financial help

[Mo1234]

My son has been diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis and is being treated with steroids, he's staying off work until the new year but will probably only be able to work 3 days a week due to his energy levels being quite low... would he be able to get any financial benefits such as help with his rent etc. has anyone any information please... many thank inadvance...

[AyrshireK]

If you contact your local council they should have a welfare rights or income maximization department who can carry out an assessment of his income/expenditure and situation and advise on what may be available. He might be able to apply for Housing Benefit through the council if he's paying rent to a housing association, council or private landlord.Citizen's Advice Bureau would do the same thing i.e. carry out a check of his income and see what else he might be eligible for.

The dreaded Universal Credit can help with all this too as you can be in work, low earnings to qualify for that and it includes all means tested benefits now for new claimants.

If he was unable to work at all he might be able to apply for Employment and Support Allowance - this might too be tied up in U/C for new applicants.

He would be best to contact Welfare Rights or CAB who can advise better on what he might be eligible for.

My hubby is significantly affected by his cirrhosis due to AIH and is eligible for ESA (Support Group) and Personal Independence Payment but he requires significant support day to day and can't work.

Katie

[Mo1234 in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you Katie, appreciate your advice and will check out what you've said... Merry Christmas to you x

[Hidden]

Good morning Mo1234,

I can see AyrshireK has made some very useful suggestions as always.

I have included a link to benefits and entitlements, which will help with the contact details

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

Trust9

[Mo1234 in reply to Hidden]

Many thanks for sending me this link, appreciate your reply... Merry Christmas to you x