Financial support for sudden sick leave?

[RudolphsJinglingBalls]

Posting for traffic as this is urgent. My neighbour has just reapplied for an extension to his commercial driving licence as he is a truck driver and has a minor heart issue. His licence was awarded for 3 years in 2015 and in October give they asked him to reapply via the dvla. All was done accordingly but today he called to chase it and was told no- they won't renew it as he missed an appointment he did not know he had with his cardiologist.

He has called his gp and has been given an emergency prescription for new drugs and has the info for his new consultant and a 6 week sick note off his gp as he is now classed as unable to drive and work u til assessed

. Apparently he can get ssp of around £92 a week but that won't cover hills rent never mind bills. At this time of year it's going to take a week or two to chase up the consultant but is her titled to any other help at all? He has a council flat and is single but the very bare amount he needs s month to cover his bills is £800 all in and now he is worried he will lose his flat.

Any help or advice at all would be brilliant as he is at his wits end and worrying himself silly. He has no savings and only earns around £280 a week due to his age and reduced hours etc

He is in the process of applying for UC. For all the people saying he can do all this himself, he is a lovely guy but is very introverted and socially awkward. I know he has some mental health issues as I have seen various prescription drugs around his flat but as he has never volunteered this info I have not pressed. I do know he was very mentally ill for a few years when his kids were younger and he is very proud of the fact that he has managed to hold down a full time job for the last 3 years and so this could really affect him. I am helping him as much as he will allow without overstepping as I would hate to see him become a recluse again, with no job or reason to leave the house.

As for travel, he doesn't have a car. The bus stop os about 750 metres away from our cul de sac. He needs a knee replacement, has a minor heart issue and he can barely walk and certainly won't splash out on a taxi! He manages to get to work as he car shares with a guy from the next road down.

Anyways, looks like things will work out now. I can't thank you all enough, I have no idea how benefits work and google was overwhelming. Hopefully this will work out fine and although he is looking at 3-6 months off work for heart and then knee issues, I will be helping him to stay "engaged" in society and may suggest some volunteering or something.

Thank you all.

If his mobility really is so poor that he can't walk to a bus stop and he has poor mental health, he may be entitled to PIP. But struggling to see how someone so mentally struggling they can't contact the council and utilities, can cope with the very stressful job of driving a truck. So he may be able to cope better than you think.

But struggling to see how someone so mentally struggling they can't contact the council and utilities, can cope with the very stressful job of driving a truck. So he may be able to cope better than you think.

That's rather harsh and makes sweeping assumptions. Mental health covers an extremely wide range of issues and I think it is perfectly possible for someone to be a competent driver but struggle with other social situations and confrontation.

He drives a truck, it is not rocket science and it's hardly stressful.....it is driving, hardly more demanding than driving a car ( I know, I have my HGV as my Dad owns an agricultural haulage business. It is a solitary job with minimal interactions and that fits him perfectly. If he was store greeter at Asda then I would probably take a different view on it.

I guess he may get some Pip right now but as the surgery is in a few months and that is expected to resolve the issues I doubt it would be worth the stress. he has made a claim today and will be going to the appointment with them next week so he is feeling a little better about things now. Thanks all.

He wouldn't get PIP for surgery in a few months time. He may if his mental health issues are as severe as you say.