Cold weather payments have started to land in peoples accounts

[Ginsing]

How lovely to be warm

[chellshock]

I dont think i can get that x

[Hidden]

Really? I must check my account

Mind you it does depend on where you live and what the temperature's been doing doesn't it?

boinging off to check my balance

xxxzebxxx boinging

[Hidden]

nope sadly

[kiwibutterfly]

I thought only the elderly get this? Have no heating or hot water here as stupid 3 year old boiler has decided to pack up. Waited a week already for new part and engineer been but needs a new fan as well, so got to wait presumably another week. brrrr.

[Fibrofoggiest in reply to kiwibutterfly]

If you are on benefits of any kind kiwi you should get some, it is only a very nominal amount as you will see below, but as I said, grateful for small mercies ! I do hope you manage to get the boiler fixed sooner rather than later . Have you got any electric heaters you can plug in or anything ? You really can't get cold, that will make everything worse for you !

Foggy x

[chellshock in reply to Fibrofoggiest]

Im getting pip and esa assessment rate at the moment does that mean i would get this?x

[hamble99b in reply to chellshock]

there are grants for free boilers being advertised lately.

[bbstport in reply to hamble99b]

i enquier for my dad about this free boiler offer and thought i would also apply for myself there are certain benefits to qualify however they did the inspect, the EPC check and it has to prove it would make things better and "greener" and your boiler needs to be so many years old. Well guess what both myself and my dad qualified. I had mine fitted 2 weeks ago and dads is being fitted this friday and yes it was FREE, hugs to you all, Belinda

[Ginsing in reply to bbstport]

Brilliant news! xgins

[Hidden in reply to kiwibutterfly]

Bless you hunny that's terrible I hope you've got plenty of things to wrap yourself in and that its sorted soon

I received cwp when on incap benefit and as far as I'm aware I still do qualify to receive them whilst on ESA support. I'm sure there may some info on the benefits section if you click on the butterfly on the top right of your screen and go into FibroAction website. If not you could check on the gov.uk site.

super soft warming fluffies for you to wrap up in xxxzebxxx

[Fibrofoggiest]

I think I get the princely sum of £10 if the weather has been cold for seven days or more consecutively........ Not sure how much fuel I can get for that, but I one should be grateful for small mercies

Foggy x

[Hidden in reply to Fibrofoggiest]

That wouldn't last more than two days on the gas meter in our house in fact at really cold times probably a day and a half

sad isn't it

[anbuma in reply to Fibrofoggiest]

I also get this miserly sum of £10.it angers me when the rich get winter fuel allowance when they are of pensionable age regardless of what their income is and with the likes of celebrities getting it even when they continue to "work" into their 80's.im sure charities would benefit from these payments and £10 Is basically taking the ????

[Fibrofoggiest]

Drat, I have a while to wait, I knew mine was benefit related, is it may be that with all the changes it won't happen against im not in the support group, so.....I don't know ! I'm actually feeling cold this afternoon, so am wondering whether I may be going down with something as I'm sat within four feet of my woodburner which is going nicely, and I'm still getting the odd chilly feeling.....hhhmmm

Foggy x

[Hidden in reply to Fibrofoggiest]

memory foam igloo hunny xxx

[Hidden in reply to Fibrofoggiest]

Sorry forgot to mention that I don't actually know to which benefits it applies I'm on DLA and ESA support and I just know that I qualify because my successful claim letter said so

[Fibrofoggiest in reply to Hidden]

I'm on lower rate DLA but in the WRAG, hey ho such fun......ATOS at their best again

Foggy x

[Hidden]

I am always cold. Perhaps I should emigrate

[Marz in reply to Hidden]

If you are always cold then check out your temperature on waking - and before going to the loo ! Look at the Broda Barnes Basal Temperature Website too ! If your temperature is under 37C for 5 days or more then you may need to consider an UAT - under active thyroid - Hypothyroidism... I live in Crete but until I was optimally treated I felt the cold

[Hidden in reply to Marz]

Hi there Marz I was reading through your replies yesterday and today and was wondering if you were a medical professional and checked your profile but there is nothing to read Its a shame really as you've given so much thyroid advice it sounds like you're a doctor but none of us can check to find out if you are or not

Regards

xxxzebxxx

[Marz in reply to Hidden]

No - I am not a doctor - just a fellow sufferer of this and that. My medical history is long and complicated - so it's difficult to know what to mention ! I am a 67 year old lady living in Crete who has discovered good health after years of ill-health ! Mostly without a doctor - I have just read and read and learnt along the way. Am happy to give you the full story in a PM if you are interested. I too had a diagnosis of Fibro some 14 years ago

After over 40 years of being unwell I was diagnosed with the auto-immune version of thyroid illness here in Crete in 2005. I have Hashimotos. So my journey began. One of my daughters was also tested here and a thyroid scan revealed a node which we were told needed further investigation. On her return to the UK she went to see her GP with her blood test results and scan pictures from Crete. He refused to look at them. Did his own tests and pronounced her normal - whatever that means ....there is no such thing as normal ! She still was not happy and nor were we - and again she was tested and again he said normal. We persuaded her to see an Endocrinologist privately which her GP reluctantly acted upon. She had a FNA - Fine Needle Aspiration - of the thyroid and she had cancer. Her thyroid was removed and RAI followed. She has now to cope with Chondroid tumours in her leg - and has had two further operations. They are refusing to acknowledge the connection or the neglect in acting more quickly....

