Hi, I'm Anne_2021. I'm thinking about giving up work due to ill-health but worried about finances.

Anne_2021

Hello I am Anne ?

Cher_Alumni

Hi there @Anne_2021 and a warm welcome to our online community!  How are you keeping?

If there's anything at all our members can help you out with, or any questions/worries that have been playing on your mind, please let us know so we can be there for you.  Otherwise, please make yourself at home by having a look around our site - you might find our Recent discussions, different chat categories or virtual coffee lounge a nice place to 'dip your feet'!

Take care and I hope you have a lovely Thursday. 

Anne_2021

Good morning and thankyou ? I have worked in retail for 45 years (on and off while raising4 kids )worked night shift in a supermarket when the started school. Anyway I have been in this job for 10years. I have arthritis and osteoporosis in both hands and elbows. Its so hard to do my Job now. My hard are in constant pain and cramping. But November last year my immune system totally collapsed. I new for maybe 8/9 months before that , that something was serious wrong. My boss constantly just said it Was My mind set. That I didn't really want to do something. It wasn't that at all .I generally couldn't remember How to do something I had just been shown a few days earlier. Then 20th November I completely crumpled onto the floor at work. Just like a rag doll..signed off by my doctor for six months. Depression and anxiety set in omg it's so hard ? . I started back to work 4 weeks ago dropping from 40 plus hours to 12 hours a week. That's enough for me now . But at 62 I just can't do it anymore more. My hands just won't let me .I can't carry anything. Today I have an appointment with a specialist to see if there is anything can be done. I need to look after me now and my husband ❤. I dont know if financial we can do this. If I have to give up work.  He is retired with a small works pension and state pension. I am also his carer and I get £23 a week from P I P for depression and anxiety. Its getting very hard . ??? 
Sorry for long story ?

Cher_Alumni

Hi @Anne_2021

Ahh, I'm sorry to hear you've been through so much with your conditions and managing work.  I can empathise with pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion, and I'm so sorry it led to depression and anxiety.  How are those now for you?  Did you get enough support from your GP?

Scope have this brilliant webpage about 'Stopping work and ill health retirement' that goes through the ins and outs of the options you could consider.  Whilst, I'd also recommend checking you and your husband are claiming all benefits you are entitled to via this Benefits Calculator.  Bear in mind, benefits calculators give only an indication of what people may be entitled to, so you might prefer to speak to a welfare advisor local to you for more personalised advice, which you can find through the Advice Local website.  This doesn't cost anything.    

Good luck with your specialist appointment.  I hope you get some answers and ideas of treatment that could help   

Just to let you know, I've tweaked the title of your thread to help others spot what it's about and moved it to our Employment and careers category too.  Please keep us posted and ask away with any other questions you have.

Anne_2021

Thankyou.
Appreciate you reposting in correct area ? I will let you know what the specialist says later on ?

janer1967

Hi and welcome to the community 

You could ask your employer to refer you to oh for a work place assessment so they can recommend the options available to you 

It could recommend reasonable adjustments or possibly ill health retirement if in company pension or dismissal on medical grounds 

Speak to hr about options and for company policy 

You can also get employment advice from ACAS 

Good luck hope everything goes well 

calcotti

Anne_2021 said:

..I am also his carer and I get £23 a week from P I P for depression and anxiety. 

Does he get a disability benefit? If he does and you will be earning less than £128/week you can claim Carer's Allowance for looking after him. If he doesn't get a disability benefit but needs looking after he may be eligible for Attendance Allowance.

