short term Carer financial help

Jibber123

My wife had a horse riding accident a few weeks ago an sustained a head injury, She is currently unable to do very much as she is tried all the time and spends most of the day sleeping. I have had to stop work temporarily to look after her and the kids and I've been put on long term absence (Unpaid). This is fine for a couple of weeks but its coming up 4 weeks now and there dosen't seem to be any significant improvement in her condition. I have asked at work and citizens advise if there is any short term financial help available for us as money is beginning to get tight and our saving will only see us thought the next couple of weeks.

Rubyroobs

Universal credit is the benefit you should claim if savings are under 16k. Does your wife get any sick pay from her job?

sheramber

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81981219#Comment_81981219

Can he claim UC when he is not available for work? He is still employed but is on unpaid leave.

sheramber

Could you work from home or work part time?

Is there nobody can help out with the children? Neighbours, friends, relations?

When I was taken into hospital with appendicitis a month after moving to a new area the wife of one of my husbands new work colleagues offered to take my child each day until I came home.

In a similar situation I looked after the toddler of one of my husband’s colleagues who recently moved to new area/ new job, when his wife went into hospital for the birth of their second child.

Jibber123

Unfortunately I do shift work so either start early 5-6-7 am or late 2-3-4 pm for an 8 hour shift so no work from home or part time available. Work have been good and given me time off unpaid basically held my job open for me. I was hopefully going to go back to work next week on early's with a friend in the village taking the kids to school. and ill pick them up and sort out afterschool clubs and dinner and bed but she's had a few bad days this week so this is looking unlikely now. Savings have got us through the past month but the doctors have said its going to be a long slow recovery so i don't see me being able to go back fulltime for a few weeks now and money is going to get tight when the next lot of bills come out beginning of May

Spoonie_Turtle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81981418#Comment_81981418

Yes. Although not officially a carer because his wife can't yet claim PIP* the work coach should have discretion to tailor requirements to their situation.

*(she can after 3 months if it then looks like care needs are going to last for another 9months or more)

OP you need to claim UC NOW to get the ball rolling. The first payment takes ~5 weeks to come through - 1 calendar month assessment period, then payment 5-7 days later - but if you'll run out of money before that you can claim an advance (which will then be paid back via a small deduction in your UC payment each month over the next 1 or 2 years).

NedS

Regarding your wife's head injury, this potentially sounds like a TBI (traumatic brain injury).

If your wife does have a brain injury, this is likely to have long term effects and she may be able to claim PIP. You should push for a formal diagnosis and referral to a specialist consultant if that has not already happened, and keep copies of all medical letters as evidence together with a diary of the difficulties she experiences.

You can apply for PIP after 3 months providing the condition is expected to last at least 12 months (so another 9 months following the initial 3 months)

If she does have a TBI, I would highly recommend you see if there is a local Headway brain injury group in your area and attend local meetings if you are able. They provide great support for people with brain injuries, and may be able to help access specialist brain injury or neurology services in your area.

sheramber

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81981835#Comment_81981835

Would he not have to resign from his job to claim UC.
He is still employed but not earning.

Spoonie_Turtle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81981896#Comment_81981896

No. You might be thinking of JSA (I don't know) but UC is mainly about someone's financial situation. There are default levels of work/work search commitments but work coaches are supposed to have discretion about tailoring them to someone's circumstances.

sheramber

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81982223#Comment_81982223

It will be worth the OP applying then.