Super Mario

Daniel, I hope you have kept a copy of the form. You need to keep copies of everything you send to DWP, things get lost easily or they deny knowledge of  ever receiving it.

Do you think you meet the criteria for PIP?

From DWP site

"have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for 3 months

expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months"

On a further note, keep copies of everything you send to DWP, including "fit notes"

They are notorious for things going astray.

Any phone call you make to them log the date, time and who you speak to.

Sounds a faff but you may need it as evidence if things go awry.

If you need to ring them the best time is just as they open or you could be hanging on listening to Vivaldi (if they still use that) for goodness knows how long. I have heard of waits for well over an hour. 

1 hour ago, Eruditedk said:

This was a long form which I believed 1) would stop them asking me to look for work at the moment and may possibly bring some financial support if they assess me to need it..

Sorry, not always the case, some parts are means tested and income based, they will take your partner's income into consideration. They only ignore a small amount of it and the rest is deducted from what you are entitled to. If you get contribution based you will get the whole amount you are entitled to for 52 weeks

1 hour ago, Eruditedk said:

I was told this is not the same as PIP

Universal Credit is not the same as PIP. UC is support if you are unable to work.

PIP is a tax free payment to help with the costs of care you may need, the 1st component. The 2nd component, mobility, is to help you  with costs of getting around. I'm afraid you really do need to have mobility problems and things like finding your way about amongst other criteria to get the mobility component.

If you have claimed Universal Credit then ignore my earlier reference to ESA.

If you fail any assessments, don't just sit back and think that is that. Apply for a Mandatory Reconsideration which is done by a different Decision Maker, they often fail. Then you can take your case to an Independent Tribunal. As I have said previously, you would be wise to get help from a professional to guide you through the minefield.  

Daniel, the benefits system is a minefield and even trained advisors sometimes have problems understanding it.

More about ESA 

https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/what-youll-get

As you are unable to work you should get contribution based ESA because your National Insurance contributions will have been paid for the 2 years previous to make you eligible. There are two groups of ESA, limited capability to work and unable to work.

Benefits and Work is another decent website although to get full advice there is a subscription but you can garner information without being a member.

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/

Another place you could try is a Law Centre if you have one locally, again free advice and they could possibly help you fill in the forms. DWP decision makers look for key words so there is a knack to filling in DWP forms.

If you have already claimed ESA you should be on an assessment rate until you have a face to face assessment or a phone assessment to determine what group of ESA you are put into. The advice I will give you is at your assessment, face to face or phone, think very carefully before answering the questions. There is a tendency to understate one's problems, you must be brutally honest even though you may find it demeaning.

Please get advice on what you can or can't claim by contacting an adviser, you may well be losing money at the moment. Do not contact DWP for that advice as the phone jockeys are poorly trained and often give out wrong information.

If you fail ESA assessment then you will be told to claim Job Seekers Allowance in which you have to actively look for work.

Of course there is now Universal Credit too, this replaces ESA and Jobseekers but only in certain areas at the moment.

At one time I used to be quite up on benefits advice but things have changed over the years and as I no longer need that advice haven't kept up with current situations. It is a minefield now.

I would strongly advise getting professional help filling in the PIP tome. Look for benefit advisors in your area, your County Council may well have some. Try to avoid CAB as they are not usually very good. Remember, PIP, is about your ability to carry out certain functions. 

There is a website on which there is a chap who, although not a trained advisor, who really knows his stuff.

 https://youreable.livingmadeeasy.org.uk/forum.php

I presume you have already claimed ESA.

What super news. Happy and safe motoring.

The icing on the cake will be the arrival of your little one.   

I still can't tolerate the TV 16 years down the line. The movement makes me feel nauseous plus the fact I can't remember what has gone before. I hate the volume too as I am still noise intolerant. Flashing lights are another thing that I am unable to tolerate.

I haven't watched the television from that day to this. In fact I have to sit in another room when it is on.

Folk think I am weird as they can't comprehend life without a telly.

Jennifer, you really ought to contact your mum's doctor. There could be many reasons for her symptoms. 

It is so easy to blame the SAH for other occurrences when that is not always the case. 

Daniel, referring to drinking, I couldn't drink at all after my SAH until about 6 months later, like Skippy.

Bizarrely after that length of time I found that I could drink red wine. Prior to my SAH, even a sip of the stuff gave me a blinding headache, not so now. 

Something must have changed.  

Daniel, suggestion for the stone fireplace. If it was me I would make a feature out of it for the garden when you feel able.

I am one who thinks "out of the box" and have used alternatives to the standard in my garden.

Welcome to BTG, so glad you have found us. If you read through the forums you will find other member's experiences very helpful. As we are not medically qualified we obviously can't give medical advice. 

