UK folks - benefits claims

[TabooPrincess]

I've heard about PIP (personal independence payment) which can be paid on top of earnings from work and any other benefits for long term health conditions.  Does anyone claim this or know if our condition could be considered as part of this?

The reason I ask is that I could really benefit from cutting down my hours at work but would struggle financially if I did this.  In theory I could carry on working full time but in the long run I think my health would suffer - I have no time for exercise or other therapeutic pursuits.

I haven't looked into PiP too much though as it also feels a bit like admitting defeat - like saying I'm tired and I can't carry on like this.  And also, why should I ask the government for money that other folks don't get just because of my status, this is somewhat selfish of me. 

I'm struggling with the double-edged sword of all this.

Thoughts?  Anyone else claiming this?

My colleague gets 70 pounds a week on top of regular earnings because of ongoing mental health problems she says she needs support with (although she's well enough to work full time plus overtime!)

[countrymanPete]

            Tho I'm in Australia, I am currently trying to get onto Disability Pension.  Irrespective of UK or Aus. I know it's not an easy process to get these things organized.  You will need to get your various Specialist and your GP to write in support of this.  I used to live in the UK too, and successfully migrated to Australia with HIV/HepB
            I don't think you should look at claiming a benefit as any type of failure.   Living with HIV and getting other issues as we all do, seriously it's a total Head F**K  at times.  We all have issues with both our physical and mental health as we live with HIV.  If you can deal with your physical health, take the right meds, that's the easy bit.  I think we all tend to ignore our Mental Health, or we tend to play down how we feel, like we try to feel like we have no problem.  It's different for everyone of course, I can only speak from my own experience.  When I worked full time, I did not have time to think about me, and as i got sick and could no longer sustain full time work.  I was very depressed about my life, not being able to work, extended stays in hospital, loneliness, isolation.  I chose to face it, and talk to a Phycologist etc, and yes for me  that meant medication, etc.  Seriously for me I can't say that life is great, but it's a whole lot better facing things and I get to speak to someone regularly, and try to get things in my head in order.   I feel a lot better as a person. 
        So I don't see it as failure.   if you accept carrying on as you do may cause your health to suffer, then do something about it.  It's not admitting defeat to take an easier path that will help your health.  Like everyone who works everyone gets different benefits dependent on their own situation.  You are just as entitled as anyone else to claim something back. After all we all have payed vast amounts of taxes, and these benefits are there to be claimed. You have worked for it, so claim it.  If it makes your life easier I don't see the problem.  It's not admitting defeat, it's being realistic.  Getting HIV does not make one superhuman physically or mentally.  I found it easy to work work work, but not easy when I had to slow down a bit. In my case i worked till I got so sick I had to stop work completely and end up in Hosp for almost a year.  If I had been realistic I would have claimed much sooner and had a life and work level I could manage.  With HIV I think you have to find a balance with work, and how you feel physically and mentally.  I think we all tend to ignore what our bodies tell us. The Physical aspect is managed by our Specialists, but we are left to deal with our Mental health ourselves to the point that asking for help is considered failing. I firmly believe not asking for help is failing and long term damaging to both Physical and Mental health.
         I read the confusion in your writing, about feeling selfish about Claiming based on your HIV Status. No one should feel selfish or a failure by asking for help.    We don't feel selfish when we ask our HIV Specialists for help. We should not feel selfish asking the state for help, when we all pay into the fund with our taxes.  Benefit is an entitlement we all pay for.    Everybody claims different things for different reasons.  We with HIV all fit into that too.
         Perhaps you might well benefit from talking to someone professional  too. I would think your specialist can refer you to a Phycologist/Social Worker etc.  if only to get a clearer focus in your mind.    I hope some of this is useful to you. I really hope you try to claim, and can reduce your hours a bit.  You have nothing to lose and much to gain.   

[Ann]

The reason I ask is that I could really benefit from cutting down my hours at work but would struggle financially if I did this.  In theory I could carry on working full time but in the long run I think my health would suffer - I have no time for exercise or other therapeutic pursuits.

Look at it this way - if you carry on working full time to the detriment of your health, you'll probably end up costing the NHS a lot more money due to the extra health care you'd need. Not to mention if you end up having to go on full-time incapacity benefit. If you accept a bit of help to keep you in part-time work, at least you're still "paying in" as well as taking out.

[JR Gabbard]

I'm struggling with the double-edged sword of all this.

Your double-edged sword metaphor is apt.  On the one side, do you carry on working and thereby endanger your health?  And on the other do you cut back and thereby admit defeat?  Indeed a dilemma.   But one way to win against a double-edged sword is to blunt one of the edges.

Sort your priorities.  Your health should be first of course, since how could you work (or do anything else for that matter) without it.  Living with HIV, there is another sword to consider:  the Sword of Damocles, hanging above your head by a thread.  Your efforts in attending to your health strengthen that thread.

If you cut back working to attend to your health is that a defeat?  No, it is a victory.  It shows that you have accepted harsh reality and are willing to fight for your life.  It shows strength of character that you have decided not to pretend that everything is fine, for the sake of appearance.

Is it selfish to ask for a government benefit, due to your health status, that others cannot get?  Not actually.  If those others had your health status, they too would be eligible for it.  The benefit is there for those who need it, and you aren't asking for anything new or unique.  It is not selfish to accept generosity.

Hope that blunts the edge a bit!

[britchick]

TabooPrincess

It sounds like you have really tried to keep working f/t, for as long as you could so please dont feel guilty re PIP.

PIP has not been rolled out where I live yet but im on the lowest level if DLA, so if I can help you In anyway please PM me.
I couldn't keep working 80 hrs plus a week when I got ill, believe me i tried  but couldn't do heavy lifting etc,  or continue to stay 3 or 4 nights a week at work , I had no choice but to work part time .

It really helps re the paperwork if you can get a statement from your consultant, GP and also contact Terence Higgins trust as they usually have a Welfare Rights Officer.Terence Higgins are amazing and willing to help anyone with our diagnosis.

britchickxx

[TabooPrincess]

Thanks so much to everyone for the advice - I've not taken the plunge yet, still in the deliberation stage!  What you've all said has made me feel better about claiming though, it's not admitting defeat - it's taking care of myself and in turn my son xxx