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salwil89
Community member Posts: 56 Courageous
Good Morning. I don't wish this issue to become ugly despite the discussion title I have assigned to my message.
The purpose of my enquiry is to find out if, by law, I should be self-supporting even if I incurred a medical condition through no fault of my own. I have been self-supporting for almost eight years except for 18 months when I claimed ESA and housing benefit.
I acquired a condition called Cauda Equina which was not diagnosed by the medical team here in London. Due to the onset of increasing paraplegia and the inability to walk independently, I landed up leaving London and had an emergency back operation without medical cover.
Under these circumstances am I really expected to support myself. The medical condition I incurred is through no fault of my own. At the time of my operation, I had to have my L4 back disc removed (as part of this diagnosis) to avoid a right foot amputation due to severe lack of circulation to this foot as well as a lifetime of paralysis.
I can understand having to support myself if I had deliberately attempted to hurt myself in some way which would have resulted in medical attention. But I have not! I simply worked and lived here in London like everyone else yet landed up with condition.
Your advice on this would be highly appreciated.
With thanks.
The purpose of my enquiry is to find out if, by law, I should be self-supporting even if I incurred a medical condition through no fault of my own. I have been self-supporting for almost eight years except for 18 months when I claimed ESA and housing benefit.
I acquired a condition called Cauda Equina which was not diagnosed by the medical team here in London. Due to the onset of increasing paraplegia and the inability to walk independently, I landed up leaving London and had an emergency back operation without medical cover.
Under these circumstances am I really expected to support myself. The medical condition I incurred is through no fault of my own. At the time of my operation, I had to have my L4 back disc removed (as part of this diagnosis) to avoid a right foot amputation due to severe lack of circulation to this foot as well as a lifetime of paralysis.
I can understand having to support myself if I had deliberately attempted to hurt myself in some way which would have resulted in medical attention. But I have not! I simply worked and lived here in London like everyone else yet landed up with condition.
Your advice on this would be highly appreciated.
With thanks.
Comments
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Hi @salwil89 your story sounds quite complex, you might like to speak to someone at the helpline 0808 800 3333.
Scope
Senior online community officer -
Dear @Sam_Scope Many thanks for your response. I shall certainly give the helpline a call and hear what they have to say.
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@Sam_Scope I phoned the helpline a few times but it is so busy that I think it would be a lot easier to write to Scope. Do you have a name and address where I could send my letter?
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Hi @salwil89, sorry you've been unable to get through, I know the helpline can get very busy at times. Yes you can contact the Scope helpline at helpline@scope.org.uk - hope that helps.
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@Chris_Scope Thanks a lot Chris. Will send Scope an email. I did contact @BenefitsTrainingCo as well but to date, I have not received a response. Best Wishes.
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Hi salwil89
Sorry to hear about what has happened. On reading your post I think it would be best to contact the helpline as advised by Sam and Chris on the basis that there are simply too many questions I would need to ask you before I could provide any meaningful advice and this is much easier to do via a telephone conversation as opposed to a back and forth on a forum.
If your enquiry is about possible entitlements to benefits then a good place to start would be here and also here, then if you have a question that relates to a specific entitlement you could post back on here.
I hope that helps
Best wishes
Paul
The Benefits Training Co: -
@BenefitsTrainingCo - Dear Paul. Many thanks for your reply. Do you have a direct landline that I can dial? If not then what is a good time to call the helpline number to speak to you?
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Hi salwil89
The Scope helpline is 0808 800 3333 and it is open between 9am and 5pm on weekdays.
David
The Benefits Training Co:
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