I need to stop work. How do benefits work

funnymonkey

Good morning.
I'm an hgv driver but need to stop work due to just been diagnosed with giant cell arthritis which effects your eyesight so can't drive, DVLA have confirmed this and at the age (58) where it's difficult to find alternative work
I'm a single parent but my children are grown up but worried about money and don't understand how the benefit system can help me regarding my mortgage payments or housing and weekly payments for essentials like food, bills etc.
I have 20k in savings.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated Thank you very much

Keep_pedalling

I will let others answer with regards state benefits, but are you in a company pension scheme? If you are there may be medical retirement benefits you can claim.

nannytone_2

With 20k savings, Means tested benefits won't be an option, so right now it would be new style JSA or new style ESA, depending on how your condition affects your ability to work.
For ESA you would need a fit note from your doctor
Also yo consider would be PIP which isn't means tested, but you would need to evidence how your condition affects your day to day ligr.
There would be no help with your mortgage as this point, but even ud you do qualify at some future point, it would be in the dorm of a loan, repayable whenever the property is sold

kimwp

I think it's worth exploring options at the company you work for - is there another role you could do, is medical retirement an option? And to look for another job as well - you say it would be difficult to find another job, but have you tried?

BridgetTheCat

Good advice above.

Consider also Access to Work to help with reasonable adjustments, and get an occupational therapy assessment from your local council.

Ordinary_Yet_Unique

I agree with the suggestion that you could start looking for alternative employment within the company or elsewhere. Is there any scope for going down the ill health retirement route? 
How much equity do you have in your property? Is there a possibility you could downsize and buy a property outright to become mortgage free?

Muttleythefrog

Good advice above... and to confirm... with £20k savings (capital) you would not be entitled normally to any means tested benefits (there are some non means tested as advised above that could be relevant).... however paying debts like mortgage would open up the possibility of reducing capital below £6k (or the upper limit of £16k to get reduced UC) and claiming Universal Credit if you end up on low income or out of work. Sites like EntitledTo do good benefit calculations but of course their accuracy relies on good information input which is a little more tricky if you're looking at future scenarios. I would first try to follow advice on retaining work through alternative employment and first with the company employing you.... that may then eliminate the need to consider the complex world of benefits and possible assessments for things Working Capability and/or Disability.

OutdoorQueen

Has the hospital issued you with a Certificate of Visual Impairment?  Although this normally comes from the Eye Consultant, your local  optician should be able to tell you if you meet the criteria.   This can also help you get the Concessionary Bus Pass that many areas offer to those with sight problems.    

If you have the CVI, this should then trigger contact from your local visual impairment service, but you may need to chase.  This is either County Council or another organisation may be commissioned to run the service.  They can then help you further with technology and other advice.  

Have you seen this ?

https://www.rnib.org.uk/your-eyes/eye-conditions-az/giant-cell-arteritis/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1526919345&gbraid=0AAAAAD6ZQ6KZJTO331ZX-MKmpjltHEYmo&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpfz6svjcjQMV2JBQBh0jxhWXEAAYASAAEgIiYvD_BwE

Might be worth ringing RNIB 0303 123 9999