3 weeks off work and panicking.

[Jules13]

I'm self employed and haven't worked now for over 3 weeks because of this hideous illness. Still only week 7 of neducarion. So if you figure it's usually 30 days until invoices get paid, i won't get any money in October. Totally panicking. Not helping RA with stress.

[Hidden]

Can you apply for emergency government assistance in your country? Dealing with this dreadful disease is hard enough without the fear of having no money next month. My heart goes out to you.

This disease destroys every part of our lives. How are we to pay bills & keep a roof over our heads while dealing with the pain of RA...and deal with the side effects of our meds? ....something just isn't right here.

I used to make $52k a year before RA...I only made $22K last year...and I was one of the lucky ones in my country, as my job has a Long term disability plan....it's just not right.

Sending you a hug

[Jules13 in reply to Hidden]

I early £36£ last year and this year only £14k. That was before the RA. I've only just come out of a year long recovery from thigh and knee replacement. Someone told me the trauma of that surgery could have brought on the RA.

there is no emergency funding but you can claim for disability allowance and employment support allowance. But if you are awarded it (doubtful) it's only £60 a week. How does that cover my expenses which are £1500 a month? I also have income protection but I have to have not worked for 3 whole months before I can claim. I realised that's useless because I can't not work for 3 months.

[Hidden]

Oh, and I should add, find out the debt laws of your country.

In Canada you can miss 2 months not paying your credit cards, hydro, mortgage etc without the fear of your name being placed at the credit bureau. On month 3 you have to pay your bills.

Please look up the credit/ debt laws of your country.

All the best to you

[Jules13 in reply to Hidden]

I took a 2 month mortgage holiday when I was ill a few years ago. It totally affected my credit score for a year. Couldn't get a loan or a credit card until 12 months had passed. Also my next two monthly mortgage payments were one and a half to make up for non payment. I was screwed.

[Hidden in reply to Jules13]

So sorry to hear this. There should be a "DISlike " button. I'm not impressed with that. We are allowed to take a 2 month mortgage holiday every year without it effecting our credit. No punishment....No matter what mortgage or what bank holds your mortgage.....We have the option of paying it back anytime or the missed payments just gets attached to your mortgage balance.

[sylvi]

I suggest you ask the social or dwp for help they will be best place to advise you. Also to back you up ask your gp for a letter to back your claim up darling. Hugs from me.xxxx

[helixhelix]

You should be able to get contribution based ESA - employment and support allowance - if you paid your NI contributions last year. Might be worth investigating?

[Jules13 in reply to helixhelix]

It's not enough to cover my weekly outgoings. Not even barely. It's only £60 a week. Wouldn't even cover my rent.

[Jules13 in reply to helixhelix]

As I said above, it's only £60 a week. Wouldn't even cover rent let alone food or transport.

[helixhelix in reply to Jules13]

If you've paid NI then you are entitled to it so might as well claim if you can't work. Yes it's nowhere near enough, but every little helps as they say.

Hopefully this is a very temporary situation and once meds kick in you'll be fine.

[Jules13 in reply to helixhelix]

Yes you're right. £60 is a weeks shopping!!! I've realised that the healthier I eat, the more expensive it is. Organic fruit and veg is soooo expensive. Why are healthy eaters punished for saving the NHS billions?

[avocadothrower1]

Have a look here: citizensadvice.org.uk

look under benefits & ESA

They also have a helpline number and webchat

Re credit cards etc it's always worth alerting them in advance if you think you may temporarily not be able to make a payment-- it costs financial institutions a lot to chase a defaulters & most are very reasonable if you keep them. informed.

Hopefully meds will work & you will be back earning soon

[Jules13 in reply to avocadothrower1]

See above. I claimed esa 2 years ago when

I had a knee and thigh replacement. I had to leave London and move to my parents for 6 months because I could only claim £60 a week. Had to rent out my flat because I couldn't work. My parents are now in their 80's. They can't look after me again.

[Jules13 in reply to avocadothrower1]

Luckily I now don't have any credit cards and never want one again.

[keeta]

Hi love i.m kinda having similar probs aswell.

I was off for 2 months .i work as a carer in a care home . When i came back .havent coped well because of pain fatigue etc .but the girls are so good and help me .i have just had to knock my hours back to 1 - 12hour day a week .i am 67 and don.t no if you can claim disability if you work one day a week or if you didn.t work .i love my job i really get attatched but its been so hard .don.t know what i can claim .or how to go about it .i have spoken to lovely people here a while ago but .its time to sort things out .findi g it hard to cope now . Any helpfull advice

[helixhelix in reply to keeta]

Look at pension credits, they might make a difference for you

gov.uk/pension-credit

[Jules13 in reply to helixhelix]

I'm only 49. I would have to be 57 to be able to get that.

[Jules13 in reply to keeta]

Are you employed or self employed?

[Jules13 in reply to keeta]

You can claim esa and still work 16 hours a week but right now I can't even manage a day.

[keeta in reply to Jules13]

Employed was working 3.12 hoyr days but in too much pain . Thank you x

[Jules13 in reply to keeta]

If you were employed you got sick leave though right. And still got paid? X

[keeta in reply to Jules13]

Yes

[keeta in reply to Jules13]

Surely everyone gets sick pay .even self employed .??

[Jules13 in reply to keeta]

No

[keeta in reply to Jules13]

You dont get anything for the first 3 dsys off but i think it was 83 pounds a week after .you need to speak to someone love x

[Jules13 in reply to keeta]

3 days? It's been 3 weeks off. I'm not sure what you mean. I'm self employed. What benefit do you mean? I can't claim unemployment because I'm not unemployed. Which benefit is £83?? Thanks.

[Neonkittie17]

Hugs Jules xxx

[Hidden]

My heart is hurting for you. I can only send you a big hug.

[avocadothrower1]

Jules, it's good news that long term you have income protection . How very sensible of you! I think you need a "better off" benefits check to see if, in the short term you would get more help working (what you can do) & claiming working tax credits or claiming contrib based ESA. You can claim income related ESA as well as contribution based if your income is low enough and there may also be a disability premium, though the threshold for this is high.

I am an adviser at CA and I would strongly ad use you to talk to them! They will be able to ask you the kind of details which aren't appropriate for a public forum and might impact the advice given.

As regards the mortgage and other debts there's gone good advice here:

citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-...

-- if you have equity in your property it might be worth spreading the cost of any arrears over the full term.

You are understandably stressed out by all this but talk to the utility companies, the mortgage company etc . They have regulatory guidelines about handling cases like this.

Best of luck.

[Jules13 in reply to avocadothrower1]

Thanks Avocado (ha). I have just applied for Pip but I wasn't sure if I could do ESA at the same time.

Yes it is sensible that I have income protection but it's proving difficult to use it as I have to be off work for 3 months before I can make a claim. If you read my other replies I have explained it a bit better. I'm going to call CA. I'm so unaware of what I can claim. I've paid tax and NI for over 30 years so I don't feel bad that I may be eligible to claim something back.

The other thing is I'm just in the midst of buying a new house. The stress doesn't add to my woes but at least I've been able to do a the paperwork while off sick. So every spare penny I had in savings, is going towards that. Ugh. I'm renting a room in a friend's (!!!) cottage. She has zero empathy and hasn't once asked if I need help. It's hard being around someone that doesn't care. Luckily all my other friends have been amazingly supportive.

[Jules13]

It might have been my particular mortgage lender!