My older daughter has Thyroid Anti-bodies - but a professor of Endocrinology at a top London Teaching hospital said it was nothing to worry about. When I checked out his credentials on the net I could see that his speciality was Diabetes - yikes ! Diabetes can be the result of un-diagnosed or under-treated thyroid illness - it's all part of the endocrine system. So my quest for knowledge continues.

My brain is crammed with snippets of things that have helped me to be this lady who teaches yoga 3/4 times a week - walks my Greek dog - swims miles in the summer - plays tennis - ouch ! - and generally has a life that exceeds all my expectations. I am currently writing a post about gluten - hope it is still there !

Please do ask me anything

[Fibrofoggiest in reply to Marz]

Am I right in thinking you normally post in the thyroid section of HU! Think I may have seen you there

Foggy x

[Marz in reply to Fibrofoggiest]

Yes - you are absolutely correct. Having been diagnosed with FM some 14 years ago I am frustrated at the very poor understanding in the medical profession of both Fibro and Thyroid. Interestingly as I am now self treating my thyroid having learnt so much on HealthUnlocked Thyroid UK - I just want to spread the word....and try to help others to look beyond what they have been told by their Docs.

Please read my posts on Thyroid UK to understand me better ! x

[Mdaisy in reply to Marz]

Dear Marz,

As i mentioned yesterday please could I suggest you may have been misdiagnosed with Fibromyalgia as symptoms of Fibro & problems with thyroid are quite similiar OR your diagnosis was correct of Fibro & could your body have been experiencing a prolonged period of stress due to an undiagnosed condition which now been treated decreases the stress therefore your symptoms are less now?

Mdaisy FIBROACTION

Hello Everyone,

My personal opinion is that Fibro could be be a precursor to thyroid problems. I would suggest that the Fibromyalgia causes problems with the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (regulatory part of the body controlling the hormones etc) and therefore affects your thyroid.

It could be very likely people have Fibro before any diagnosis of Hypothyroidism and unaware at the time as they have similar symptoms to Fibro. I personally think that the person who thought they had Fibro then had Thyroxine tablets claiming they felt better after treatment, merely had the symptoms of Hypothyroidism (that are similiar) and not Fibro at all.

I would be interested to read any comments from Lindsey on this subject,

Lindsey wrote the following on his post, healthunlocked.com/fibroact...

LindseyMid FIBROACTION

Thyroid issues should be ruled out (or isolated) before a diagnosis of Fibro is made. Does this always happen? No, so some people are mis-diagnosed. Does that mean that Fibro is hypothyroidism? No.

Having said that, having ANY chronic condition seems to increase your risk of having Fibro. This has been especially studied with the rheumatological conditions, such as RA or Lupus, but it also discussed by experts in relation to many conditions, from hypermobility to endometriosis.

Fibro is the end result of what can be a long process in some people. The over-stimulation of the Autonomic Nervous System - that leads to poor response from that system, central sensitisation, disturbed sleep, low levels of available dopamine and from there to the many symptoms of Fibro - can result from any extreme or long-term stimulation of this system (anything that triggers your body's fight-or-flight-type mechanisms). In some people this is linked to a long period of emotional stress, such as an abusive relationship, in others it is linked to compression of the cervical spinal cord, in others it is linked to trauma and in others to a pre-existing condition (even if the Fibro diagnosis came first). If you have a chronic condition, especially one that is uncontrolled, your body is under stress even if you are not aware of it.

I am so happy that you have such good health with positivity, however I personally think correcting any thyroid problems in Fibro is one piece of a jigsaw rather then the solution. Misdiagnosis of Fibro may happen and when people feel better after treatment for a diagnosis of Hypothyroidism, I would personally be thinking it may not have been Fibromyalgia at all

Interested to hear others thoughts

Emma

[Fibrofoggiest in reply to Marz]

You certainly seem to have had an awful lot to cope with,both yourself and with your dear daughter, I admire your positive attitude and wish both you and your daughter well

Foggy x

[Marz in reply to Fibrofoggiest]

Thank you.....

