Sleep Apnea as a disability?

2169Terry

Hi my name is Terry. i have very recently been diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea. My scores are toward the end of the severe scale. As a result I have informed DLVA of my condition, they have informed me i must not drive. As a consequence this has cost me my job as a surveying engineer. I have a small pension from military service but nowhere near enough to pay mortgage and bills. I do not know anything about  the welfare system or any assistance i may be entitled to so, i am hoping people may be able to give me some guidance, as my work was often freelance I am not eligible for sickness benefit although i have paid full stamp

poppy123456

There’s no entitlement to benefits based on a diagnosis.

To be entitled to New style ESA if you were self employed you will need to have paid the correct NI contributions in the previous 2 tax years. Any pension of up to £85/week is ignored. For every £1/week over this amount there’s a 50p/week deduction in the ESA.

For Universal Credit because it’s means tested any savings/capital over £16,000 means there’s no entitlement. If you live with a partner you’ll need to claim as a couple. Your pension will reduce any entitlement £1 for £1. You can use a benefits calculator to check entitlement.

If you claim ESA and UC together the ESA is deducted in full from any UC entitlement. 

Theres also PIP which is a disability benefit but it’s not awarded based on any diagnosis. Whether there’s any entitlement will depend on how your conditions affect you against the 12 PIP activities. It’s not means tested either so other income will not affect the amount you maybe entitled to. There’s some information here. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @2169terry

Welcome to the community! I am sorry to hear that your sleep apnea has meant you cannot drive or work. I just wanted to check in that you have support around you with it? Having a new diagnosis can be quite stressful. We are here if you ever need to talk or vent! 

2169Terry

Thank you for your feedback, it is valued and appreciated. As i initially suspected very few positives are to be had from this diagnosis, i am sure as the nurse specialist informs me that soon with control measure in place i will be feeling on top of the world again........ Perhaps just in time to see my house repossessed. LOL  

poppy123456

Have you used a benefits calculator to check entitlement to Universal Credit? 

Have you also looked at claiming PIP? It’s not awarded based on any diagnosis so whether there’s any entitlement will depend on how your conditions affect you.

Hannah_Alumni

@2169Terry I'm glad to hear you have help from the specialist nurse. I see Poppy has advised the benefits calculators to see if there is any more support for you  

poppy123456

stormy said:

2169Terry said:

 Perhaps just in time to see my house repossessed. LOL  

I dont know if there is any help with mortgage interest or not.

You need to be claiming certain means tested benefits such as Universal Credit to apply for SMI and even then it's only a loan which needs to be repaid back if you sell your home in the future. https://www.gov.uk/support-for-mortgage-interest

2oldcodgers

2169Terry said:

Hi my name is Terry. i have very recently been diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea. My scores are toward the end of the severe scale. As a result I have informed DLVA of my condition, they have informed me i must not drive. As a consequence this has cost me my job as a surveying engineer. I have a small pension from military service but nowhere near enough to pay mortgage and bills. I do not know anything about  the welfare system or any assistance i may be entitled to so, i am hoping people may be able to give me some guidance, as my work was often freelance I am not eligible for sickness benefit although i have paid full stamp

I would suggest that you reach out to the RBL - welfare people in Bristol as well as your local SSAFA rep.
I found both to be of great help in the past.

2169Terry

Thank you all for the advice, as most who are recently diagnosed with any condition, that has such a detrimental effect on personal circumstances, i am still at the "rabbit caught in headlight" stage of this whole matter, hopefully i can find work, working from home in either I.T or Call handling in the meantime.

Thank you all.