished :mad: I'll make this one shorter

So, to paraphrase, I think I may have placed this on the wrong forum but, as I have had some amazing advice from this board in my darkest moments over the years, I thought I would try here first (and if my paragraphs don't work then please remind me how to do it and I will edit appropriately!!)

I have a shoulder injury that, unfortunately, requires surgery. It is unavoidable, I have asked my consultant about conservative management but he has said that, if I don't have surgery, I will be effectively useless at my job in 2 years or so (I am an A&E nurse).

When the injury first happened I was signed off work for 6 weeks. When I was paid for a full month of sick pay I had lost almost £500. Unknown to myself, and it appears lots of other staff were unaware, the unsocial enhancement element of sick pay (a % of the unsocial hours worked in the 12 weeks before the period of sickness) has been removed from a certain pay scale point.....I'm 1 point above this. The trust have done pretty much nothing to inform staff of this change and, as I wasn't intending to injury myself, I hadn't looked deeply into sick pay (not that it would have made any difference as I physically couldn't work but at least it wouldn't have been such a :eek: )

The recovery time for the op is..best case 8 weeks, then back to work on 'light duties' (audits, admin etc) to worst case scenario 6 months, then back to work on 'light duties'. I just cannot see how I can afford to be off for that long we don't claim any benefits, other than child benefit, and have a 3 year old ds. As of this month my OH has been moved over to a zero hour contract (that is a WHOLE other thread!).

There are other things that are worrying me but I don't want you all to go square eyed and bored so just ask if there's anything you'd like to know!

Are there any grants or something that could help me financially whilst I'm off? I know that sounds really grabby, I don't mean it to but I'm now rushing as I've just realised the time!, but I'm seriously considering not having the op as we will get in serious trouble with the loss in wages (which will be a disaster in the long term) and we have just got to a point where we are doing so much better (it's been a very tough few years)

Any advice appreciated and sorry for rambling, need to get to work!)

sacha28

Gosh that's the short version!!! I'm so sorry!

sourcrates

Hi,
No expert on this, and with the recent budget, things may of changed, but there's some info here :




https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/disability-and-sickness-benefits-check-your-entitlements

sacha28

Thank you sourcrates I will check the link when I return from work.

Please feel free to advise even though I will be away from the computer for a few hours, I will check and reply to any responses when I get home.

Thank you all for taking the time to read my epic OP

andyfromotley

Hi sacha,

I'm not aware of any loans etc. Try your union?

However, if you don't find any you have to face the fact that you have an upcoming financial emergency!! Fortunately you have some forwarding of this.

1. Speak to your consultant explain the situation and ask him to schedule the Op as late as he/she reasonable can. If he could schedule it for 6 months away that would be great. But you will obviously have to remain in working condition.
2. Cut your budget to the bone. Everything outside of house, bills, food and debt repayment has to go. No exceptions. you are in a financial emergency.
3. Increase your income as much as you can. Work overtime/agency hours. Your partner could get a second/third job. Sell everything that you don't need or use.

Hopefully doing this you can build up a nice little stash. If you could get to £2k then even on your current spending that would make up for 4 months of reduced money. Of course on your new 'emergency' budget this could stretch as far as 6 months maybe?

Is it going to be easy? No. But it could stop this emergency developing into a disaster that could impact you for years.

Hope this helps, good luck Andy.