How is the cost of living crisis impacting you?
Comments
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It's so difficult affording bills since the gas and electricity bills doubled. Cost of food going up is making us overdrawn every month and we own lots on credit cards too plus have loans too. It's so difficult especially when my health stopped me working. Currently on a waiting list for daughter to be assessed for autism plus I'm disabled too. My health conditions means more electricity being used which is so difficult. Husband called electricity company to say we are struggling to pay the bill but they weren't very helpful giving mixed messages.1
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I am disabled and suffer extremely bad with my mental health to the extent that I have been having terrible nightmares on a regular basis. My only income is my PIP which I have a motorbility car which is my lifeline to the outside world and to see my family down south. My lovely caring wife who’s be my rock, and of whom is my carer, but she is 73 and has been by my side since my disability through Septicaemia 8 years ago. We are finding it extremely difficult and now have no options other to give my mobility car back and that money will go straight to paying the increases with gas and electricity which means I’ll shall be going back to spending 24/7 in my bedroom. So my outlook, looks very bleak. I cannot speak for my wife but would imagine it being any different too.0
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Thank you for sharing everybody
I just wanted to check in with you about your mental health, sorry to hear that you have been having nightmares recently. Are you in contact with anybody such as your GP about your mental health? Is there anybody who is aware and providing support to you?Hammers22 said:I am disabled and suffer extremely bad with my mental health to the extent that I have been having terrible nightmares on a regular basis. My only income is my PIP which I have a motorbility car which is my lifeline to the outside world and to see my family down south. My lovely caring wife who’s be my rock, and of whom is my carer, but she is 73 and has been by my side since my disability through Septicaemia 8 years ago. We are finding it extremely difficult and now have no options other to give my mobility car back and that money will go straight to paying the increases with gas and electricity which means I’ll shall be going back to spending 24/7 in my bedroom. So my outlook, looks very bleak. I cannot speak for my wife but would imagine it being any different too.0 -
I used to be able to get an appointment at my GP the same week but most definitely the week after. For 13 years I had the best support and care from my named GP. Since he retired about a year or so ago I have only been able to get one face to face appointment and a couple of telephone appointments more for the Gp and the practice benefit. I haven seen a GP this year and at the moment at best it’s about 27 days for a telephone appointment? I have been under the Halthemprice Mental Health Team, since 2013, following a nervous breakdown I suffer PTSD since having septicaemia back in 2014. I do have a CPN but to be honest I could be dead. cremated, before my family hear from him. My only saving grace is I do get to see my consultant who saved my life through emergency surgery back in 2014 every 12 weeks, so really No is the answer to your question , I am having to cope in silence and hope one day it’s all been a bad dream or hopefully I’m in heaven.0
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I'm sorry to hear about what you have been through. My total solidarity to you.Concerning the NHS...0
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Thank You, for your kind words.0
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I have a reasonably well paid job, I have two chronic medical conditions. I don’t receive pip and I’m not convinced I’d qualify (I believe I should but both of mine are invisible conditions)
I am currently working from home endorsed by my consultant. However I rarely put the heating on as it is, in the winter as it is too expensive. I dread this coming winter as cold certainly exacerbates both illnesses.The rising cost of fuel and food stuffs along with everything else is a huge concern 🥴1 -
All my disabilities are not visable too. It was so hard fighting for pip but thankfully a charity helped with the appeal process which was then accepted and back dated. But it's so hard affording bills at the moment with all costs going up2
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I’m really pleased you got what you rightfully seems you deserve, well done in resourcing a charity to assist you. For 10 years I have been on disability benefit, and then PIP when it changed. For the first five years I didn’t need a re assessment because my consultant and GP confirmed that I was disabled and my outlook would definitely NOT change but would deteriorate has my life goes on. I had to attend an assessment back in 2020 and lost both my higher rates which meant I was going to loose my mobility car. However we appealed with supporting letters from my consultant, CPN, GP, Psychiatrist. I won my appeal which coursed me further stress. My current PiP is up for renewal before November 2023, but now sadly I’m having to come to terms with being in a wheelchair and ten weeks ago loosing my ring finger on my left hand due to the a cancer scare. It really upsets me when I read stories like yours Louloubell, and many others. When are the government going to realise that people such as myself lost my career & £38,000 a year salary, I didn’t ask for this to happen to me and would I rather be working “yes I would”. Good luck one and all.1
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Djorton said:I have a reasonably well paid job, I have two chronic medical conditions. I don’t receive pip and I’m not convinced I’d qualify (I believe I should but both of mine are invisible conditions)Just because you have invisible conditions it doesn't mean you won't be successful in claiming PIP. Lots of people have invisible conditions and claim PIP. We have many members here and i know of quite a few people that also do. My daughter is one of them and she claims Enhanced for both parts.PIP isn't awarded based on any diagnosis, it's how those conditions affect you against the 12 PIP activities.
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Djorton said:I have a reasonably well paid job, I have two chronic medical conditions. I don’t receive pip and I’m not convinced I’d qualify (I believe I should but both of mine are invisible conditions)
I am currently working from home endorsed by my consultant. However I rarely put the heating on as it is, in the winter as it is too expensive. I dread this coming winter as cold certainly exacerbates both illnesses.The rising cost of fuel and food stuffs along with everything else is a huge concern 🥴Hi Djorton,I`m ex-military and was medically discharged in 1998. Following my discharge I was assessed by a medical panel (NHS) and was classed as 70% disabled; you wouldn`t think that looking at me.I have asthma which, thankfully, is well controlled. I have lumbar & cervical spondylosis and was recently diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis. I`m always in pain when I walk, the severity of which can change on a daily basis - but to everyone else "there is nothing wrong with me".I applied for PIP and received Daily Living at the enhanced rate, but nothing for mobility (which I am contesting). I, like you, also work from home.Just because you work and have an "invisible" disability, don`t let that deter you from applying for PIP. I won`t put the link up, but do a search for "Benefits and work"; they give some very good advice about PIP (and other benefits). If you sign up to them (£20, sometimes £15), you are given access to guides on how to claim. These guides show you how simple things help you on a daily basis, but you probably wouldn`t have thought of them in the context of help.Apply for PIP, the worst that can happen is they say no to both.Andy2 -
Hi i am disappointed myself and benfits do not cover the rise of cost of living so i struggle daily with the cost of it all. It hard to keep on top of it all.0
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Cant afford to get food much only little so i stay ontop my bills it effecting my mental health with feeling low all the time0
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This year only one of us can go on holiday and that will be staying free with a family member and rail tickets bought cheaply in advance, I will be staying at home needless to say, no holiday this year.0
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Does any one else think the same as me ie with flights etc these firms were to quick to get rid of staff to save money and now they have come unstuck.1
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I've just had email from British gas offering me fixed rate of £1780 pa against variable rate of £1343 at current prices
Don't know whether to just chance staying variable
Can they charge over the cap if on either ?
About holidays too our flight has been cancelled for December as whizz air have axed 13 routes out 9f doncaster Airport0 -
Check out Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert as some fix’s might be worth it, but the whole picture is rather grim 🥴0
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@Teddybear12 it's for 12 months
We will try and get a different flight or different holiday at least plenty of time to sort it1 -
Really sorry to hear about your flight @janer1967 xx1
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Lost my disability bus pass because of bridgend council no longer issues them, they handed it tfw.wales who have moved the goal posts meaning it’s harder to get a disability bus pass then claim pip.1
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