Long Term Illness / Benefit & Work

roycroper

Hello just looking for some advice or suggestions, as I have hit a wall at the moment with social affairs.
Due to a chronic and long term illness I have been in receipt of illness benefit since 2006. In September 2007 I was granted an exemption to go back to work part time. I have been able to do 12 to 20 hours most weeks. This exemption was extended twice and was reviewed again in February this year and it has been deemed that the rehabilitative and therapeutic benefit of my exemption has been exhausted. I asked for a review and sent in supporting medical evidence, however this was also turned down. I am now to decide whether to send in a P45 give up work and become totally dependent on the state or send in a final cert, which my doctor is reluctant to do as I am still undergoing treatment for my illness and am not physically able to go back to full time work yet.
I was wondering if anyone knows is there any schemes or benefits available to someone who wants to work but can only do so part time because of illness.
Citizens Information have told me I would be better off by giving up work and claiming additional benefits, medical card etc.
I really do not want to do this as doing some work actually helps me cope mentally with my illness.

Sorry about the long post I tried to condense things as best I could

escapethematrix

Fair play to you wanting to work despite having a disability to content with.

Shame not more are like you.

roycroper

Hello again,
I am so sorry for bumping this post but I am at my wits end trying to figure out what to do. I have to make up my mind in a couple of days and I really do not know what to do. I cannot give up work because to be honest it is all that is keeping me going, but there is no middle ground with welfare. I have not got a clue what way the system operates and would be grateful for any input as to what I should do.

pudgeydev

Hi Roy,
Have you found any workaround to your situation? My mum is in exactly the same situation as you. She has an illness and will never be able to go back to full time employment and her invalidity allowance wasn't renewed this year.
She asked me to look up anything else, an allowance for working with a long term illnesses that have theraputic benefit.
Have you (or any other boardsies) found anything like that?
Thanks a mill!

roycroper

Hello pudgeydev,
I am afraid I have gotten absolutely nowhere with the Department of Social Protection as they are now called, some protection. They want me to give up my sanity saving part-time work and go on benefit only. For very obvious reasons I cannot do this. So as things stand now I am without any benefit. The only thing I have gained is an increase in my anxiety medication. I have now spent months trying to get some sort of resolution but alas by not wanting to become totally dependent on welfare all I am now left with is a struggle to try get by on what I can earn from my part-time work.

billiejean123

I have been in receipt of illness benefit too for a chronic illness that I have plus depression which came as a secondary illness but has become the worst thing to deal with. Anyway my doc put me on meds and now I'm feeling like I 'might' be able to do some work or at least give it a go because I often think being stuck in the house most of the time might be worse for me. My doc has agreed with me and so I have the forms for the dept of social protection. Does anyone know how long it takes for the application to be accepted or declined? If they decline it then that is pretty bad because I'm looking for therapeutic work, something different to the stressful work that I did and that I am unable for now and then of it does become exhausted like the original poster what do I do. Just work part-time I suppose...I'm such a worrier...Any advice is welcome.