Claiming benefits of

[Smcloughlind]

Had heart attack and stent fitted could I claim pip or esa etc

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

If you are employed you should get SSP as a minimum but many employers will pay more than this. If you are unemployed you will move from JSA to ESA whilst recovering.

PIP is designed for those who need help in day to day living. Here is the definition:

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for people with a long-term health condition or impairment, whether physical, sensory, mental, cognitive, intellectual, or any combination of these. It is paid to make a contribution to the extra costs that disabled people may face, to help them lead full, active and independent lives.

[Geoff51 Heart Star in reply to MichaelJH]

I went back to my job as a Baker which is quite a heavy job 12 weeks after my Heart attack as that was the maximum my employers would pay after having had two stents fitted. I at no time ever contemplated claiming benefits as i decided to return to work full time even though my company offered light duties. Whilst a Heart Attack is a major event you have to take it as the next step in life and move on taking a little more care but not the end of the world. I carried on working for 7 years after and retired 3 years ago but at no time did i consider myself disabled or entitled to benefits.

[NorthantsSteve]

Hi. You can only claim for PIP if you meet the definition helpfully quoted by Michael. I’ve had a heart attack and a stent and don’t meet the definition.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi Smcloughlind

I was awarded a PIP because I live with chronic and acute debilitating pain due to a type of angina that is resistant to treatment with no hope of improvement.

A PIP application is not for the faint hearted. They set the bar very high.

I suggest you get help from the Citizens Advice Bureau..

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

No still waiting

Nothing has changed in fact I have got worse.....doesn't mean anything though I could have it taken away.

[bee2 in reply to Milkfairy]

Good luck, I have my tribunal next month, it's a lottery and a twisted version of !

[Smcloughlind]

I find this quite shocking.we not off I’ll with the flu !!!!!!

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Smcloughlind]

No we are not.

The whole system of claiming a disability benefit is brutal .

[Sillyfroggy]

But in most cases once the stent is fitted and there’s no major damage we’re not disabled? Your employers sick pay or SSP cover recovery, and then you’re back to work. (Cases such as Milkfairy exempted)

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Sillyfroggy]

Yes, Sillyfroggy you have to have ongoing symptoms that effects your ability to live a normal life.

The NHS put me out to grass -early ill health retirement because of my 'permanent incapacity ' I am never expected to be able to work again😰

[banana1982]

My Husband has thought of looking into this, 5 months on from a STEMI and 3 stents, he tires very easily, some simple activities leave him breathless his concentration, memory and mental agility are really quite poor. He has moderate LVSD which I understand is a lifelong illness, but he's really starting to question just what sort of work he could do in future and so far it's quite limited.

He's only 41 so in theory he has a long while of "working age" to go.

He was working prior to his HA but he didn't earn enough for SSP.

It's certainly not easy for sufferers, but by the sounds of it my OH would struggle to even complete the form himself.

I wish you luck!

[Lezzers in reply to banana1982]

Hi banana1982, the citizens advice may be able to help your husband with advice & help completing the forms. Or maybe a disability charity could help, still not easy but may help with the stress. Also, have you heard of the patient led heart failure charity called Pumping Marvellous, if you haven't I would so recommend having a look at their website and perhaps joining their closed Facebook page. Lots of advice and support for those with HF and their families and carers.

[banana1982 in reply to Lezzers]

Thank you, I've just joined pumping marvellous and its very useful, we 're still waiting to see the cardiologist until then my OH is telling himself he's still recovering. I think once he's seen the cardiologist and able to accept that the future may not be quite as we expected then he'll seek the help and support that he needs

[Smcloughlind]

SSP his not helping my recovery at £94 per week.finincially stressing me out and basically forcing me back to work way to soon.there should be financial help instantly to aid recovery for at least 6 months!!!

[Lezzers in reply to Smcloughlind]

Could you ask the cab for advice?

[Snowdrops_17 in reply to Smcloughlind]

I had my heart attack 25 Feb 2019. Because it was out of the blue, my previous head sous chef arranged to get some left over holiday put on which helped not feeling out of pocket in March. Then SSP, which was a nightmare to live on, I had to go back to work at Easter on amended duties and hours. I had some financial support from my children and my Father but had to count every penny. PIP, well didn't qualify for it!