Listen to your body and do not push yourself or you will find that you will go backwards in your recovery. Make sure you keep well hydrated as this will help to alleviate any headaches you may get.

As many on here, I suspect you will have had very little information given on discharge, so reading through posts will possibly be very informative for you.

Any questions you may have, please feel free to ask and more than likely there will be someone come along who can help you.

Welcome to BTG, sorry that no one has replied to you.

We do have members who have been recoiled so hopefully someone will pick this up and reply.

I'm sure you have read that there are no hard, fast rules as everyone's recovery is different. When you feel able you could start to walk, slow and for a short distance, not forgetting you have to get back. Apart from the exercise the fresh air and change of scenery can lift your spirits.

I, personally, started taking slow and short walks, . I gradually picked up the speed and distance. For  any vigorous exercise I would contact your doctor for their advice.

According to Google it is another version of a visual field test

Quote from Google

"The Goldman is an old fashioned manually operated test often used for disability exams and sometimes for neuro-ophthalmology exams."

This may be more helpful although it is from the States.

Find Goldmann Visual Field / Kinetic Perimetry Tests (ophthalmologyweb.com)

Sorry to hear about your husbands problems.

Get an urgent referral via your GP to the incontinence clinic and they will provide pads free of charge. May be embarrassing but better than accidents'

Secondly, get an assessment through Social Services Adult Care. They can provide aids to assist getting out of bed which may well help him.

A physio assessment would be helpful too as they could teach him how to get out of bed. In fact you could have a go at that your self, telling him step by step what to do. May or may not work.

Depression may well be another thing for your GP to look into as it can manifest itself in many different ways.  

Sarah, the words are so beautiful, brought tears to my eyes. 

Oh no Sarah, devastated by your news. My sincere condolences to you all.

Win was a member of this forum who always brought a laugh and a smile to me, and her singing, well. 

She will most certainly be missed on here.

God bless you all.

Jenni, all those answers you want to know you must ask your consultant when you next see him. Write a list and take someone with you as a second pair of ears. I know it has been said before but you are very early on in your recovery and some things take loads of time to resolve themselves.

Difficult as it is, stop wondering about events until you see someone who can give you answers.

I know it is hard but please try not dwell on the "I wonders", try to adapt your life to your limitations, that may only be in the short term, no one knows how long for.

As to your blurred vision but not the blind spots, I had blurred vision in one eye, so much so I was just about blind in that eye. There was a reason for it and a good eye surgeon corrected it although I am left with floaters that can be annoying at times. At least I have my sight back.

As a conclusion I will tell you, that in my case, I now look on my SAH as a blessing in disguise. It gave me a good life other than all work and no play. Yes, I lost my sense of balance and have to use a frame BUT I have a wonderful life, doing just what I want to do when I want.  Please try and stay positive.

PS all those cuddles in front of the TV will mean as much to your daughter as being active with her. (I wish my mother had cuddled me)

Sally, to be honest, Dr Google is not your best friend. The answers are not specific to you and cover a very wide range. Tempting as it may be to consult Dr Google, don't. Wait until you have a face to face consultation.

Keep pushing the admin team to keep it foremost in their minds. 

I took them about 6 weeks to get me an appointment. 

Another ploy could be for you to contact PALS at your treating hospital, they will chase it up for you and are successful.

There should be someone at your GP's who deals with appointments. Ring them again and ask for them to chase it up. I had a similar problem and the person at the GP's who deals with the above told the department that she was putting it all on my notes and hey presto, I got an appointment for the following week.

You will have to keep pushing. 

If I were you I would contact DVLA  to clarify your position.

After all those years of the previous regulations I wonder what has made them change the driving criteria.

Now that is interesting, thank you.

Hi Julian, I wonder if your consumption of water has decreased over time as your headaches diminished to the point where you are not drinking enough. It is quite easy to become complacent. May be worth a try to increase your intake to see if that helps as well as visiting your doctor.

If you are disabled it may be possible to have your Council Tax dropped by one band or if you are in the lowest band a discount is given.

The criteria stated on the back of the council tax bill states "an extra kitchen or bathroom for the disabled person's use" This is just a guideline, every council has their own criteria to be met. I know of people who have received the reduction just for being disabled.

I had to have an extra bathroom made to suit my needs. This was done in the style of an en-suite  and I got the reduction. This is just an example.

The procedure is to contact your council for a form, fill your bit in and take it to your doctors for them to complete. Once the council have received the application they will send out somebody to inspect your property for obvious reasons.

A bonus can be, if you are awarded the reduction, it can be backdated at the council's discretion, to the date the disability began. That could be a bonus as I know of someone who had it backdated for several years, hence no council tax to pay for quite a while.

Obviously every council is different but there can be no harm in initially applying. They can only say no or it could be to your advantage..