[Hidden in reply to Marz]

Well I must say you and your family haven't had much luck with British based GP's that must be a wrench and a half. I'm sorry to hear about daughter number one that must have been dreadful for you all too. I've also had numerous bad GP's and consultants that have miss or dismissed and it is soul destroying but I like you don't give up until I get the answers I'm looking for.

I've researched so much about this and that also (but never the thyroid) because for a number of years it was all in my head apparently so self help was all I had up until 6 years ago when a locum took me on after reading my file and noticed a few things. He has since become the lead GP who owns the practice and if I ask him to check levels of this and that he does and also shows me and explains them. I must be lucky

My recent blood showed abnormal T4 and Ferretin (had that before), B12 and white cell count normal there were many other abnormal levels but within range so I'm now having regular tests to check them.

If every GP was as good as that then maybe we'd all get diagnosis quicker wouldn't you agree? The whole thyroid/fibro debate however is long serving but not dismissed just a what if until research can prove the link well I think so anyway, interesting stuff that I shall look more into. My brother is a Biochemist, Dr of chemistry actually and a researcher so he passes info across now and again I shall ask him to keep his eyes peeled

Thankyou for your reply Marz and also pm me anytime you can teach me about the blood level things.......... I'm not a biochemist LOLOL

warming healing fluffie cuddles

xxxzebxxx

[elbeth in reply to Marz]

What a lovely post

[Hidden]

Thanks Marz I will do that

[josieowl]

3. Eligibility

You may get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting:

Pension Credit

Income Support

income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Universal Credit

Pension Credit

You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Pension Credit.

Income Support and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and have any of the following:

a disability or pensioner premium

a child who is disabled

Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element

a child under 5 living with you

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get income-related ESA and have any of the following:

the support or work-related component of ESA

a severe or enhanced disability premium

a pensioner premium

a child who is disabled

Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element

a child under 5 living with you

Universal Credit

You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Universal Credit, you’re not employed or self employed and one of the following apply:

you get a limited capability for work element (with or without a work-related activity element)

you get the disabled child element in your claim

you have a child under 5 living with you

You’ll also be eligible if you have a disabled child element in your claim, whether you are employed or not.

[josieowl]

this was from ,gov.uk/cold-weather-payment it will give all the info and a link to the cols weather tool where you put in tour postcode and it tells you if you are due a payment

[Hidden in reply to josieowl]

Cheers josie that is very useful

xxxzebxxx

[josieowl]

i typed it didnt copy and paste and just had eye surgery so prop missed typed oopps

so try gov.uk/cold-weather-payment

[Hidden in reply to josieowl]

No I am on it now josie but through a different link on the site, I've tried a few different ones and now I can check not to worry very useful link

[josieowl]

pensions-service.direct.gov... this one takes you to the cold weather check tool it was on the page the link is on and scroll down to the highlighted link for the cold weather tool or use the link here

[Mazz64]

You get a cold weather payment of £25 if it is below zero for 7 days in a row, I got it last year, while on WRAG.

[Marz]

Hi Gins - it was here - 13 hours ago - I posted about my Fibro - maybe you missed it as I use the abbreviation FM....

[Ginsing in reply to Marz]

o I read it and thank you so much for thProfile brilliant Now how much does the warmer weather over there help your Fibrom ?

[Marz in reply to Ginsing]

Am sure the warm sunny weather is good for all of us - free vitamin D ! My Fibro was greatly eased once I started on thyroid treatment. Vitamin D is not just a vitamin - but a steroidal pre-hormone and involved in many of the bodily functions. Regulating hormones - anti-inflammatory - so very important for fibro....and is almost always low in people with chronic conditions. Everyone should be tested in my humble non-medical opinion ! The thyroid treatment evolved and I have refined it further so now have very little discomfort. I take T3. Dr John Lowe wrote an amazing book - now a collectors item ...so expensive - The Metabolic Treatment of Fibromyalgia. He treated his patients with T3. Sadly he died after an accident and his website is in probate. If you put his name into google I am sure you will find lots of references. In particular his talk with [Edited by Admin] [Link removed as per guidelines] about Fibro/T3

My personal experience is that LOW T3 is one of the contributors. It is the only active thyroid hormone and rarely tested in the UK. They think TSH is the gold standard - ummm ! Well that is secreted from the Pituitary Gland telling the Thyroid to produce T4....and so on.

If you are interested I could explain more about the Fibro/Thyroid connection. I think that at least rule out the thyroid as being an issue - and not with just the TSH test - but the complete profile including anti-bodies and maybe a scan. I was lucky to move to Crete - they automatically do the full profile and are good at diagnosis. I realise that for many it is a contentious issue - maybe a little more understanding is required about the correct testing and understanding of the results. When it comes to ranges - one size does not fit all. For instance if your TSH is in range your GP may say all is well. If you have Low FT4 and Low FT3 then all is not well - your metabolism will begin to wane and things start going wrong ....and so those tests must also be carried out.

Apologies for the ramble !