Hi all, I have chronic angina and had a stent fitted 6 months ago. I have a very stressful job that gives me palpitations and chest pains.
I'm thinking of stopping working but not sure about benefits ( I'm 52 and never been out of work) I know PIP is nigh on impossible to claim but I really can't carry on with the stress.
Any advice on benefits would be really appreciated .
Dear Bonham123
So sorry that you are suffering with stress in your work place.
How easy it is for me to say , pack work in as your health is so much more important.
But it’s not just health is it, it’s about the quality of yours and your loved ones lives and how this illness has impacted all ready on that , without adding the stress level to it.
There is a lot of help out here in the form of benefits etc, it is best to seek advice from citizens advice who will put you on the right paths.
There is a massive difference to the way you can claim if you leave your work under your own steam { presuming you don’t work for yourself } to being told by your Dr that you are not capable of work.
PIP is as easy to claim as any other benefit if you are entitled to it, along with housing etc. { being sarcastic }
Your first point of call I would think should be your Dr and see if anything can be done for your stress levels making work impossible for you.
Then book in with citizens advice, they will help you get the ball rolling.
Take care and please let us know.
P.s. forgot to say, yes I have given up my stressful work, but still very active in other ways, so I am not claiming anything, but have full respect to those that need to.
Hello
I took early ill health retirement, I was unable to continue working as I live with refractory vasospastic angina.
I have a small pension and a PIP.
I used this organisation to help me.
benefitsandwork.co.uk/perso...
Many people applying for a PIP are unsuccessful at first, though the vast majority succeed on appeal.
I don't feel that anybody who has claimed for a PIP would describe it as easy. I submitted over 48 documents. This included several years of test results, clinic letters, hospital discharge summaries etc.
I would also suggest you get in contact with your employer's Occupational Health Department and Trade union representative if you are in a trade union. You maybe able to discuss ways in which your working environment could be improved. You can ask for reasonable adjustments to be made to your working conditions.
See the Equality Act 2010.
Citizens Advice is also another good resource to help with advising you how to complete your forms.
Good luck!
Yes sorry Milkfairy I didn’t mean it to sound that it was easy to apply for PIPs but meant it sarcastically , like it’s hard to apply for all benefits….have amended my post.
I understand you well, I am in a very similar situation. I know work gets me out the home and keeps me active. Although my job is busy heavy and stressful I have mixed feelings and fears withoften wondering is it worth it at this point
I hear ya well all the best to you
Dear all, thank you so much for the replies and understanding. They have helped me realise I'm not alone. This community is a god send.
You need a "Fit Note" from your GP stating what work you can do or not capable of any work.This you must take to your work coach when asked.
Your work coach will decide when and if you are capable of work according to the Fit Note.
I've just done one for my wife as she is not yet pension age but due to illness she cannot work.
Her Fit Note states she must be excused from work for 3 months but her coach will review it after 6 months.
before going down the PIP road (which is very difficult) have you thought about looking for a less stressful job? I had a very stressful and professional job but managed to work until early retirement and have done many jobs since including stacking shelves in Asda, Census and assessing for potential Police officers.
It was only when I finished my full time job that everything caught up with me, I had no illnesses until then.
Hi Bonham, am sorry to read about the situation you're in. I had a double heart bypass 2 years ago. Since then I have quit 2 jobs. The first was the job I had before my bypass that was too physically demanding. The second job I quit in Nov last year as it was horribly stressful and really damaging my health.
I have decided to look for a new job that is less stressful and, hopefully, will be one I enjoy. One thing I have started doing though is a course of cognative behaviour therapy. Its called Building Resilience with Long Term Illness and its designed to help people with long term health issues, to improve their mental health, wellbeing and, hopefully in my case, rebuild the confidence I have lost since my bypass.
Whatever route you decide to take I wish you the best of luck.
Hi Judge - hope things are going ok now?
My fiancé has just been “prescribed” this exact course of CBT too. Fingers crossed it helps you both.
Thanks Chickenlou. Hope your fiancé is doing OK and the course helps him.
Hi, the benefits system is designed to stop you getting anything, at least I feel like this.
I'm 57 and have claimed pips and after 18 months I'm now at the stage of tribunal. I have 5 stents, 2 ha's, a frame in my neck, diabetes, severe sleep apnoea and ptsd. I scored 4 points!
In terms of other benefits, housing is worth £379 (single allowance, married isn't much more), council tax is also written off bar 25%, however some councils like Telford and Wrekin now take pips into account when assessing. UC is around £80 a week.