You PIP award sound like standard rate mobility. If you the impact your health has on you has changed since you were last assessed you can ask to be reassessed. Work through the descriptors before deciding whether or not this is a sensible thing to do
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system

Anne_2021

Hello everyone 
I really appreciate everyone's concerns and messages. Thankyou ❤
My specialist appointment was really positive. I was sent to a private hospital specialist in Little Aston 
Within 15 minutes I had seen the doctor. Had blood tests and had my elbows,  wrists,hands and fingers xrayed. Brilliant service. 
He wasn't very impressed with my doctor who hadn't sent carpal tunnel test results or last blood test results over. Which now have to be redone.
Will get new results and discuss treatment next Thursday. Can't believe the speed of private treatment ?
My husband gets his own P I P. . For his Disabilities he has a few problems including walking. (That's why he originally had a motability car ) He lost his disability car last year because he can Navigate a route on a Satnav .Who doesn't use a Satnav to navigate a route? 
I do only work part time now because of carers allowance, earning £108 a week. I get £96 per month for my P I P .
This is so hard .
I think like many I didn't expect to find myself living in this way .sometimes not knowing which way to go ?

janer1967

That's understandable nobody expects to find themselves in these sort of situations but on a positive it makes most people stronger after they come through the other side and adjust to different life

calcotti

Anne_2021 said:

I do only work part time now because of carers allowance, earning £108 a week. I get £96 per month for my P I P .

I am not clear from the above - are you already claiming Carer’s Allowance?

Anne_2021

Morning @calcotti .
Yes I already receive Carer's allowance and each receive our own P I P. Had to apply for UC while on SSP for six months which included applying for C/tax allowance. (Thank goodness). But  When I went back to work  July this year every thing was cancelled And we had to Re-apply again. We never received any money from UC Because my husband Pension is above the entitlement threshold. 
We will find out If we are allowed any UC on 11th August .
 It made me so mad when everyone wanted the same Original copies of all your paper work at the same time. Which was already with UC and the Council department wanted as well. Our Council and Benefits department are in the same building. But will nit transfer paper work between them .I dont get it  ?

calcotti

It sounds as if you have identified all the possible benefits. One thing to bear in mind is that UC maximum entitlement will reduce by £86.67/month from October. 

On your UC claim, you should have the carer element included as a carer (but your Carer’s Allowance is deducted).

Has your husband Reported his health conditions and been assessed for LCWRA? (If he gets enhanced rate Daily Living PIP because he is Pension age he should automatically be treated as having LCWRA, if only standard rate he would need an assessment).

As suggested earlier it may be worth considering whether or not the changes in the difficulties you are experiencing would warrant requesting a review of your PIP award.

Anne_2021

Thankyou .
My husband does not need to change anything with P I P UNTIL 2029 now .he has been disabled for 27 years. 
We did phone them several weeks ago in up date my medical information and ask for a review Only to be told WHY ARE YOU TELLING US THAT?   Apparently we don't need to inform them of changes (not what we were told) .
But we can start All over again and fill in a New Claim. And possible loose what I already have and maybe have to pay back what I have received. Omg 

Anne_2021

Morning everyone. 
Had a migraine for last 3 days. Went to work yesterday afternoon with tail end .got home at 6pm was in bed by 8pm.. feel better today ? My hands ,wrist and elbows are really painful after work. Its getting really difficult lifting stock and dealing with customers. Didn't think I would ever say that after 40+ years in a job I love doing. Always been a people person. My anxiety is kicking in more and more each day at work. Not sure what's to do .But let's see what the consultant says on Thursday. Cheer up Anne ?

Tori_Scope

I'm sorry to hear that you've had a migraine @Anne_2021, but I'm glad you're feeling better today. Yes, see what the consultant says and then go from there. If not, I hope that the links posted further up in the thread will be of help. 

Have you spoken to your doctor about the anxiety you've been experiencing? 

Anne_2021

@Tori_Scope.
Thankyou. I have been on Sertraline since November last year. Much admit I really don't like taking them ,all I want to do on them is sleep. That can't be good. Will follow the links thankyou ??

Tori_Scope

Have you mentioned to your doctor that they make you sleepy @Anne_2021? It could be that they're able to adjust your dosage, or try you on a different medication.