It's tough, recovery and getting back to work. After 6 months now, feeling tons better, but still get very tired from my shifts as Kitchen Porter and due to vascular disease in my legs, standing a lot! But so glad Universal Credit topped up my earnings, otherwise I would not live in my small house any more. It is really tough, when heart attacks happen, it's the time afterwards which did stress me and got me depressed due to financial burdens, scared not able to cope to pay my rent and direct debits. Not sure where I would have been without the help of my family and my previous head sous chef.

[Smcloughlind]

The way I see it an heart attack his a major life changing event

[Sillyfroggy in reply to Smcloughlind]

Life changing yes, hopefully for the better. Improved diet, exercise and lifestyle have a fabulous positive impact on your life - we’ve been given a second chance. Recovering from any major surgery/illness will always incur some time off sick - but it’s usually not permanent- especially if you follow all the advice, do the cardiac rehab etc. I don’t think PIP was designed to supplement SSP - it’s for impairments that are permanent.

Have you been told you must be off work for 6 months? I was told 6-8 weeks after HA/stent.

Is there alternative work you can do at work? I’m on a phased return and slowly having aspects of my role handed back to me. I was off for 4 months, but that was due to complex ongoing work my heart needed.

[Smcloughlind in reply to Sillyfroggy]

No chance I could afford 4 months off.

£94 ssp just doesn’t cut it.

Need to go back to work to survive.

And I’m a window fitter 😩😩

[Smcloughlind in reply to Smcloughlind]

And no one has mentioned 6 months

[Smcloughlind in reply to Smcloughlind]

I work for a private firm.no 6 months off with full pay like a decent company and that’s the difference.what I am trying to say his I think there should be financial help for heart attack sufferers for 6 months.even if it only matches minimum wage etc.most people (include myself)would be up shit street in six months on £94 per week.thus go back to work without proper healing time.NOT A GOOD SYSTEM REALLY

[allyh1968 in reply to Smcloughlind]

if you have had an issue for the past 3 months and expect to be ill for up to a year then you have nothing to lose applying for pip but it won't be a fast process. if they then say that you haven't qualified request a copy of their decision and take it to appeal if needed. the fact that you have had to have a stent means that there was an issue probably longer than 2 months prior. Give it a try

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Yes, I absolutely agree.

However there are some other quirky inequalities.

Heart patients have to pay for their prescriptions.

Have you started your Cardiac rehab yet?

As Lezzers suggested the Citizen's advice Bureau are are good place to start.

I hope you are able to resolve your issues soon.

[benjijen]

As far as I can tell most people on here get back to work. I didn't have an HA but have unstable angina. However, a week after my stents were fitted I was able to go back to work. It would obviously take longer after an HA and depend on the type of work you do. If you go on gov.uk website they have calculators so you can check if you are eligible for various further support. Then, as has previously been stated, you can contact Citizen's Advice. In the meantime you may at least be able to have your council tax (and rent?) reduced for a while, worth a phone call. You can get a pre-pay certificate for meds - keep any receipts so you can claim back. Good luck with your recovery.

[Gooner045]

I was self employed decorator before HA and emergency quad cabg, cldnt claim a dime, council took me to court for rent arrears, so had to return to work 6 weeks after cabg, disgraceful

[Cathybm]

It really depends on the effects on your daily life. You are probably still in a bit of shock about what has happened to you and want to claim if you are not receiving SSP while you recover and may be entitled to New Style ESA if you have enough to NI contributions, otherwise it would be Universal Credit. There is a 3 months assessment period with ESA and I think most people in your/our situation get back to work before that. Unless you have other conditions which really restrict your ability to complete daily care and mobility tasks you wouldn't be considered for PIP on the HA and stent alone. Good luck, stay well.

[Salihyuksel67]

I had bypass last year and I am on tribunal and still fighting pip .Good luck.

[Geoff51 Heart Star]

See my reply to Michael JH