Claiming sickness benefit

Muttleythefrog

GSTAR said:

Thank you for your kind reply.

I have just done a benefit entitlement check, and we would be entitled to a grand total of £0 UC. That's because of my salary (just over £40k).

I also had a look at the PIP pointing criteria, and basically she would score 0 on that. The fact of the matter is, she is perfectly capable of doing all the things listed on the criteria. But on the days she is really struggling, she can be in bed all day and not even have the energy to get up and make herself a meal.

My understanding is, the PIP criteria has to be true on a consistent basis, as a result of a medical condition you may have. It doesn't apply if you are struggling with fatigue or low energy levels. So, as it stands, with PIP ruled out as well, I would have to accept she isn't going to receive any financial help.

You're welcome.... I can only add my agreement with the above posts in terms of how often affected and the reliability criteria. PIP can be a pain to claim and a battle... so sometimes it can be about weighing up the chances versus the investment of time, emotional energy and potential stresses of the process. But as above... if she were though to get an award it would be a real bonus.. and keeping an award is certainly easier than getting one in the first place.

Failing all benefit considerations... money saving... worth saying there's that old phrase time is money... but I think time is money saving... switching suppliers... getting the supermarket bargains... etc... etc. I'm disabled and a long way from ever working again but between me and my wife we save a fortune in things like food... we're both co-op members as example and so get weekly coupons but the big savings are on reduced stuff in the evening or mid afternoon on sundays... we get a lot of pleasure from doing this. We're lucky in that we can grab supermarket offers as we dwell in an urban area... but also community larder has been an incredible option for socialising and saving money. If we had daytime commitments much of this would not be possible. So your wife may feel she's letting you down... but actually there may be plenty she can do to save money and perhaps improve her outlook at same time. Shopping online.. having the time to compare options and prices.. be available for cheap deliveries.. all adds up. And of course any couple is a partnership... if she is doing chores it saves you from them while you work.

We can't give medical advice here but this is signposting. Maybe social prescribing type activities could help her. The idea is that investing money in preventing and reducing illness ultimately saves NHS resources and money while helping patients. Down here in Cornwall they're pretty advanced in GP surgeries prescribing such for things like obesity and mental illness... walks.. coffee meetups... runs... social outings.. free gym memberships.. free swimming. See perhaps if local surgeries offer such and she can see GP about possible options they think could help.