Working with cirroses

[Athletics]

My husband was diagnosed with none alcoholic Nash about 4 years ago he now has been diagnosed with cirroses he was a social drinker but has not touched a drop since been told. He gets very tired but that's is only symtom I am concerned how much longer he can work . Can you claim any benefits if he finishes work

[AyrshireK]

My hubby is in receipt of Income Related Employment & Support Allowance as his illness prevents him from working. He recently was also successful in getting Personal Independence Payment Daily Living Allowance although we had to fight this out all the way to Tribunal. It isn't the diagnosis that matters more 'How the illness affects you'. Sadly they are not keen on handing these benefits out and you will require a lot of medical back up and proof of the degree of ill health & the degree to which it affects daily life etc.

Best of luck with it but be prepared for a battle ............... sadly!

Katie

[chel3010 in reply to AyrshireK]

My husband has cirrhosis with ascities and has been unable to work for 6 months now. We are still waiting for a consultation to see if he can be awarded personal independence payment but he is not entitled to any other benefit as I worked 45 hours. This has affected our lives and we are now in debt which is an added worry on top of my husbands illness x

[susieanna]

Yes, its how the illness affects you in a daily way; id suggest applying for ESA and DLA (PIP). If his only current symptom is tiredness, he may not be successful; however, if its extreme to the extent where he really feels he can no longer work then he may have a chance of ESA. I agree, they are certainly not easy to be awarded, but there are web sites that can help you with the forms, give you guidance etc as the forms are very difficult to complete. Good luck.

[Nix105]

I have cirrhosis with portal hypertension. I was diagnosed @ 3 years ago and not touched alcohol since. I work full time, in a relatively stressful job in the City of London and my employer has been incredibly supportive and allows me to work from home up to 2 days a week so I can have some extra "rest" on these days. It works really well for me and I wonder if your husbands current employer would be open to this kind of arrangement? I think companies are becoming more open minded to flexible working, and will try to help a valued employee continue to work if it fits with their business.

I can't offer any advice on benefits but I get the impression from the media that it's getting increasingly harder to claim benefits for chronic illnesses. I also believe that anyone who can work, however little, benefits hugely from feeling valued and able to contribute to the family income... And just getting out of the house!!!

Everyone's different of course, but in my darkest days during my diagnosis, knowing I had to pull myself together and get back to work to pay the bills, gave me some much needed perspective.....!! So I really hope your husband can keep working in some capacity for a long time to come yet.

[Bolly]

I was diagnosed with cirrhosis over 4 years ago along with cancer of the liver. I do suffer from fatigue (I'm afraid that goes hand in hand with liver damage) but I still work - in fact I was working the day before surgery! You just have to learn to manage the fatigue, pace yourself, and try not to have anything in your lifestyle that will progress the cirrhosis - difficult I know but a diagnosis of cirrhosis is not a death sentence. However being able to carry on working will depend partly on his job - if he is doing something that requires a lot of physical energy or high levels of mental energy for hours and hours, then yes he will struggle. But jobs that dont require continuous physical energy, or the mental capacity of a brain surgeon (lol!) should be possible.

[mms79]

I was also diagnosed with liver cirrhosis 5 years back. Non alcholic, having regular routine checkups such as endoscopy, LFT. Now developed secondary blood chiari syndrome (according to doctor it may develop as the blood flow through liver is low) and on anticoalugation treatment (Warfarin). still working fine, gets little tired and increased sleeping hours up to 9hrs. according to hepatoligist i should do exercise and have full diet(Balanced). According to him i can work fine till the albumin level doesnt goes low.

I will suggest that you should remain physically and mentally strong, as well as always boost will power of your husband, never be on negative side and always thing positive.

what you mean to say,

"Can you claim any benefits if he finishes work"

and what your hipatologist suggest?