Maybe arthritis

Sarah69

Hi, I might be over thinking my current situation but I just need some advice. I currently work as an HCA doing 12 1/2 hour shifts 3 times a week. I’ve previously had a hip replacement on my left side and I have arthritis in my thumbs and wrist. I’ve been referred for X-rays of my feet and right hip and I’ve been signed off work due to the pain in my feet. I’m just wondering it comes back as arthritis I won’t be able to do my job anymore. Where would that leave me? 

Devongardener

You would either have to look for a less strenuous job, or apply for benefits if totally unable to work due to your condition.
Have you discussed your situation with your employer? 

elsien

I’m not sure it’s a simple as saying “if it’s arthritis, I can’t do my job anymore“ Because if it’s not arthritis but something  else that’s going to have an ongoing impact you’re still going to have the same situation. 

So yes, it’s about what is the cause, but it’s also about any treatment and any ways of mitigating the pain annd other impacts that it is having. Regardless of the label. 

Would shorter shifts help and is that possible?
If not in your current role, then transferring to a different role in the organisation (depending on where you work and who for.)
Is it a health trust? How close to retirement are you?

Sarah69

Devongardener said:

You would either have to look for a less strenuous job, or apply for benefits if totally unable to work due to your condition.
Have you discussed your situation with your employer? 

I haven’t discussed with my employer yet. I only had the physio appt yesterday and X-rays are few weeks to months wait but once the dept has the referral the physio said I should ring state I work at the hospital and maybe that might get me in a bit sooner. 

Undervalued

Devongardener said:

You would either have to look for a less strenuous job, or apply for benefits if totally unable to work due to your condition.
Have you discussed your situation with your employer? 

That is largely true I'm afraid.

However, one other factor. If the OP's condition amounts to a disability (in the legal sense for employment law purposes) then the employer is obliged to make "reasonable adjustments" to help the employee to continue in their job if reasonably possible.

OK, that only goes so far and debating what is "reasonable" has kept lawyers in fat fees for generations. To be fair many employers do actually do far more in this respect than the law would require of them.

Brie

If it is something that keeps you from working you should apply for benefits.  If it is something that comes and goes so sometimes you can work and other times you can't then you might look at applying for PIP (personal independence payment) which, if granted, would be paid whether you worked or not.  So you might find that you can continue working as currently for a few weeks but then need to cut down to very part time or stop all together for a few weeks before starting again.  PIP would help get you through these peaks and troughs. 

All that said it's a major fuss to apply for, finding out if it is being awarded may take a couple of months at least and you may have to appeal the decision if it goes against you.  Because of this I would suggest that if you are interested in this you get your paperwork and then get Citizen's Advice to help with the application as they will know better than you how things should be worded to get the best possibility of success.  

Andy_L

Sarah69 said:

Hi, I might be over thinking my current situation but I just need some advice. I currently work as an HCA doing 12 1/2 hour shifts 3 times a week. I’ve previously had a hip replacement on my left side and I have arthritis in my thumbs and wrist. I’ve been referred for X-rays of my feet and right hip and I’ve been signed off work due to the pain in my feet. I’m just wondering it comes back as arthritis I won’t be able to do my job anymore. Where would that leave me? 

If you are unable to do you job & they can't find you a suitable alternative then they will dismiss you on "capability grounds"

Depending on your employer/contract/pension (as an HCA its likely you work for the NHS?) you may be entitled to an ill-health pension.

Marcon

Andy_L said:

Sarah69 said:

Hi, I might be over thinking my current situation but I just need some advice. I currently work as an HCA doing 12 1/2 hour shifts 3 times a week. I’ve previously had a hip replacement on my left side and I have arthritis in my thumbs and wrist. I’ve been referred for X-rays of my feet and right hip and I’ve been signed off work due to the pain in my feet. I’m just wondering it comes back as arthritis I won’t be able to do my job anymore. Where would that leave me? 

If you are unable to do you job & they can't find you a suitable alternative then they will dismiss you on "capability grounds"

Depending on your employer/contract/pension (as an HCA its likely you work for the NHS?) you may be entitled to an ill-health pension.

Sadly not a chance - OP has said in an earlier post that they opted out of the employer's pension scheme because they couldn't afford the contributions.

Marcon

Sarah69 said:

Hi, I might be over thinking my current situation but I just need some advice. I currently work as an HCA doing 12 1/2 hour shifts 3 times a week. I’ve previously had a hip replacement on my left side and I have arthritis in my thumbs and wrist. I’ve been referred for X-rays of my feet and right hip and I’ve been signed off work due to the pain in my feet. I’m just wondering it comes back as arthritis I won’t be able to do my job anymore. Where would that leave me? 

The diagnosis won't in itself mean you can't do your job - that is down to what you can physically do. Knowing why your feet hurt won't worsen their condition, but it may signpost possible treatments which could help.

LinLui

Brie said:

If it is something that keeps you from working you should apply for benefits.  If it is something that comes and goes so sometimes you can work and other times you can't then you might look at applying for PIP (personal independence payment) which, if granted, would be paid whether you worked or not.  So you might find that you can continue working as currently for a few weeks but then need to cut down to very part time or stop all together for a few weeks before starting again.  PIP would help get you through these peaks and troughs. 

All that said it's a major fuss to apply for, finding out if it is being awarded may take a couple of months at least and you may have to appeal the decision if it goes against you.  Because of this I would suggest that if you are interested in this you get your paperwork and then get Citizen's Advice to help with the application as they will know better than you how things should be worded to get the best possibility of success.  

If that were the case the OP would probably struggle to qualify for PIP. It isn't designed to take account of "peaks and troughs". It requires long lasting and significant impact on normal day to day activities. Arthritis is certainly "long-lasting", but currently the OP has been managing a fairly strenuous job role until recently, so having been signed off fairly recently, and without either further diagnosis, no treatment plan (if possible) or evidence that the "significant impact" is long-lasting, it would be precipitous to say that are unable to work or manage daily life going forward. 

It might be wiser to get a proper diagnosis, and look at what treatment is available, if any; then they will have the medical reports and prognosis available in order to make a claim. Having arthritis - even having "bad arthritis" -  isn't a passport to PIP, which is a difficult benefit to access at the best of times. Based on what the OP has said here she has arthritis which has not had a significant impact previously, currently has no clear medical evidence that would support a claim, and is guessing that if she has further developed arthritis she would be unable to work. There is a long way to go, including potential treatments and possible reasonable adjustments before it is definite that she won't be able to work. And that process is quite seperate from whether or not she might qualify for PIP.