Benefits?

Is there anyone on here that claims benefits for PMR?

I’m struggling to work to be honest only work three days a week I resigned today.

I have headache again! My neck hurts my hips and legs :((((

I’ve put myself upto 20mg again

[whitefishbay]

I changed my hours and left an hour earlier for awhile. I need to work and it probably kept me going. Management has no mercy where I work.

[Coffeebeans]

I don't claim benefits. It I did go and see occupational health to agree some.reasomable adjustments. The adjustments are very much structured breaks and a longer lunch with no penalty and it has made a difference.

Employers do have a duty of care to you to do something similar that works for you as PMR probably comes under disability law.

I hope someone can decide on benefits.

[123-go]

I'm so sorry to hear you are still in so much pain. Benefits aside for the moment, your GP should be doing more to help you manage the pain you're currently experiencing. Your drop from 30mg Pred initial dose in June to 15mg was way too fast. Has the increase to 20mg helped at all? If not, I would strongly advise you to ask your GP for an urgent referral to a rheumatologist. If you have any changes in vision and the 20mg hasn't relieved your headache you must go to A and E directly for investigations. I can't stress enough the importance of doing so as your sight may be compromised.

As you are below the age for state pension I believe you may be entitled to benefits; citizens advice should be able to help but it's imperative to get medical advice for your current symptoms. I'm sorry if all this appears blunt, but you really can't manage this on your own.

[MiloCollie]

Hi. I’m on employment support allowance which is about £75 a week. Paid fortnightly to me a d when that £150 arrives I am always grateful. I was earning £500 a week as a nurse in April so it’s a big drop but I had to finish. I never thought I’d be on benefits but I have paid into the system for many years and deserve it more than some! I have an Nhs pension waiting so it’s only short term money but pays almost half of my bills. Get claiming!!!

[Vieja]

Due to the pandemic I had to apply for Universal Credit as I could you continue in my job. About 6 months later I was diagnosed with PMR. UC has an add on element if you are unable to work due to illness which I received 3 months later. This made a big difference. You will need Your GP to support you with Fit notes. UC will also do an assessment of your abilities over the phone. Good luck

[ChrisinNam]

Because of extreme fatigue I'm in the middle of claiming attendance allowance, being of pensionable age (77). I'm also going to apply for a blue badge. Will report progress.

[S4ndy]

I am on ESA (now been replaced by UC). I also receive PIP. I have PMR, OA in knees, shoulders and spine with nerve impingement and also suffer from IBS and depression. So my awards were not solely for PMR.

Awards are made on what you can and cannot do so it's definitely worth you applying. Get a "fit" note from your GP and then contact the DWP and apply. There's help with forms out there from Age UK and Citizens Advice. Online there's an excellent site called Benefits and Work which has very helpful guides on how to apply. It's an annual subscription but the best £15 you will spend as their online guides are second to none.

Claiming benefits is very soul destroying and a long drawn out and often humiliating process designed to put people off. Stick with it is my advice. Remember you have contributed all your national insurance payments while working and now you cannot you are entitled to get some help.

Good luck and don't give up xxx

[tangocharlie]

I get PIP (which is not means tested) and ESA as I am unable to work which is dependant on your past NI contributions and any income. But the main reason I qualify is I also have complicated vision problems as well as PMR (am registered blind). Applying for PIP (or AA if you are over retirement age) involves filling in a long form and then a physical assessment. It is quite complicated and essential to get advice from some organisation like Age UK or Citizens Advice as they know how to word things that tick boxes and what you should and should not say. It is soul-destroying as others have said because you really have to stress how hard life is and how difficult it is to do things, it isn't to do with specific conditions. For example, one bit relevant to PMR is how difficult it is to wash and dress and move around it is. There is a Care component and a Mobility component and probably the care aspect is the one where you might score points. Originally I was turned down but persevered and eventually got it, though have to re-apply every few years, just in case my eyesight miraculously comes back I guess is the logic. Go for it, you have nothign to lose.

[Mgt1234]

Hi, I’m sorry to hear about your current challenges. Please know there are things you can do to help. You need to ensure you have good medical support from your GP and Specialist. Next check out the website benefitsandwork.co.uk/They provide information to help with benefits. In addition there is a forum on their site where people share their experiences. As mentioned by Tangocharlie above it can be emotionally challenging applying for any benefit but definitely PIP. Good luck.

[Sharitone]

I am a benefits adviser with Citizens Advice (when I can manage to go!)} so I actually know what I am talking about here!I hope you got your full statutory and contractual sick pay before resigning!

Also, if you would have preferred just to reduce your hours, your employer is obliged to consider this

citizensadvice.org.uk/work/...

If either of those things went wrong, so contact your local CitA.

Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit, so you will only get it if your household income is low. You can check whether you would get it here

benefits-calculator-2.turn2...

But even if your household is not on a low income, if you have enough National Insurance credits from the past couple of years, you could probably claim New Style ESA, which is not means-tested. It usually lasts for only a year.

citizensadvice.org.uk/benef...

Of course, the 'biggie' is PIP, because it is not mean-tested. You cannot make a new claim after reaching State Retirement age, though if you are getting it then, you can carry on getting it all the while you are eligible. There are plenty of good websites that help you work out how many points you would get, including this one

benefitsandwork.co.uk/perso... that there is only Attendance Allowance, which has no mobility component, so if you think you are eligible and are anywhere retirement age.... be quick!

citizensadvice.org.uk/benef...

As others have said, they love to turn down people who are perfectly eligible, so if you think you satisfy the criteria, do not be put off, even if they give you 0 points. Most people win at appeal.

However, a problem for people with PMR/GCA may be the time requirements - you have to have been disabled enough t get PIP for at least 3 months before applying and expect to be as disabled for at least 9 months afterwards. And w e all want to get better before that, don't we?

🤨Hope that helps. Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to Sharitone]

Yes that’s brill thanks! This job was a new one I’d only been here a month and three days a week. I struggled with that it was retail work. I don’t want to be on benefits for life I just need a bit of help while I try and sort myself out! I quit my last job too just got too much for me ended up with severe depression and anxiety. Now PMR and on route to diabetes type 2! At 49 ! I’m an active person too so for all this to happen to me my god it kills..I also have degenerated discs in my neck spine. Tried to claim pip didn’t get it called me a liar basically. My kids went without Christmas some weeks we lived on £5 for the whole week!! It’s been so hard I love working I just can’t at the minute until I sort my health but can’t get help. Didn’t get UC as my husband was agency ltd . It’s been awful 😢

[Sharitone in reply to Hidden]

Poor you! But check out the new-style ESA in case you've got enough contributions.No one should be living on that level of income. Do use the benefit check, or contact your CitA.

Above all, take no notice of the PIP decision. They ALWAYS make people feel like they are liars. If it is less than 13 months after they turned you down, you can still ask for a late mandatory reconsideration, but again, I would get CitA to help you there.

If it's more than 13 months, apply again, and keep going! Don't forget that depression and anxiety also count, so if, for example, you are physically capable of having a wash, but the depression mean that you rarely do, then you should be aiming for those points. Btw, the Health Professional at the Assessment will not have read your form, and it is a good idea to take someone with you (as a witness) as they will often simply not ask the questions that will lead to getting points, or they will ignore the answers.