Lots of Questions, Need lots of advice-PLEASE !

[gb155]

Ok this is quite an epic tale so please forgive me if at some points I wander off, I will try to keep it as simple as I can.

I am 27 Years old, Married with 2 kids.

6 Years ago I was diagnosed with a under active thyroid

3 years ago I was diagnosed Type 2 Diabetic

2 Months ago I was diagnosed with Angina

for 20 odd years I have also been fighting (and loosing) an eating disorder.

I hold a decent ish paid job at £17k a year for a local authority, However my sickness record hasnt been great and with my recent condition I have been taking more and more time off sick, When I spoke to my boss she said they might be looking at medically retiring me.......This was a bit of a shock but I understand where they are coming from.

My questions are these:

If I am medically retired what help will me and my family get? My wife is a stay at home mum at the moment and looks after me as I am unable to cook a meal for myself due to my eating disorder, Would I be able to get DLA? is there anything else I can do, I dont want to stop working but in all fairness just recently I have been so sick/shattered etc etc That im not sure it would be such a bad idea, Tho I like to keep my mind and body active so I would get stressed soon I would think but again the flip side is im so exhaused just getting up for work and having a wash......

So if that make sence and you can help me in anyway I would appreciate it

Many Thanks In Advance......

[CAGisforME]

Hi,

Sorry to hear that you are battling illness. You should get lots of help and support on this site.

To try and answer your questions as best I can:

Medical Retirement
The help you will get will depend on many factors, for instance do you have a works pension? If so then you need to ask your employers for the information pertaining to this, in order to see whether you will get a lump sum, a pension (and how long for etc)
Disability Living Allowance
You need to request the forms and then fill them in honestly, however, as a claimant who has a rare illness, and not one that is "visible" I know this may be a bit of a battle. Many on here will help you.
You need to take the forms to your local Welfare Rights Office (google it and make an appointment) This way you should get the application form filled in properly and ensure that you describe your day to day problems as if it were "worst case scenario" There is no points saying "on a good day" because that's how they will treat you. You need to answer as if it were a BAD day.
Other Benefits
You should look into Incapacity benefit. Once you have been signed off sick from work for x length of time and are no longer receiving sick pay you are entitled to this benefit. It is a fortnightly sum (mine's at the long term rate of £179 a fortnight) and is counted towards "taxable" benefits for the Tax Credits.
Tax Credits should be informed if you are still working (even if off sick) and you get granted DLA as this will entitle you to the Disability Premium at a certain rate.

My main advice is to get PROPER advice as soon as possible, and the best place is Welfare Rights, not the CAB etc. They know what they are doing, don't charge and can help if the DLA, Incap Ben folks get twitchy.

Hopefully, once you have a handle on all of this you will feel more in control and that will, hopefully, lift your mood a little.

Good Luck

Please let us know how you get on.

[gb155]

CAGisforME: Thanks for your comments.

I have just submitted online the application for DLA, So im not sure I can stop it and do it via my Welfare Rights Office ?

Will take onbord all your other suggestions though, Thanks Again.

[gb155]

EDIT: Sorry forgot to add, I dont have a company pension so again im not totally sure where that would leave me when/if I finished.

[dpick]

Originally Posted by gb155

CAGisforME: Thanks for your comments.

I have just submitted online the application for DLA, So im not sure I can stop it and do it via my Welfare Rights Office ?

Will take onbord all your other suggestions though, Thanks Again.

Hi I am on DLA mobility and care components after illness and accident I had problems getting DLA at first turned down and had to appeal) but as in the previous posts I went to Welfare rights and also my local council welfare rights officer. The Welfare rights people helped me to fill in the forms for the appeal and advised me that my local council welfare rights officer (if they have one) would help me prepare for the appeal and if necessary a tribunal, they even sat in with me on my appeal.

