His He entitled to any help, with his health issue?

[Deleted User]

Hello.
I was talking to a friend recently who is experiencing a lot of pain in his knee. He is still working  and in late fiftys. I think he works about 23 hours a week in a supermarket.But that is a struggle  now it seems.


Anyway what l could gather or what he would indulge is that he as about 20k in saving but claim no  benefits except  single person council tax discount. Also owns his house.
 
Are there any benefits that he could  claim. I personally think no because of his savings  but lm not really familiar  with the current benefits systems. 

Thanks for any input.

[Deleted User]

[Deleted User] said:

Hello.
I was talking to a friend recently who is experiencing a lot of pain in his knee. He is still working  and in late fiftys. I think he works about 23 hours a week in a supermarket.But that is a struggle  now it seems.


Anyway what l could gather or what he would indulge is that he as about 20k in saving but claim no  benefits except  single person council tax discount. Also owns his house.
 
Are there any benefits that he could  claim. I personally think no because of his savings  but lm not really familiar  with the current benefits systems. 

Thanks for any input.

Also it seems he hasn't been to the GP alot over the years with the condition so no real record medically. If that matters?

HillStreetBlues

You are correct for income related benefits the £20k rules that out. There is PIP  that isn't means tested and based on a points system.
Have you friend look as the points structure. https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system

p00hsticks

if he has to reduce hours or stop work completely (either temporarily or permanently) due to his health condition, then (after any period of Statutory Sick Pay)  he might be entitled to ESA
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
This isn't means tested so his savings won't matter but eligibility criteria is determined by recent NI record (which it sounds like he will meet).

I  

theoretica

[Deleted User] said:

[Deleted User] said:

Hello.
I was talking to a friend recently who is experiencing a lot of pain in his knee. He is still working  and in late fiftys. I think he works about 23 hours a week in a supermarket.But that is a struggle  now it seems.


Anyway what l could gather or what he would indulge is that he as about 20k in saving but claim no  benefits except  single person council tax discount. Also owns his house.
 
Are there any benefits that he could  claim. I personally think no because of his savings  but lm not really familiar  with the current benefits systems. 

Thanks for any input.

Also it seems he hasn't been to the GP alot over the years with the condition so no real record medically. If that matters?

One of the great entitlements he has is to NHS treatment and seeking less pain.

If his knee meets the threshold of being a disability, he can ask his employer for reasonable adjustments to reduce the amount he struggles at work.

Brie

If there's little or no medical record then he's not going to get PIP.  I know people who have been getting ongoing treatment and they can't get PIP so that's the first thing to sort.

AND talk to his employer.  Is there something that makes getting through the working day easier?  If he's standing at customer service desk they could provide him with a chair or move him to the normal tills.  If he's already sitting and is in a lot of pain then it's back to the doctor to get things sorted that way.

And in case anyone thinks that's going to be easy getting to see a physio can take months to a year, then normally there's a wait to get to a physio programme and when that doesn't help (12 months proof required) it's on the waiting list to see a specialist which can take at least 6 months for an initial appointment.  They might refer back for physio or they might refer for surgery.  And that's another waiting list of an indeterminant length.   How do I know?  As I've just got to the refer to physio programme with no date of classes available.  15 months after first raising this with my doctor.   So I know I'm at least 3 years away from possible surgery.  

Murphybear

Brie said:

If there's little or no medical record then he's not going to get PIP.  I know people who have been getting ongoing treatment and they can't get PIP so that's the first thing to sort.

AND talk to his employer.  Is there something that makes getting through the working day easier?  If he's standing at customer service desk they could provide him with a chair or move him to the normal tills.  If he's already sitting and is in a lot of pain then it's back to the doctor to get things sorted that way.

And in case anyone thinks that's going to be easy getting to see a physio can take months to a year, then normally there's a wait to get to a physio programme and when that doesn't help (12 months proof required) it's on the waiting list to see a specialist which can take at least 6 months for an initial appointment.  They might refer back for physio or they might refer for surgery.  And that's another waiting list of an indeterminant length.   How do I know?  As I've just got to the refer to physio programme with no date of classes available.  15 months after first raising this with my doctor.   So I know I'm at least 3 years away from possible surgery.  

Waiting times for a physio can vary a lot around the country.  I have had a problem and my GP referred me to our local Physiotherapy Dept.  He said it is self referral so I filled out the online form and heard back in a few days.  They offered me an appointment 2 weeks later.  

When I had my knee replaced I got a Physio appointment the week after I got discharged from the hospital.  

[Deleted User]

HillStreetBlues said:

You are correct for income related benefits the £20k rules that out. There is PIP  that isn't means tested and based on a points system.
Have you friend look as the points structure. https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system

Thank you for the information.

[Deleted User]

p00hsticks said:

if he has to reduce hours or stop work completely (either temporarily or permanently) due to his health condition, then (after any period of Statutory Sick Pay)  he might be entitled to ESA
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
This isn't means tested so his savings won't matter but eligibility criteria is determined by recent NI record (which it sounds like he will meet).

I  

Thank you for the information.

[Deleted User]

theoretica said:

[Deleted User] said:

[Deleted User] said:

Hello.
I was talking to a friend recently who is experiencing a lot of pain in his knee. He is still working  and in late fiftys. I think he works about 23 hours a week in a supermarket.But that is a struggle  now it seems.


Anyway what l could gather or what he would indulge is that he as about 20k in saving but claim no  benefits except  single person council tax discount. Also owns his house.
 
Are there any benefits that he could  claim. I personally think no because of his savings  but lm not really familiar  with the current benefits systems. 

Thanks for any input.

Also it seems he hasn't been to the GP alot over the years with the condition so no real record medically. If that matters?

One of the great entitlements he has is to NHS treatment and seeking less pain.

If his knee meets the threshold of being a disability, he can ask his employer for reasonable adjustments to reduce the amount he struggles at work.

I think he spoke to his line manager last week. So hopefully  they can help make is life easier. 
Thank you for input.

[Deleted User]

Brie said:

If there's little or no medical record then he's not going to get PIP.  I know people who have been getting ongoing treatment and they can't get PIP so that's the first thing to sort.

AND talk to his employer.  Is there something that makes getting through the working day easier?  If he's standing at customer service desk they could provide him with a chair or move him to the normal tills.  If he's already sitting and is in a lot of pain then it's back to the doctor to get things sorted that way.

And in case anyone thinks that's going to be easy getting to see a physio can take months to a year, then normally there's a wait to get to a physio programme and when that doesn't help (12 months proof required) it's on the waiting list to see a specialist which can take at least 6 months for an initial appointment.  They might refer back for physio or they might refer for surgery.  And that's another waiting list of an indeterminant length.   How do I know?  As I've just got to the refer to physio programme with no date of classes available.  15 months after first raising this with my doctor.   So I know I'm at least 3 years away from possible surgery.  

Yes, he's made a appointment  for the GP at least  for some painkillers.

I know personally  about waiting times both my parents  had arthritis.
Very frustrating.  I hope you get the help soon.
Thank you for input.