Osteoarthritis. Loosing the ability to work.

GroovyTrain

Hello, my first post.

I have had osteoarthritis in my right knee and hip for around 5 years now and its getting worse. Now, my left knee and hip seem to be coming out in sympathy and trying to catch up with my right leg! Now this really impacting my life. I am a builder, and 90% of the time I am up and down scaffolding. I now even have trouble just generally walking and I look to sit down at any given opportunity, I don't know how much longer it will be before I am forced to stop my job, which will be bad because I have been in the building game since I left school and know no other trade. I am now 59.

I take amitriptyline to get, a sort of, decent sleep of a night and take 4 codipar during the day to help the pain. Codipar doesn't help the pain much, but as I am sensitive to nurofen I have to take a paracetomol based pain killer, which ain't much help. I am at the point now of wondering what benefits I can claim for, if any, if I have to give up my job? My partner works as a nursery school nurse, but her income is not that great, and we will never get by on what she earns.

I would greatly appreciate any help on benefits I can claim, or even medication that could help as I really don't want to stop working, but I have a gut feeling that day is just around the corner.

If you need any more info please ask.

Regards...

poppy12345

You don't say whether you're self employed or PAYE. If it's PAYE then you'll be entitled to SSP from your employer for 28 weeks, with a fit note from your GP. https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay

Once this ends you'll be able to claim New style ESA, which is based on your NI contributions in tax years April 2017 to March 2019. A fit note will be needed from your GP and the SSP1 form. You can claim 3 months before your SSP ends but payments won't start until your SSP ends. It pays £74.35 per week.

If you're self employed then New Style ESA should be claimed.

Whether you'll be entitled to any Universal Credit will depend on your circumstances. As it's a means tested benefit then you'll need to claim as a couple. The NsESA will be deducted £1 for £1 from any UC entitlement. A fit note should also be sent for the work capability assessment process to be started. Use a benefits calculator to check entitlement. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=2c50f073-8000-4c55-9366-c4a2e640898c

If you have savings/capital of more than £16,000 then you're excluded from claiming. Savings of £6,000 and over will see a reduction of £4.35 per month for every £250 over that amount.

PIP isn't means tested but claiming this will depend on how your conditions affect your ability to carry out daily activity based on the PIP descriptors. Check link for further information. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/

TELLIT01

Is your GP aware of how badly the osteoarthritis is affecting your ability to do your job?  If not you need to make an appointment in order to obtain other pain relief in the first instance, and referral for surgery.  In the current climate it's likely to be a long wait, but you won't even be in the queue without the referral.

The specialist will also be able to determine whether knee or hip surgery will be the most appropriate course of action.  As you say, other joints are coming out in sympathy, so it's possible that just one operation could remedy many of the problems.