The one thing I noticed when they filled in the forms for me was that they wrote what I said but in a way that would give the DLA the information correctly without the possibility of any of the information being miss interpreted or played down.

all the best dpick

[gb155]

Originally Posted by dpick

Hi I am on DLA mobility and care components after illness and accident I had problems getting DLA at first turned down and had to appeal) but as in the previous posts I went to Welfare rights and also my local council welfare rights officer. The Welfare rights people helped me to fill in the forms for the appeal and advised me that my local council welfare rights officer (if they have one) would help me prepare for the appeal and if necessary a tribunal, they even sat in with me on my appeal.

The one thing I noticed when they filled in the forms for me was that they wrote what I said but in a way that would give the DLA the information correctly without the possibility of any of the information being miss interpreted or played down.

all the best dpick

Thanks for your insight, The more I read the more it seems that I will be knocked back butas everyone says the welfare rights should assist me, Does anyone know If I am medically retired and sont have a comany pension if I will actually get anything when I am finished off ?

[dpick]

Originally Posted by gb155

Thanks for your insight, The more I read the more it seems that I will be knocked back butas everyone says the welfare rights should assist me, Does anyone know If I am medically retired and sont have a comany pension if I will actually get anything when I am finished off ?

Hi again I retired at 50 through ill health was mainly type 2 diabetic out of control due to my working conditions and as a result of accident. I did get private pension and was able to claim as over 50. My pension is less than £84 a week (this was rate last time I checked) so did not effect incapacity benefit but is knocked off income support. I don't know what is required to be paid when taking early retirement but for the last 6 months while I trained up my replacement I got full salary for only working 5 hours 3 days a week and my company gave me 3 months salary when I finished.

I know I was very lucky the way my company treated me and hope that your company is as understanding as my was.

all the best dpick

[gb155]

Originally Posted by dpick

Hi again I retired at 50 through ill health was mainly type 2 diabetic out of control due to my working conditions and as a result of accident. I did get private pension and was able to claim as over 50. My pension is less than £84 a week (this was rate last time I checked) so did not effect incapacity benefit but is knocked off income support. I don't know what is required to be paid when taking early retirement but for the last 6 months while I trained up my replacement I got full salary for only working 5 hours 3 days a week and my company gave me 3 months salary when I finished.

I know I was very lucky the way my company treated me and hope that your company is as understanding as my was.

all the best dpick

Thanks for that, I have told them I will return next week to meet with them and the "company" Doctor, So I suppose when I do its negotiations time.

[OrangePrimate]

Hi
Companies/Employers can consider medical retirement as a last resort only. As you will be covered under DDA there is alot your employer can do so that you can remain in work. They have to make 'reasonable adjustments' for you if you want to carry on at work, these could (and should) include: treating disability related absences differently than 'normal' absence with regard to Attendance policies and absence related dismissals, changing your job role to one you may find easier to cope with -not so tiring, reducing your hours - working families tax credits and Disability allowances ect can help lift the shortfall in wages.

There are many options if you do want to stay in work - as above posters have said, get some proper advice before going to any meeting and take a look at the DRC website (Disability Rights Commision) there is a wealth of info, drc.org.uk
Good luck

[gb155]

Originally Posted by OrangePrimate

Hi
Companies/Employers can consider medical retirement as a last resort only. As you will be covered under DDA there is alot your employer can do so that you can remain in work. They have to make 'reasonable adjustments' for you if you want to carry on at work, these could (and should) include: treating disability related absences differently than 'normal' absence with regard to Attendance policies and absence related dismissals, changing your job role to one you may find easier to cope with -not so tiring, reducing your hours - working families tax credits and Disability allowances ect can help lift the shortfall in wages.

