Since you have been diagnosed with Vasculiti... - Vasculitis UK

Vasculitis UK

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Since you have been diagnosed with Vasculitis, have you had to claim benefits? Please leave any appropriate comments

Suzym2u profile imageSuzym2uModeratorVasculitis UK157 Voters

Please select one:

32 Replies
ldwilliams profile image
ldwilliams

No option for claiming both though

Suzym2u profile image
Suzym2uModeratorVasculitis UK in reply to ldwilliams

Please state in other , I am afraid we are only allowed 8 options :-(

ldwilliams profile image
ldwilliams in reply to Suzym2u

Ah! I see

cgarmstr profile image
cgarmstr

Only work half time

jackiec52 profile image
jackiec52

I claim Esa but have been told i could claim pip, but havent tried

Have just been dismissed from work on grounds of ill health and am going through the process of claiming ESA. I am not going to bother even trying to claim PIP as I know I won't meet the criteria. Not looking forward to filling out the ESA health questionnaire!

Jean9618 profile image
Jean9618

Initially claimed PIP after being ill health retired. Was awarded both daily living and mobility but the mobility element has since been withdrawn and I am appealing.

woollysox profile image
woollysox

I was dismissed from work on grounds of ill health and am now in receipt of ESA (support group) and higher rate PIP in both daily living and mobility components.

Greenkit profile image
Greenkit

I am now off work for over 12 month's my work paid me full for 6 months then i had to claim ESA contribution based but that is only for 12 months. I am ok if i can return to work otherwise i will have to live off my savings. All this after working full time for 42 years. When i am well enough i will be using my savings on some really nice holidays to spend it. :)

anthony01 profile image
anthony01

I have 3 Long term illnesses which affect my mobility,pain thresholds and therefore it is not only Vasculitis. But degenerative spinal, diabetes uncontrolled, stroke affect the benefits differences

Helz82 profile image
Helz82

After diagnosis and flaring badly after pregnancy it took 5 years for me to become stable enough to work again. I claimed esa and pip . Back then a lot easier to claim . This was 2007-2011

lovenothate profile image
lovenothate

I voted PIP but have also claimed ESA - you can't tick both.

JenAmyJam profile image
JenAmyJam

I claim both ESA (Support Group) and DLA Higher rate care and Mobility.

haze93 profile image
haze93

Having worked for 18 yrs and going to college,I became ill. Was getting sick pay but when that ran out I had to claim ESA. After a year or so of being off sick I was placed in support group then about a year later I was dismissed on health grounds by my employer. Since then I've claimed DLA which I received for 2 years after appeal (lower rate) then applied again and received it straight away. 6 mth before I was due to claim I got the dreaded PIP form. Surprise surprise I didn't qualify even through appeal. So now only qualify for ESA. This has been since 2011

Jill_Foster profile image
Jill_Foster

When my husband was acutely unwell he could not work and could only get statutory sick pay which is not enough to pay basic needs (especially living in greater london) let alone the additional expenses like going to Hammersmith weekly, paying astronomical car parking fees there, £50 a time prescriptions charges etc etc. It took him 5 and half months to get back and probably went back too early. He was then only able to work a couple of hours so money became even tighter. We did everything we could to make ends meet but ended up with debts.

vivdunstan profile image
vivdunstanVolunteer

I'm going to have to choose other because I tried to claim DLA in 1996 when I was still misdiagnosed. Refused, even though the examining doctor thought I should get it (I appealed and saw his report). I found it hugely stressful and since my original illness in 1994 was very probably triggered by severe stress I refused to try to claim ever again, even after I was diagnosed properly with cerebral vasculitis. I fell ill at such a young age, as a postgraduate student, that I did not have the National Insurance contributions needed to claim many key work-related benefits. Also initially I couldn't claim an income related benefit because my husband was a full time student, which again ruled us out. We lived well below the poverty line for years. We are doing good now. I have no intention of ever claiming and putting myself through the stress again, in case it worsens my life threatening vasculitis. Not least because people are reassessed frequently. I can get my blue badge and disabled bus pass without claiming. It's my blue badge that helps me the most.

luggsey profile image
luggsey

I claim attendance allowance for my Mum.

