Need advice for my mum

HugoandHudsonsmum

Hi everyone

Really need advice for my mum who is not sure what to do and I wish I could help her but I can't , my mum is in need of a new recliner chair which she uses as her bed due to a medical problem with nerves in her ribs she can't sleep in a normal bed and can't afford a special adjustable bed and unfortunately there's no help for with this being a medical need.

for the last 10 years she's been sleeping in her recliner chair which she used to find very comfy and it aids her rib issue however it's now after a decade broke and the padding is gone its not comfortable anymore or is starting to not be comfortable anymore and needs a new chair however she is on Universal credit and gets the health element as she can't work due to other health conditions too.

Because of her ribs she has to try out the chair before she buys so Facebook and gumtree are out of the question as options and she was thinking of going to DFS as that's where her last chair was from and use there pay monthly option but she's not sure if she'll be accepted being on benefits she told me she did the eligibility checker and for employment put that she's a house person as there was no option for unemployed or benefits and she put her annual amount from UC as her annual income and that said she was eligible but she's not sure if she filled it in right and if she can't pay monthly if they decline her proper application she's not sure what to do because waiting a year to save up enough for a new chair is not a option she wants to face as she's getting back pain now from her chair and is worried if it fully collapsed on her at any point while she saved.

I was hoping someone here might have advice or be able to point her in the right direction.

Myci85

Can she get an advance on her universal credit to help pay for the chair? Probably a better option than buying one on finance or with a loan.

elsien

Has she tried more recently going through her GP for an OT assessment?

Ms_Chocaholic

Oh my, sorry to hear about your mum. I can't comment on the finance side of your question but didn't want to read and run. First thing I thought of was would a adjustable recliner bed suit her, something like this (it's not my listing btw, just something I found on Ebay when I did a quick search).

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/317415382086?_skw=RECLINER+BED&itmmeta=01KK2HART5QV3KFSQV2DBCV4EH&hash=item49e76e5c46%3Ag%3A3ZIAAeSw6Utpc2Xc&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA8GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xDyY8a32Ys2drQ%2BtwoASTJM6uqSNiSU48xnHXN%2FCAKS%2F4g128vVvKUCn2WX5e7ZnaE4PLFQexOAfq5IcKcb6zoGG%2FWp6H%2Bc8HI1%2F2m%2Fl0%2BlwlWLmkBSs78fJkEBqirEMUvVvVjLyEa5K7xFVUMfPREqzSus16ag3oMIwO4LA7HtGDtym857nzJUnuS3MjM9Lzy3XyVFExuFAYgZdg53ZOnx1VraJnoLDOhm6J5uH%2F1NAJi80Nb4iiaVNUuLLaxmyJsBOIQbjEnyU%2F9GELM2se8ZNHPD0QQRUPF8GF1%2FEOOitQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8CNq9GYZw&LH_ItemCondition=3000

The other thing I thought of is, is your mum getting all the benefits she is entitled to as if she isn't she may be entitled to more benefits which may help her purchase something suitable. Best way to check is to go here

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/

powerspowers

Have you looked at your local councils welfare scheme? It’s a bit of a long shot if she needs something in particular but worth a try. https://endfurniturepoverty.org/research-campaigns/rebuilding-crisis-support-local-welfare-assistance/local-welfare-assistance-finder/

Agree to look at up advance as it’s interest free. Next option if she is looking at borrowing than a credit union might be a better option than DFS, check the interest rate and the full amount she’ll pay back. They typically lend to people on lower incomes including people on benefits.

HugoandHudsonsmum

Thanks so much to everyone who has replied so far , so with the advance she can't apply through her online account as there's no option too it says to either phone which she can't do due to anxiety issues over the phone she gets flustered talking over the phone and prefers to communicate through email, text ect and I've tried but because I'm not mum they won't let me talk on her behalf even though she's in the background listening and has given permission to them to talk to me but they won't and the only other option was through her journal but no body gets back to her messages.

The link for eBay the only issue is being able to try it in person which shed need to do to check it goes high enough to put her in a sitting position.

Not looked at credit union I could tell her to look into that

Regarding her GP and an OT assessment no luck there either as even though her rib issue causes her pain lying down it hasn't stopped her day to day life it only effects her ability to lie down she can only sleep in an upright position so her GP won't help unless it affects her day to day living.

And she is getting all the benefits eligible to her

HugoandHudsonsmum

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81912689#Comment_81912689

Just checked mum's local council with the checker in the link you provided and trust her flipping council to be one that doesn't have a welfare support scheme

HugoandHudsonsmum

Just looked up credit Union as I'd never heard of them before so texted mum and she's not a member of any can someone explain if there worth joining and how they work?

powerspowers

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81912703#Comment_81912703

most don’t provide furniture so it is a lottery. The local welfare schemes are changing from 1 April so do recheck in a few months (they will take time to adjust) but i still think it’s unlikely

twopenny

Is there any chance you have a Furniture Exchange in your area? They take unwanted furniture, sometimes lovely stuff, and sell at a sizable discount to people on benefits. There aren't many but it's worth a quick search.

Heart Foundation do furniture in their charity shops around here. You can give requests at both of these.

Shout out on local Facebook. There may well be an adjustable bed. I'm due an op and they won't supply aids until I've had it, am too incapacitated to shift them would you believe. When I told friends I came away with all but one item because they don't take them back so even an adjustable bed has been passed on. Crazy eh?

Obviously she would feel better to get the version she knows but if there was something to tide her over until she could save some more that would take the strain off.

OutdoorQueen

Has your Mum had an OT assessment? These are organised via your local County Council Adult Care team. You don’t need to go via GP. They can help suggest equipment, and can sometimes supply equipment.

Has Mum ever served in the armed forces as organisations such as SSAFA might be able to help? And sometimes help can be provided if husband has served.