Is gout classed as disability?

moggies

Hello great forum only just found it:beer: The reason I am here is my 39 year old son has just been diagnosed with Gout ,he was sacked from his job last xmas,due to severe gout in feet and knees and no diagnose from 3 docs,so they would not sign him off sick ,and every time he went to job ,they sent him home due to not been able to walk proper.
He has now been unemployed since xmas 2006,on JSA since xmas 2006 ,recent Gout attack left him unable to walk a step for one week,he had to crawl on hands and knees to get upstairs to toilet,he says he cant sign sick because docs refused last year,but this week they found Gout in his blood after last severe attack,can any one please give me some advice ,also I am OAP and disabled so cant help him when he is unable to walk,I am my wits end as to what advice to give him,thank you

piglet29

Hello moggies, afraid i do not have any advice for you just wanted to say






And that I am sure it wont be long before someone will come along with some great advice for you, enjoy MSE and just a word of warning it can become VERY addictive:D I know i spend hours on here;)

larmy16

Sorry to hear about your sons condition and sadly no advice, just to say I suffer with random attacks of what I belive to be grout and the pain is excruciating. It travels around the joints and is extremely debilitating. I can only imagine how terrible it is to suffer with it a lot. I am lucky that mine comes and goes very quickly but is acute when it happens. If I get it in my feet or wrist ( can be right or left) I literally cannot drive my car! Hope your son gets the medical attention and recognition for this horrible disease.

I had a blood test once and it did not show up gout (uric crystals) but I find mine comes on so suddenly, generally at about 6pm in the evening and by the following day is on the way out, so it is kind of difficult to get to the docs and get a diagnosis.

seven-day-weekend

He may be able to apply for Disability Living Allowance (DLA). This is a non means-tested benefit.

He could do with seeing a Welfare Rights Advisor at the CAB if he can get there, otherwise perhaps ring them?

wolfehouse

disability or not is now a functional test- determined by what someone can do or can't do
here is the definition of a disability (according to the dda)
The act defines Disability as:

“A physical or mental impairment which has substantial and a long term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out day to day activities”

To qualify under this definition:

A disability needs to have lasted, or expected to last, at least 12 months;

The disability need to affect the persons ability in one or more of the following areas, including:

mobility, dexterity, motor co-ordination, speech, hearing, sight, memory, to
concentrate, learn or understand (dyslexia is included in this);

The disability needs to increase either the time taken to perform an activity or to carry out the activity in different way or method

Disabilities include for example: blind/ visually impaired; deaf/ hearing impaired; wheelchair users/ mobility impaired; learning difficulties; mental health; unseen disabilities such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, HIV.

so if gout affects activity permanently (or at least for 12 months) then it can be classed as a disability.

webbie

Has he been advised to change his diet? Gout usually affects people by something they have eaten/drank - that once the uric crystals are "there" they become worse and hurt by eating even a tiny amount of whatever affects him.

I have been diagnosed with gout about 15 years ago - I know it is red wine that affects me - and even half a glass will put me in agony (always the balls of my feet). I was given some medication that took it away within the hour and was fab. Sometimes too much chocolate can get them tingling as well - but I understand it can be almost any food that can trigger different people.

larmy16

So true about the diet Debbie - I have never been able to pinpoint any food as the culprit. Dont drink alcohol and very little red meat. I was told that dried beans can be a trigger and I do eat them, but my attacks are so random, they don't seem to relate to anything I have eaten.

dmg24

Disability as defined by wolfehouse actually relates to the Disability Discrimination Act. If he is covered by this, he will be able to gain protection from discrimination in e.g. work.

However, disability for the purposes of claiming benefits is different, and there is not a strict definition, nor does disability in itself entitle you to benefits.

As sdw noted, it may be possible to claim Disability Living Allowance. This considers how a health condition affects a persons day to day living.

It may also be possible to claim Incapacity Benefit, or Income Support for reason of Incapacity, if he is unable to work.

moggies

Hello and thank you all for reply`s to my post.:A

Swear I have senile dementure coming on or senile something:eek: I didnt mention in my post ,my son is single and lives alone,he has not worked since being sacked from his job jan 2007 (he was on probationary period only)he was sacked due to taking time off and 3 docs refusing to give him sick note,one doctor quoted a note on the wall of surgery," saying the govt are telling me I must get people back to work".

After about 4 weeks or more of constantly being sent home from work,my son got an appt with a lady doc in the surgery,as soon as he took his shoe off she gasped "put your shoe back on you have a bad case of Gout"needless to say by then he had got the sack.

He is now on JSA but who will be willing to employ him now with Gout he is wary of asking docs now for sick note,due to constant refusal last year.

Diet thats a laugh really because when he lost his job he gained lots of debt ,rent,gas,electric,water and has no money for food out of £57,mmmm he has cut just about everything out,the docs have put him on medication Allopurinol,but have told him nothing of diet or given any advice, would be very grateful for any advice,his Gout was diagnosed by a blood test,this week,when he does have a bad attack he is unable to walk at all.
thank you all:T

tanith

If your son is suffering most of the time maybe he should look at claiming Incapacity Benefit instead of JSA.. he could ask at the Job Centre as it sounds as though its affecting him really badly making it impossible to get a job ...

squiggles

No advice but this might be worth a read

http://www.joint-pain.com/cherry-juice-gout.html