what benefits can you claim with a TBI

[runnerswimmerbiker]

anybody know about what benefits you can claim? Had a traumatic brain injury back in MAY I am still in recovery,so still off work, but i am worried about my work, nobody tells you anything! i am worried about what the future holds,I am due for retirement in 3 years, is it worth going early retirement? what do you guys think, as a matter of interest? MY Recovery is going well, but this could take me a year or more to be normal, struggling with my left arm,I used to be a triathlete but I am not able to do my front crawl, but I can go out and jog, slowly, but will need time before I am back on the bike outside! That is what got me in this situation! My goddamn bike and a pothole!

[pinkvision]

If you are well enough to work I don't think you can claim any benefits or maybe you can but have to work to find another job. If you quit your job you can't claim either, I don't think. If you take early retirement and start your pension you can't claim anything either. If you have savings over 16k you can't claim anything. If you have a partner that earns you can't claim benefits. I think land and property ownership comes into the equation also. Maybe phone the headway helpline and they can explain your options. I'm sure others will chip in and say what's what.

[Painting-girl]

Hi runner. Sorry to hear this.

Difficult to give you a time line, every brain injury is different. What line of work are you in, and how bad is your brain injury - what symptoms are you getting?

I've had to retire early - my concussion / MTBI was just over three years ago.

Are you on sick pay at the moment? I'm pretty sure you can first claim statutory sick pay (it is paid by your employer not government now) and then ESA based on your NI contributions. Start ESA as soon as possible because you need two full years of. national insurance contributions previous to a claim.

[runnerswimmerbiker in reply to Painting-girl]

Thanks Painting-girl, yes I am told every brain injury is different! I am a dinner lady with Perth high school, so it is a heavy demanding job!OT are working on my left side which is weak, but I do a lot of biking on my turbo and running outside, and they are well pleased I can manage this, I still have some slight dizziness so I am careful when running on trail and uneven ground,I usually have someone with me. The only symptoms are weak left side ie my arm and my running is improving my leg strength ! So its a lot of working on my left arm! and yes I am on sick pay at the moment.

[Painting-girl in reply to runnerswimmerbiker]

Sounds like you are doing really well to be running so soon, but can see that you were really fit to start with. Luckily as an athlete, you'll be used to 'listening' to your body. My sports physio ( a concussion specialist) said it was important not to exercise beyond the point that exercise triggered any symptoms - with me that was nausea, and what felt like a tight band round my head. The aim was to exercise below that threshold, which he said was heart rate dependent, and only gradually increase effort week by week. It worked - I got up to my max heart rate over several months.

Really tough to have a weak left side - that sucks, must be really frustrating.

I think you have to apply for statutory sick pay yourself - unless that's forming part of your sick pay packet already? I think when that ends you apply for ESA.

gov.uk/employment-support-a...

[Butterfly28]

The benefits system is a minefield. If you are still getting some form of sick pay from your employer - including statutory sick pay - then you are unlikely to get any of the employment related benefits. Once statutory sick pay finishes then you could get employment support allowance- the amount will depend on your circumstances etc PIP is another possibility.

BUT - do get in touch with Citizens Advice - they can be very helpful with this stuff and there’s a lot of information on their website.

Good luck

[Pairofboots]

Hi. You can claim ESA as soon as your wages reduce in line with most long term sickness from work.

PIP is not income related. It is not the easiest benefit to claim, I would advise making contact with an organisation like Scope that can help you apply. There is a time limit on the application from the point you ask for the application form, so arrange help before asking for the form.

Early retirement is an option, but this would require an occupational health Dr recommendation if you apply on the grounds of ill health. This means that your pension will be awarded as if you took retirement at full term.

It is worth talking through your options with Headway, their contact details are pinned to this page. 🍀

[Jacacc]

If you had your TBI at work then you could claim Industrial Injuries and depending how long your injuries will last will depend on how long you get it for, it can be a few months to a life time award. This benefit is not means tested and can still be claimed whilst working or not. If your injury was not in work they you will be looking at PIP, ESA or universal credit and again this will depend on your injuries and circumstances. Hopefully you can keep making a recovery and going forward. Good luck for the future.

[Froggiefrog]

All that I can add to the above is to make sure you/ whoever assists you are quite specific about the way in which your current state of health affects you, particularly with regards to mobility and completing tasks with regards to PIP. Please remember that if, for example, you have a lack of strength in an arm, you may have coping strategies, but it is about the effect doing things in the usual way has or would have..