This is why I'm still working and probably will do until I drop.
Apparently we can afford a trillion pounds to help the banks but we can't afford to help people....
If you are going down the benefits route, definitely get help as advised by Milkfairy. Keep positive, but accept it isn't an easy option.
Best of luck 👍
Hello,I’m sorry for what is happening to you.
I would take a different approach and speak to my line manager and HR first.
I don’t know what is your job and your relationship with the management but in big companies they might be able to help you by transferring to a different department which better suits your new health situation.
If feasible Maybe worth a try.
Good luck!
I worked for the NHS in a management position and back in 2014 had a HA which resulted in 7 stents heart muscle damage and still 2 semi occluded CX arteries. After over a year off sick I was dismissed on the grounds of ill health, I was 58. I went back to work in 2016 in a non managerial position but found it too difficult even going part time. I also have many other health issues which also add to daily living. So I retired fortunately I have two pensions and savings which we have to live on, get my state pension in 8 weeks so that will make a big difference. I am so pleased i retired early, found it hard to adjust at first but I work 2 days a week voluntary for my daughter reconditioning old furniture which I thoroughly enjoy. I don't think I would be here no if I had stayed at work, but everybody's circumstances are different. Hope everything goes okay for you and all the very best for the future.
Hi,
I had to leave work just over 2 years ago. The biggest shock was surviving per month on what I used to earn a week. My family forced me (twisted my arm) into stopping. After 5 HA's and another last April I am glad I did. Love spending time with my family and see my granddaughter every day. I take her to and from school. I claim benefits and my wife works part time. Lime I said the money is the biggest shock but you learn to cut your cloth to what you have. Remember that there is no price that can make up for your life.
Regards
Gazzer.
Sorry to hear about your problems.I know that this will sound rather strange, but why not try age concern.
They start to help with advice once you pass fifty years of age.
My wife contracted them over my status and despite the fact that I have employment they were able to direct her to some benifts that we were eligible for, but didn't know existed.
Good luck, and why not try looking for a less stressful job, it's a difficult line to walk between what is best for your Hart and needing employment.
Dan
PIP is not impossible to claim but you need help doing it. I suggest joining "Benefits and worl". Their guides for members are invaluable. Your initial claim WILL be refused- almost guaranteed but you must appeal and if necessary appeal again or go o tribunal. Yes or no answers just don't work. YOu need consultant reports and to describe problems in great detail. A welfare rights service can help or Citizens advice but I have found Benefits and work to be by far the best. There is a small charge to join but it's worth it. Take a look at the website first and get the weekly news email.
I understand you 100% . All the best I pray you get the help you need
Hi, I lost my job due to ill health. I have AF, HF, a pacemaker and diverticulitis. I claimed UC as I was 3 years from retirement. I looked for another job, got one in B&Q! Couldn't keep it up. I was assessed for ESA and was told I was unfit for any work. I also applied for PIP and got it. Don't worry. It seems awful right now, but you will cope. If you can get advice from your HR, you may be surprised.
So much bureaucracy, I think applying for PIP is like making an insurance claim, the first answer is no!!
My sister in law has always worked, even as a single mother she had 2 jobs. in recent years she has had 6 stents fitted, she is an insulin treated diabetic, she has neuropathy and retinopathy which is treated by injecting her eyes. In 2020 when Covid hit she was put on furlough for a few months then made redundant. With all her medical problems she was unable to secure another job so we encouraged her to apply for PIP.
It took some time and she had to jump through a lot of hoops and her and my brother struggled financially as being married my brother was expected to finance his wife even though she has paid full stamp.
Eventually she was successful and the money was backdated along with a little bit of tax.
If you know you just cannot work due to health problems and you can get the GP on side then go for it, be prepared for some stress and knock backs but don't give up!!
Hi Bonham123
My fiancé hasn’t worked since his CABG in 2020. (He was made redundant literally as his heart problems first occurred.)
Since then the combination of the problems with his heart, his other pre existing health conditions and a new diagnosis of likely peripheral artery disease have meant he’s been and remains pretty unwell as in a lot of pain.
We have recently applied for PIP, but not heard anything yet. The form itself was a nightmare to be honest and took me days to complete and collect all the supporting evidence...I’ve also heard (but can’t confirm if it’s true) that initial claims are taking months to process.
He absolutely hates not working (has never been unemployed until now and he’s in his 60s) and holds onto the hope of being well enough to return to work.
Hope things work out and you can find a way to reduce the stress.
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