Stressed

[Greedyfly]

Hello, this is a long one so bear with me. Last December I slipped on some ice and broke my ankle in 4 places, I had ORIF surgery to fix it back together and had to take a few months off work. My sick pay lasted for 9 weeks then after that I used holiday time I had left then my overdraft and SSP to live on. After a few weeks having my cast off and learning to walk properly again the metalwork in my ankle started to cause trouble so I was booked in for more surgery to have it removed. That happened in July. My sick pay doesnt get renewed until December and so I used all my holiday allocation to \'recover\'. Now I am back at work still in as much pain as I was before the second surgery and my surgeon has started my back on physio and has told me I will probably need more surgery if this doesnt help. I started physio this week and my therapist has basically told me I need to not work and to rest as I am doing more damage to my foot and causing complications by doing my job, im in retail I walk for about 8 hours a day. The pain is constantly there and is sometimes unbearable. When I was first off after surgery 1 I researched into any financial help I would be entitled too but could find nothing. Is there anything out there to help me out so that I can take the time off work to heal?

Any advice would be gratefully recieved.

Greedyfly

[WhiteBears]

have u tried claiming Incapacity benefits?
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/DG_10016082

[Mr Veritas]

I agree with WhiteBears,
Normally when SSP ceases,the DWP will advise you and you will be transferred to Incapacity Benefit.
This site "What am I Entitled to?!
is great,you just enter your details(anonymously) and it will tell you what (and how much) you are entitled to.
http://www.entitledto.co.uk/Default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

[Mr Veritas]

mel0ns,
Everyone is still getting used to the layout,please have some patience with Greedyfly(and everyone).

[tamborine]

If you have pins in your ankle you will need to rest them as much as possible. Maybe your employer could arrange a sedentary job for you?

[Greedyfly]

All the pins and plates have been removed now, but the pain remains the same. Hence the next surgery which will be a key hole camera job. Thanks for your answers so far I will check it out now. As for the layout, I dont like it much lol its a bit BIG.

[Greedyfly]

Just checked out incapacity benefit - I am not entitled to it as my injury wasnt sustained before october. I assume I would have to wait sufficient time to claim, which is ridiculous as SSP doesnt even cover my rent. The only thing I can think I can do is take out a loan and take the time off work but tha would mean getting into even more debt than I am in from being off all the time I have so far.

[WhiteBears]

hi Greedyfly.

dont take out a loan, ive just checked out the incapacity benefits, they have changed it to Employment and Support Allowance
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/esa/DG_171894

best give them or the jobcentre a ring, they are really helpful. if you have been paying National Insurance then you CAN get help. Thats what the national insurance is for!! =)

[JonnyBoy12]

So sorry to hear about your injury. I would go along with everyone else, and the Incapacity Benifets, but do you have any savings at all. The last time I looked they asked you all personal questions about how much you had saved, and then if it was anything much at all they did not give you anything. I would look into this in great detail, and hope you get well soon.

If we knew where you lived we would all come round and help you.

[Rosetta]

As a fellow ankle breaker you have all my sympathy. Greedyfly, go to Citizens Advice Bureau. They are excellent at doing a benefits check for you to see what you may be entitled to. Best of luck

[Greedyfly]

Hello, just though I would keep you posted on where i got with CAB. I am officially not entitled to anything. I can get SSP which doesnt even cover rent let alone bills & food, and when that runs out AI am entitled to Incapacity benefit whic is less than SSP. I get no help with rent or council tax etc.. as I live with my partner who is on a low income. I find the whole think blooming ridiculous - how is anyone who has an accident meant to live whilst they recover if they are not entitled to any financial help - why do I pay National insurance if it doesnt help me? Looks like borrowing the money is the only way.

Thanks everyone for your answers and kind words.