Maybe AA should be on the list?

Suzym2u profile image
Suzym2uModeratorVasculitis UK in reply to luggsey

I am afraid we are limited to 8 choices, but the comments are as important as the votes.

michichgo profile image
michichgo

I'm in the States and since being diagnosed with MPA 2.5 years ago, I've been receiving disability payments through my employer's long term disability insurance. I'm sure one day I'll be required to file for government aid but I'm putting it off for now, as I've heard it's difficult to obtain.

I work ten hours per week and can't imagine working more than that. The fatigue I suffer on a daily basis-even though I'm in remission-is severe. I wish there were a different term for remission in vasculitis. It's so misleading!

amms43 profile image
amms43

I am partly retired. I claim my pension but I still work part time.

Gma61 profile image
Gma61

Some people.like me have had to apply for esa and dla

Kat13 profile image
Kat13

After my original onset of CNSV, I claimed long term disability here in Toronto for four years after which I returned to work for five years. I have now been on LTD again for the past year.

ruby541 profile image
ruby541

I stopped working in 2006 due to recurring uveitis in both eyes. I claimed Disability Benefit for several years and went through two appeals to keep it. Then it was stopped because my husband works more than 21 hours a week, and has a few quid in the bank he inherited from his Father. So, I lost a £25000 a year job, got a few years Benefit and then was written off. They do still credit my NI account, so in due time I might get a better pension. I am now 46, and thankfully things have stabilised heath-wise.

cazg profile image
cazg

Unable to claim benefits because I made the mistake of saving for emergencies so did not qualify, I was however able to get my council tax bill reduced but as I had paid off my mortgage no help with other housing costs

Pollie profile image
Pollie

After a bad flare up in 2007 I had to claim DLA care and mobility. About 12 months later I was able to do more for myself and am just on the Mobility element now. Just some points....it is possible to be retired/not working and still claim appropriate benefits and it's also possible to appeal after a refusal.

anniemb profile image
anniemb

I have been off work for the past 5 weeks after being diagnosed with GCA/PMR. I had already tried to claim for DLA 3 years ago as I also suffer from chronic RA/OA but did not meet the criteria. It did not matter too much then as my husband had a good job. Moving on 3 years I now live alone and have been managing to hold down a part-time job until now to supplement my small private pension (from working full time for 29 years) and am having to pay for a cleaner , man to tidy my garden etc to get by. I have started the ball rolling on claiming PIP but know only too well that it will be futile and I will just be putting myself through a great deal of stress. I am even thinking I shouldn't bother applying for a blue badge as my friend told me she was put through a 45 minute grilling when she went for the assessment recently

Cathomp profile image
Cathomp

I receive PIP and ESA. My employer put me on permenant sick so they also pay me a small amount.

BooBoo39 profile image
BooBoo39Volunteer

I claim DLA and ESA so have elected for the 'other' box in the poll

Katie18 profile image
Katie18

i did receive benefits initially but i stopped them after about nine months when i could work

braindamage profile image
braindamage

I applied and recieved DLA on appeal in late 2007 after I had to retire on medical grounds so I'm surprised at the percentage that don't receive it (or PIP). Maybe I'm out of touch?

Moley1 profile image
Moley1

Diagnosed with GPA in1987 and have worked all through, some times part time. Continued with all the drugs keeping me going. Unfortunately diagnosed with Non Hodgekinsons cerebal Lymphoma in Apl 2014 and given weeks to live. Still here! I am waiting to take ill health retirement (at 55) but surviving with the help of PIP and ESA.

Dbis22 profile image
Dbis22

I claim ESA as no chance I will return to work. I was also persuaded to claim DLA which I did - successfully. Looks like that nay disappear when PIP replaces it.

I got a huge amount of benefits help here :

dwpexamination.org

It's a free forum and very sociable. Lots of info!