There are many options if you do want to stay in work - as above posters have said, get some proper advice before going to any meeting and take a look at the DRC website (Disability Rights Commision) there is a wealth of info, drc.org.uk
Good luck

Thats great advice, I was intent on returning to work on Monday but my Doctor on Friday said it wasnt a good idea so the meeting will now have to be delayed, This will enable me to get the advice you have pointed me in the direction of,

My Absences relation to my diabeties have NEVER been treated any other way than the standard managing attendance policy as a result I have in the past had warnings once after having a hypo,

2 years ago or so I was sent to see a company nurse who said that I must be given time off for doctors appts etc however while not blocking apts they have made them a nightmare, EG saying that I need to try to avoid morning appts, If I had a appt at 2pm and finished at 4pm I would be told I must return to work but it takes around 30-45 mins in the docs and my doctors is 30 mins away (each way) So then questions are asked about me taking leave or changing the day etc,

I am also forced to work shifts (this was not the case when I took the job nor is it in my contract, although they are trying to change my contact to make me work untill 8pm),

Just feels like I have everything pushing against me at the moment.....

[OrangePrimate]

your employers sound like a really caring bunch!! but being like this they are shooting themselves in the foot!! if you were to bring all that up at an Employment Tribunal they would be in BIG trouble!! Time off for treatment, either doctors, hospital tests or self medication away from other employees (i.e need time to leave department or building, all come under 'reasonable adjustments'

The DRC have a helpline which are great! they will set you up with a case number and case manager, they will take details of what is going on and will be very honest with you on what the Employer can and cant do, hope you do get a happy resolution soon, as it must be stressfull having to deal with all of this on top of being poorly.
The Drc have actually stepped in and taken employers to Court for failing to reach the minimum requirements of the DDA

Do you have a Union in your workplace? if not, anyone can join an 'outside' Union that is relevent to your trade/employment and they can then be approached for advice and will often have free legal helpline/cover
All worth a try!!
Wishing you well!

[poppynurse]

Reading between the lines is your eating disorder and its consequences the main problem affecting your ability to work? Have you pushed your GP to get you referred to a specialist unit to assist you with this and look at all the options?

[gb155]

Originally Posted by poppynurse

Reading between the lines is your eating disorder and its consequences the main problem affecting your ability to work? Have you pushed your GP to get you referred to a specialist unit to assist you with this and look at all the options?

Ok bare with me, Its not something im easy talking about.

Basically no, It doesnt affect my day to day working life, However it is for sure a contributing factor in my diabeties, I have been reffered in the past to specialist unit's, The problem is that they required me to attend during working hours every other week and as you can see from previous posts that caused a problem, So in the end I only attended twice.

If mt eating disorder was to be "cured" it would help my genral health but the main reason for my sickness have been related to either my Angina or Diabeties.

[poppynurse]

Thanks for sharing that, I appreciate it is not easy.
Given that you are so young and already suffering diabetes and angina (far more common in older adults) I would think that a claim for DLA should be successful, fill in the forms for the worst day not the best. I would also suggest that you contact the DRC (soon to change title I believe) and get their support. It seems to me that your employers are preventing you from accessing medical support that may help your condition improve - the DRC will help with this. Medical retirement at 27 seems rather extreme when there are lots of things that can be done to help. Keep us posted

[gb155]

Originally Posted by poppynurse

Thanks for sharing that, I appreciate it is not easy.
Given that you are so young and already suffering diabetes and angina (far more common in older adults) I would think that a claim for DLA should be successful, fill in the forms for the worst day not the best. I would also suggest that you contact the DRC (soon to change title I believe) and get their support. It seems to me that your employers are preventing you from accessing medical support that may help your condition improve - the DRC will help with this. Medical retirement at 27 seems rather extreme when there are lots of things that can be done to help. Keep us posted

You know the thing is I dont actually see myself as disabled, Suppose it because of my age, Will contact DRC when I feel more human.

[GlasweJen]

I don't see myself as disabled, just different, but I still get DLA (middle care lower mobility). I'm 21 and I've been claiming since I was 17 because of an abnormal vagus nerve reaction which causes heart problems. You need to remember that your problems bring expenses that other people don't have, regular trips to hospital and prescription costs are just some examples. Don't feel bad for claiming the allowance, it's there for a reason.