Is is possible to get funding or a carer for fybromyalgia

Nikkiibz

I suffer with Fybromyalgia and several other long term health conditions. I am a single mum to three children and since losing a 19 year old to suicide I’m finding my pain and fatigue from the fybro is crippling me and I can’t get much done. Is there any help available like a pa or carer I  could have paid for by local council to support my living. 

surfygoose

Anyone is entitled to request a needs assessment. They will assess if you have eligible care needs. If they say you need the care then they can arrange direct payments so you can employ someone yourself which the plus side gives you choice but that comes with responsibilities of being an employer, or can get social services to commission the support and they send in an agency for you. They would work out how many hours support you need. Once the support needs are agreed they do a financial assessment so that they can see how much you can afford to contribute towards your care. That amount would be different depending on your circumstances. They have to leave you with a minimum amount to live on, so if you have your own place then they leave you with more money because you need money to pay your bills and pay your rent and buy food. In my case because I always lived in care homes they leave me with much smaller amount and I contribute more to my care because the accommodation and bills and food are included in my care package so I’m not entitled to keep as much money as I don’t have responsibility for paying for bills.

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @Nikkiibz

I'm so sorry to hear about your son. I just wanted to ask if you have had support? or if you feel like you need any? The NHS has a great information page on Grief after bereavement or loss.

As surfygoose said above, a needs assessment would be the best route. I also found this webpage from Fibromyalgia Friends Together on support and grants that may be helpful.