Benefit entitlement

MrsO said:

Hi
I'm newly diagnosed, not on any benefits at all but have been told I will be entitled to some benefits ?????
I have type 2, anyone know if this is true please ?

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If you are on meds then you get free prescriptions. You need to ask your gp to fill it in for you and it will be sent off. In the post you will recieve an exemption card to show the pharmacist when asked.

Good luck with the benefits, I doubt you will get any if T2 is all you have.

If you have complications then that's different but overall the benefits system is not favourable for T2s and is getting tougher.

I had to give up work as I had had a couple of episodes whilst driving, (blurred vision and dizzy spells) no benefits, zilch, I even had to wait 16 weeks for "unemployement benefit".

It seems that if you are T2 then it is regarded as a minor ailment and that you should just get on with things.

You can try, and I really do wish you good luck, but don't hold your breath, after all they have to save the benefits for those who
have never paid into the sytem but really need them.

H

The plain cold truth is NO.

The only way someone with diabets will get some form of benefit payment is if they are inflicted with something else that will qualify them ..and the list of health issues is decreasing all the time :thumbdown:

They are phasing out incapacity benefit, and replacing it with ESA. To qualify for ESA you have to have a condition which severely impairs your ability to work, so chances are with type 2 and no other complications, you wont be entitled to that either.

If you were to be out of work it cant hurt to apply though.

MrsO said:

Wow doesn't sound good, but I've never had benefits before so nothing lost I suppose ! If I can't work tho, will I be entitled to incapacity benefit ?

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There's a thing called employment support allowance now. From reading comments it's very hard to get. There was a report in the paper the other of a man in intensive care after a tripple bypass who was found fit for work. :shock:

Having diabetes does not make you unfit for work though it's not a disability.

MrsO said:

I am so confused with it all . I've read si ce 2010 that it is classed as a disability ???? At the moment with the tiredness I can barely function, let alone work '

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Have you checked your blood sugars at all? If so what are they?
If you have cut right down on startchy carbs and junk food (if you eat them) then unless you have been misdiagnosed type 1 instead of 2, diabetes should not make you tired.
So you need an urgent apt with your GP to find out exactly what is going on with you if you have changed your diet and it's had no effect after 5 weeks.
For employment purposes yes it is classed as a disability which means that reasonable adjustment has to be made for you.
But this does not entitle you to benefits just because you have diabetes.

My husband claims ESA, and to claim it you have to fill in a questionnaire about your health problems and the impact it has on you, and based on the reponse to that they may send you for a medical.

To give you a rough idea of the questions asked it is such things as 'can you programme an alarm clock?' 'can you walk more than 50 metres?' thats the sort of thing.

To be honest they are very brutal, and being tired a lot probably wont quality for ESA on the questionnaire alone. And I cant see any of the ATOS assessors being too bothered about that either (and I dont mean that in any dismissive way ay all, I do feel your pain) but they are paid to keep people off of ESA and wont pass anyone as unfit unless they have no choice.

But it is always worth applying, you never know!

I am not entitled to ESA despite DVLA saying I'm not fit for work! I went onto insulin 3 months ago and so as a coach driver I have had to stop driving until DVLA think I am well enough controlled (minimum 3 months). I'm self employed so get no sick pay, thus I tried for ESA. The initial conversation with the Jobcentre plus resulted in an offer of £71 a week but I would need a sick note from my Doctor (tricky when you are fit and well). They sent me for an ATOS medical assessment and I scored 0 (you need 15 to claim) as I am fit for work. I have no problem cooking meals, dressing myself, meeting people, travelling on public transport, etc etc. So it was a no. I can't claim Jobseekers allowance either as I have not paid the relevant NI contributions being self employed. I therefore cannot claim anything and have to hope that when I go back to the Consultant early December that she fills my medical form in okay for DVLA and they let me resume driving coaches.
It is a slightly different if you are single or your partner doesn't work as you may be entitled to some income based funding but my better half works full time so thus earns too much!!
Be better if I was an illegal immigrant probably. :crazy:

Angie