arthritis

idreamadream

my wife has been told she has  arthritis in her knee. she claims pip is there any other benefits she could claim. am working full time

poppy12345

If she’s worked at all in tax years 2021/22 2022/23 then she can claim New style ESA. It’s not means tested so your earnings will not affect it. 

If she hasn’t then you can both look at claiming Universal Credit. It’s means tested so whether there’s any entitlement will depend on your joint circumstances. If you have savings/capital of more than £16,000 you’re excluded from claiming. 

Use a benefits calculator to check entitlement. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/

If it shows entitlement she can report her health condition, supported by a fit note and go through the work capability assessment. More information here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition-quick-guide/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition

tacpot12

Has her arthritis caused her mobility problems she didn't have previously? If her condition has been made worse, it might be worth asking for her PIP to be reviewed. This needs some careful consideration on her part, as she should only ask for a review if she thinks that she is very likley to score enough additional points to increase her payment. She might want to take some advice on this; it's not something she should take a chance on, as she could lose her PIP if she is reassessed.