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Author: Subject: O / T:- Has anyone any experience (or friends, relatives) of improving their financial situation by being declared unfit to work
welderman

posted on 26/5/11 at 03:27 PM Reply With Quote
O / T:- Has anyone any experience (or friends, relatives) of improving their financial situation by being declared unfit to work?

Hello,

A mate of mine asked me the other day, and although I said he could be better off. I didn't know for sure, so thought I'd ask on here to see if anyone had any direct experience that they could share...

Basically, he works for a place that he doesn't want to poop on, but he is starting to work permanently in pain from back and other problems that are always going to get worse than better.

He gets about £16k p.a. and has a wife and young child. From what I understand, the amount of pain he's in is getting well past his pain medication, and is at the point where everything is hurting, obviously this is also a pretty depressing situation, so it's hard work on a number of levels...

Wife is on the same money, well £1k more I think. Child is under 2.

Do "you" guys n girls need any more information?

Can you advise what's best for him and what he'd gain/lose if he was granted disability, and also, how would he go about getting "awarded" disability - Obviously the Doctor's is a starting point, but he is really struggling nowadays!

Cheers...

ETA - He doesn't get paid if off sick, and where he works is not the sort of place to have insurance or anything like that...

[Edited on 26/5/11 by welderman]





Thank's, Joe

I don't stalk people


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CRAIGR
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posted on 26/5/11 at 03:49 PM Reply With Quote
Sounds like time to change jobs not to become another one that i support with my income tax.
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Mr G

posted on 26/5/11 at 03:52 PM Reply With Quote
I think you now hold the crown for longest thread title.

Breaking News : Steve Hignett is making a bid for title already.

[Edited on 26/5/11 by Mr G]






Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a
car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes
and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.

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mr_pr

posted on 26/5/11 at 03:52 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by CRAIGR
Sounds like time to change jobs not to become another one that i support with my income tax.


+1







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welderman

posted on 26/5/11 at 03:55 PM Reply With Quote
I was hoping for slightly more constructive advice than that...........................

It is the amount of pain and restricted movement that he is in, that is making him want to not work at the moment, nothing to do with the tasks he's given at work.

He's not trying to get a better quality of life, just trying to see if that he can afford to live if he had to give up work.

He's had restricted movement for years, but it's now progressed to not being able to walk more than a few paces without shouting in pain...

[Edited on 26/5/11 by welderman]





Thank's, Joe

I don't stalk people


http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/forum/23/viewthread.php?tid=172301

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David Jenkins

posted on 26/5/11 at 04:03 PM Reply With Quote
The trouble is that despite what people say or think, living on benefits is tough and he'll barely make ends meet (only crooks make a good living out of it). His wife would have to forget any hopes she may have of giving up work, for many years.

Even getting disability benefits is really tough these days, following recent changes. He will have to convince cynical doctors that his problem is disabling, and I'd guess that chronic pain is one of the hardest to prove.

Maybe a visit to the local Citizens' Advice Bureaux would be a start, or even the benefits agency themselves (I shouldn't be surprised if they've got a website too)

I wish him the best of luck...






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cliftyhanger

posted on 26/5/11 at 04:03 PM Reply With Quote
I think he needs to get proper advice, there are (or were) plenty of places that could help. Surely the doctor would be the first port of call, and be able to point him in the right direction.
Saying that, it may not be the best timing what with the recent changes and tests etc. But proper advice is still what he needs, besides, if he really is too ill to work, he will have to stop anyway.

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MikeFellows

posted on 26/5/11 at 04:16 PM Reply With Quote
I dont believe anyone is better off being on any sort of benefits. taking into account the lack of any sort of stimulation.

I also dont believe that many people are unfit for work, they can sit at home watching tv all day, yet many sit in an office and look at a screen all day - I fail to see the difference.






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Krismc

posted on 26/5/11 at 04:19 PM Reply With Quote
Money should never be the reason for giving up work to take benifits instead, it should be im in pain, i cant work, benifits are last option.

I go to peoples houses with brittle bones, MS, paraylised , people with cancer, people who has lost legs, severe back pain etc and some who appear to have nothing wrong.

I agree Lots of them are in pain, some severe pain but id say 40% of them sponge and could work, 40% are genuine and need the money, and the other 20% are the people with the real pain and real disabilitys still go to work, mybees its a pride thing or too take there mind off it, but even if its just siting at a desk answering phones it better than sitting in the house thinking about it.

Too many people not working, if he wants not too work then i hope its for a real reason oh and if you think ive got no place to say this well i have, I have a missing muscle in my back, take 10-15 tablets a day for pain and ive never missed a day off for it since i left school 11 years ago. work is a struggle some times but its better than sitting in the house thinking about it, if it ever gets too bad for your friend id get doctor to declare his disability and id discuss with his employer who should by law help to reduce his bending/lifting to a minimum or redeploy him into a more suitable position.





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RazMan

posted on 26/5/11 at 04:41 PM Reply With Quote
Speaking as someone who suffers from chronic back pain, the best advice I can give is to avoid going on the benefits route and treat it as a last resort. A few years ago I was looking at life in a wheelchair - according to my GP anyway.

I rebelled against his diagnosis and decided to try a Chiropractor who specialised in lower back pain (I have Spondylosis and 3 ruptured discs) After a few months of intensive (and expensive) treatment I was walking again - a year later I now have a very active job and life again. I obviously have to watch my back but if I get a twinge, my Chiropractor is on speed dial and ready to put things right.

Think laterally if you can and fix the source of the problem - benefits are a downward, slippery slope and will make you depressed ... trust me.





Cheers,
Raz

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keithjardine

posted on 26/5/11 at 05:24 PM Reply With Quote
welderman,

I'd suggest your mate looks into tax credits (working and child), he may find he can reduce his hours at work and the tax credits will make up the difference as such......

HMRC have an online calculator which is handy and a phone number too, its alot more straighforward than going down the disability route and disability payments are not that great from what i've read online.

As mentioned above a doctors "sick note" is only the start of alot of paperwork regarding disability, tax credits can be done over the phone in one day as they should have all the required info from national insurance and income tax on their computer.

One point to remember is that there are two avenues as such;

1. HMRC for tax credits etc
2. Local council for housing benefit, council tax benefit etc

(not entirely sure who deals with income support, job seekers, disability allowance etc ...... may be the job centre)

Ideally your friend could reduce his hours to 16 per week and tax credits make up the difference.

I am not an expert by any means but work in a pharmacy (pharmacist) which deals with alot of people who do not work for whatever reason and have listened over the years.

Good luck
keith

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