Financial help after a heart attack

[Dollydaydream108]

Hello friends, I'm looking for information on help after having a heart attack in December I'm 46 and finding it hard back at work doing 24.5 hours a week. Just wondering if anyone knows if there is any support out there for us if we're struggling with thing. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Hidden]

I’d love to know that as well , you could apply for pip which I’m thinking of doing . My heart attack was in April and I’ve had zero money since then , my husband works so I rely on him for financial support. Before my heart attack I had a daft wee job running my son’s Facebook messages for his business but since then he’s dropped it completely, albeit it wasn’t really even a job it was just something for me to do and get some pin money ( £45 per week ) . Now though I’m really thinking of applying for pip as I know myself I can’t go back to normal work as a chef now . So any advice on this subject would be great .

[Dollydaydream108 in reply to Hidden]

Sorry to hear that. What is pip and where do I look that up.

[Hidden in reply to Dollydaydream108]

Pip personal independence payment , you will find out about it on the dwp website . Good luck

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

I have a PIP, it is not easy to get.I don't think I should put in words here my thoughts of the process and my opinion of the DWP.....I'd get chucked off the forum😂

I suggest you get some help to fill in the forms.

I used this organisation, they give some really good advice.

benefitsandwork.co.uk/perso...

Another option is to get some support from the Citizens Advice.

Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to Milkfairy]

I feel for you, been through the form filling for attendance allowance for my parents back in 2018, they both have Alzheimer’s. The paperwork and questions asked for anything like that is quite unbelievable and it shocked me. Around the same time my husband was made redundant and was out of work for a short period of time, even though I was working I had to take time off to attend an interview myself so he could be assessed for Universal Credit. Like you, my words to describe the DWP would not include ‘helpful’. It left me feeling really anxious.

[Hidden]

You could try a pips claim but remember that it takes time and also remember to answer the questions with examples of your worst days. Also get support from your GP.

[Dollydaydream108 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for that. Do you know if you get does it get back dated to when you had the heart attack?

[Hidden in reply to Dollydaydream108]

It goes back to the day you make the first call to them to claim it. I now work helping the homeless and do my fair share of pips claims on their behalf. If you'd like help filling in the form when it comes, feel free to pm me and we can go through it on the phone. Its a long form and there is a way to answer the questions. Expect to have to appeal, in which case the process will take some time.

[Desanthony in reply to Hidden]

Good advice. I do t think I would ever have received benefits had I not had help from a charity to fill in the form.

[Beatles1956 in reply to Hidden]

HiI totally agree. There is a way to answer the questions, using the correct language and thinking through what you can and cannot do, or causes you difficulty in doing.

Take all the help you can. I have to help my daughter with her forms. Small tip - draft out your replies on a computer and save copies of everything you send, helps to refer back next time to add any changes if condition worsens.

Best of luck. Take the help.

[Dixy]

I would second joining Benefits and Work. It costs approx £20 to join but the guides are excellent. They are long and PIP is a long and difficult process so I would suggest that you get the application form after reading the guides. You can also, for free, put your information into Turn to Us to get an idea of what you may be entitled to.

[Trishe]

Hi DollydaydreamIn answer to your question, it dies get backdated to the date you put on the form, but remember you have to get a form, it won't Backdate from when you had the HA. get your cardiology nurse to write you a letter to go with your application, and take copies of your forms after you have filled them in, also your nurses letter, good luck.

Trish.

[Thanksnhs]

Hi I got PIP for heart failure, the form is very difficult, my local council, I live in Scotland, has an advice centre and they were brilliant the girl new exactly how to fill it in, I got a home assessment rather than having to go to a place for one, that may have changed now, I also receive eesa which is employment support allowance, you can get it based on past NI contributions which is not means tested, the dwp site has details, once again the form is not easy, the other help you can get is universal credit which is means tested, I hope you can get the help you need it is so stressful on top of being ill, take care char

[Hidden in reply to Thanksnhs]

Hi there can you tell what the advice center is please ? I’m also in Scotland xx

[Thanksnhs in reply to Hidden]

Hi my council is Renfrewshire, the advice centre deals with lots of different things, debt, housing help with the dwp forms, I phoned them and made an appointment in my local town hall I was so glad I did without there help I would not have filled it in properly, I am not sure if it has changed because of covid, it is a great service so I hope you can access it, if you phone the switch board they should be able to get you to the right department char

[22alfie in reply to Hidden]

Look up your local money matters there is no pip in Scotland now it's called adult disability

[Hidden in reply to 22alfie]

Yeah, this was posted 11 months ago

[22alfie in reply to Hidden]

😂 sorry only join a few weeks ago new to all of this.

[Thanksnhs]

The citizens advice bureau can help as well char

[Gazzer83]

I applied for and received PIP. I found it a long process ( 3 months) from when I first rang up for the forms to first award. It is back dated to the day you call so get on the phone. Just remember when filling in the form it must reflect your worst day for all the sections.

Fill it in and include ANY help you get from anybody for anything even the smallest things like carrying your shopping bag put shopping in car etc.

Good luck.

[Schora1]

If you are unable to work due to sickness you can apply for the new style ESA. You can also apply for PIP. (If you live in the UK)

[driverbadges]

I had my heart attacks in March and I was planning on going back to work as soon as I recovered. My wife had a little job but, not enough to keep us going. Then in May I had to go hospital because of more chest pain. After another angiogram I was told I would need a triple bypass which I had the week after. At the start of June I applied for pip with the help of a charity. We are now going into September and still waiting to be called for an assessment. I hear the process is a long one and I can tell you without the help of the charity I could not have done the forms. I am new to this site and the advice and words of comfort are absolutely invaluable to me. I don’t post a lot but I do come on here and read every single day.

[Dollydaydream108 in reply to driverbadges]

Oh wow. I had my heart attack in December and getting few chest pains more when I get stressed. Hope your looking after yourself.

[Hidden]

The thought of this form and how long it takes makes me very very nervous, I’m also nervous over weither I’d get a cheeky assessor, I’m on a Facebook group for pip and the people who have applied for through a really hard time with it , and a lot get refused . I worry that I’m not sick enough for it as well

[Qualipop]

Been getting DLA and then PIP for over 20 y ears, filling in he forms every two years and as everyone says, it's an unpleasant process. They seem to automatically turn everyone down at first so only he persistent will appeal. If you can work I don't think you stand a chance of getting either ESA or PIP. Phone citizens advice to see what you may be entitled to and then join Benefits and Work website for help filling in he forms. You will need it. It's backdated to when you send in your application. Despite ebing disabled for 30 years it's never automatic. I've been to 6 tribunals.