If this is your first visit, check out the community guide. You will have to Join us or Sign in before you can post.
Want to give us your opinion? Complete our annual survey.
Receiving PIP. Any other benefits I would be entitled to?

I am a lady that has been disabled for the last seven years after a medical blunder caused by a surgion after a routine operation went wrong. I am 53 years old and prior to me becomming disabled, I was a full time home care manager and a manager of nursing and residential homes. I am bedridden for 14 hours each day as I have to be hooked upto a drip feed to replace the nutrition that i need each day.
I had a routine hernia operation but the surgeon snipped my bowel by mistake and this formed an open bowel with fistulas that are very active making my body expel 10 litres of body fluid each day. Over the seven years I have had this condition I have had several other health conditions including phnumonia which has affected my breathing. I am also now wheelchair bound, but canwalk very very short distances but become very breathless. I am not able to go out of the house on my own and need someone to assist me.
I am in receipt of the PIP payment and I receive disablement benefit. But due to the conditions that I have I do not qualify for most incontinent products on the National Health and i spend £80 per month on incontinent products which the benefits I receive hardly cover the cost. I would like some help with what benefits I am actually entitled too and if there is anything else I would be entitled to receive? I would appreciate it if anyone could give me some advice as to what I may be entitled too.
Also I would also like it if someone could advise me of any outings or activities that I could be involved in as although I am physically disabled my mind is very under stymulated and I feel very alone at times. Each day I am able to go downstairs on my stairlift for a few hours but I feel very withdrawn from the world.
I had a routine hernia operation but the surgeon snipped my bowel by mistake and this formed an open bowel with fistulas that are very active making my body expel 10 litres of body fluid each day. Over the seven years I have had this condition I have had several other health conditions including phnumonia which has affected my breathing. I am also now wheelchair bound, but canwalk very very short distances but become very breathless. I am not able to go out of the house on my own and need someone to assist me.
I am in receipt of the PIP payment and I receive disablement benefit. But due to the conditions that I have I do not qualify for most incontinent products on the National Health and i spend £80 per month on incontinent products which the benefits I receive hardly cover the cost. I would like some help with what benefits I am actually entitled too and if there is anything else I would be entitled to receive? I would appreciate it if anyone could give me some advice as to what I may be entitled too.
Also I would also like it if someone could advise me of any outings or activities that I could be involved in as although I am physically disabled my mind is very under stymulated and I feel very alone at times. Each day I am able to go downstairs on my stairlift for a few hours but I feel very withdrawn from the world.
Replies
A very warm welcome.
Very sorry to learn of your significant difficulties.
As you are over 50 yrs, I would highly recommend that you contact Age UK helpline 0800 169 65 65, to request a home visit, for them to undertake, a benefits check.
I would also ask them to assist you in getting "Direct Payments", so you can
fund activities, that you seek.
Not sure about NHS inco equipment, but I am sure Age UK will assist.
Do you have a support worker or social worker, as they should be assisting you?
Please keep us informed.
Best wishes
I'm not sure but as you've worked for so long prior to your disability I believe you would be entitle to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). You would be able to get contribution based which mean it works off of how much National Insurance you've paid.
I would definitely look into it!
Holly
You've had some great advice already, and you may also want to check out this resource on extra money and help PIP entitles you to. As for social activities, the results from this search might be a good place to start. All the best!