[Anonymous]

Hi! Please keep anon or delete...

So, I'm at home in recovery for Anorexia and, although my intake has been increased to a substantial amount (2500+), my bmi is only 12.5. As a result, I'm obviously still far from healthy. I get exhausted very easily and have problems with neutropenia, low blood pressure, dizziness, etc. I accept that this is a long process but I take responsibility for myself and I'm well on the way to gaining weight and getting better.

After I've completed my exams this Summer I'm having a gap year. The only problem is that I absolutely cannot afford not to work. My dad will lose benefits for me (he only works 25 hours per week... we have a low income) once I finish education and we will be left with no money. We struggle as it is and will have great difficulty paying the mortgage and all of the bills. Ideally, I would pay rent but I'm really not well enough to work and my medical team agrees... I want to focus on restoring my health.

I guess my question is, does anyone know if it is possible to get any kind of financial support? I'm not sure how we will cope without it!

[superwolf]

Ask your medical team. If you've got something like a cpn or keyworker they should be able to sort things out for you. If your doctor agrees you shouldn't be working then I'm pretty sure you'll be able to get benefits.

[Kash:)]

Are you having therapy or anything like that at the moment? If not, I would suggest visiting your GP.

[pamelaa]

You should be able to get benefits.

[Titch89]

It depends if you have care and /or mobility needs. There is criteria to meet and ultimately, it's not up to our GP if you're able to work.

[Anonymous]

(Original post by Kash:))
Are you having therapy or anything like that at the moment? If not, I would suggest visiting your GP.

Yes. I see a therapist and my GP once a week, have my blood taken twice a week and also speak to my GP on the phone. I'm monitored very carefully. Thanks for the concern but I'm well looked after!

Thanks for the information guys. I'll talk to my GP I think... I'm just a little embarassed to admit that we need financial support... y'know?

[Kash:)]

(Original post by Anonymous)
Yes. I see a therapist and my GP once a week, have my blood taken twice a week and also speak to my GP on the phone. I'm monitored very carefully. Thanks for the concern but I'm well looked after!

Thanks for the information guys. I'll talk to my GP I think... I'm just a little embarassed to admit that we need financial support... y'know?

Don't be embarassed, it's completely fine.

[anon2010]

(Original post by Anonymous)
Hi! Please keep anon or delete...

So, I'm at home in recovery for Anorexia and, although my intake has been increased to a substantial amount (2500+), my bmi is only 12.5. As a result, I'm obviously still far from healthy. I get exhausted very easily and have problems with neutropenia, low blood pressure, dizziness, etc. I accept that this is a long process but I take responsibility for myself and I'm well on the way to gaining weight and getting better.

After I've completed my exams this Summer I'm having a gap year. The only problem is that I absolutely cannot afford not to work. My dad will lose benefits for me (he only works 25 hours per week... we have a low income) once I finish education and we will be left with no money. We struggle as it is and will have great difficulty paying the mortgage and all of the bills. Ideally, I would pay rent but I'm really not well enough to work and my medical team agrees... I want to focus on restoring my health.

I guess my question is, does anyone know if it is possible to get any kind of financial support? I'm not sure how we will cope without it!

i had to take a year out of work last year for an eating disorder so i know how it feesl and i am so sorry you are going through this.

this is what you do:
apply for DLA (disability living allowance) and income support you are entitled to both because you have an illness that prevents you from working.
with both of these the amount you get increases the longer you are on them but they do take a long time to come through (mine took about 3 months - but you do get a lump sum for that 3months when the eventually pay you).
you need to speak to your mental health team, they know alot about what people are entitle to within the area. do you have a CPN, eating disorder team, psychiatrist?
i know when i was ill for the first few months i was in hospital so i got a reduced rate (coz the hospital were technically feeding and housing me) then when i left hosp my amount almost doubled. after about 7-8 months i felt well enough to do a couple of hours work a week. i was able to work up to 16 hours a week and keep my benefits which was great because it mean when i was getting stronger that i could begin to integrate myself back into society slowly without loosing money.

hope everything goes well. i was in this situation last year so if you have any questions just ask.
you can PM me if you want i will not tell people who you are.

[Bubbles*de*Milo]

******* hell; 12.5?!?!!?!

Good luck

[anon2010]

oh also your dad should be able to get carers allowance.

dont listen to those who say your GP cant decide because for the first 6 months all the dwp need is a note from your GP. no one that i was in hospital with needed to go for a private medical, they all received the benefits just from a doctors note.

[mazzie111]

definately disability living allowance. i got it for those reasons a while ago
and he should also get carers allowance

[Titch89]

You lot are giving out the wrong advice:
You can't get income support any more due to disability.
If the OP's only disability is an eating disorder, it's very likely she'll only get the lower rate care and therefore, her dad won't be able to get carers allowance.

[anon2010]

(Original post by Titch89)
You lot are giving out the wrong advice:
You can't get income support any more due to disability.
If the OP's only disability is an eating disorder, it's very likely she'll only get the lower rate care and therefore, her dad won't be able to get carers allowance.

firstly people said he may be able to get carer allowance. when i was on DLA for my eating disorder i got medium rate because i was on meds (not even strong ones but ones that may effect concentration) and the again when i was stuffer low blood pressure and dizzyness. OP should get medium rate because of her blood pressure problems.
second you can get income support.... i have aprox 6 friend who are on in now for anorexia. it is an incapacity benefit that come under imcome support care.

OP - i just remembered that because of you weight you legally cant drive so you would be entitled to a bus pass for free travel
you can see your mental health team they will be able to tell you all of this, they will have many other patient in this same situation.

[Titch89]

You CAN'T get income support for claims after October 2008.

[anon2010]

(Original post by Titch89)
You CAN'T get income support for claims after October 2008.

i did.

[Titch89]

(Original post by anon2010)
i did.

If you put in a claim after October 2008, you can't get income support. It's now employment support allowance.