To want to work for cash to pay for treatment

[gopherit]

AIBU to think that if the nhs can't give you the treatment you need and you're expected to self fund (in my case, 2 different types of physio and long-term counselling) then you should be able to work additional hours tax free to be able to fund it? As it is, if I work extra, my universal credit will reduce and it still won't cover it. To do it properly, long term private physio and counselling is already setting me back around £300-400 month which I can't sustain.

I am so fed up. When I chose a vocational career to qualify in, it's because you could survive without luxuries if that's what you chose. I'm not someone who needs or wants 5 long holidays abroad every year! I'm happy to shop cheaply and forego expensive treats, to do something I love and that's good for society (3rd sector). That was the choice I was happy to make when choosing my area of study/speciality. BUT, there was a half decent healthcare and benefits system at the time, which now there isn't. I'd like to work extra to pay for my treatment, but I can't.

Would it enable a society that could more easily fund treatment, rather than struggle to stay in work without?

Apols if I post and run, will be back this evening!

I totally get what you're saying. The NHS can't help my child and I've had to go private for assessments, testing and more. About 700 a month to include supplements.

Yes, there should be an option for such instances. In practice, however, it wouldn't work. We can barely keep up with our complicated systems and I think they need to be simplified across every system including tax, health. etc.

I wish it was all easier...and accessible

I don't think either of those things you want to self fund are meant to be used long term . Physio can be done at home , usually you get a few sessions then exercises at home . A councillor once told me that if councilling hasn't worked after a course it's unlikely to .

Well, I will probably be slated for it but, yes, I think a cash in hand job to pay for health care is ok. Just don't get caught! It's not like you're embezzling funds for a crystal salt and pepper set and a luxury motor home, is it?

Thanks for the suggestions. Without going into too much detail, I will likely be in and out of therapy for the rest of my life. Due to the complex history, it's very triggering to have to keep starting from scratch each time with a new person. I have found a suitable longterm trauma therapist and its working for me - it doesn't work for everyone though, hence it not being offered on nhs. Physio is also complex due to overlapping issues. I've seen various NHS and private over the years, good and bad in each, but again, finally found one privately who's actually fixing the core issues and it's paying off. Nhs one not so great. Several different areas of my body need working on, and can't do simultaneously. They really take around 6-12 months each and needs consistent oversight as each issue can contribute to the others (so YouTube not always appropriate). I'm hoping the sessions will reduce in intensity but even so, I feel quite disadvantaged to others at times, on a very unlevel playing field.

Very fortunately I came into some money so didn't have your financial dilemma but was in exactly the same situation. Needed therapy and physio and found the NHS services were not there so used my windfall. It sucks for us and I know a lot of NHS staff are really unhappy about the very time limited and generic services they are now forced to offer, which really don't meet people's needs. I used to feel guilty about going privately but now feel it would be mad not to if it's affordable. I feel very angry on behalf of all the people who just can't afford to access the help they need.

Thank you @Frillysweetpea I'm sorry you've been through it too, but glad you had the windfall. I guess this is why people end up crownfunding. I just think there could be a better solution than forcing people to basically beg.

Putting aside the health treatment aspect, I would do the side hustle just to clear my student loan while I can… one less thing to worry about down the track when you do have less options and capability.

You obviously ARE keeping yourself in a low income in order to claim. You said increasing your hours isn't an option because your UC would reduce and you’d have to pay towards your student loan. You have enough time spare to take on a “side hustle”, but not to actually work and pay taxes because you see that as unfair.

Why did you bother going to the expense of getting a degree if your attitude is that other people should not only pay for all of it, but that you want to keep your wages so low that you also claim benefits to top up? And you wonder why the NHS can’t fund your specific treatments?? FGS.

Thing is everyone who works full time needs to work a second job or a side hustle for extra things they can't afford if they want those things. I know I would and do sometimes as I don't have an NHS dentist, have to pay for private podiatry. My student loan repayment goes up if I work more as does the amount of tax I pay. How are you different OP?

Again, there seems to be a difference in some people's understanding between wants and needs, and expectations of a health service that is meant to be free at the point of use.

We all seem so tolerant in society of the fact that actually we're all getting a duff service! Although I expect some on this thread will think I'm not entitled to an opinion on how taxes are spent! 😁 But to those I would say, careful what you wish for. If you can only think I came to be in the position I am through foolish choices, you perhaps need to question whether it is possible that you might find yourself in the same situation through sheer bad luck alone.

Increase your hours and work all hours, then you will afford treatment. The benefits bill is one of the things crippling this country. You are allowing others to work hard, to help fund you, when you are capable of funding yourself.

Some countries do this kind of thing. Quite a few offer tax rebates if you send your children to private school. I think Germany does it and possibly spain. In this country that isn't going to happen because we need the as much tax money as we can get to pay for things like UC and the NHS.

Private health insurance is tax deductible in many countries.

The NHS provides a basic level of service. It does not necessarily provide exactly the service that you feel you want or need. What you describe ie long term therapy with a specific therapist and similarly long term specific physio is a luxury that needs to be paid for privately. You admit that NHS therapy and physio are available you just feel they aren’t good enough for you so it’s a choice you are making to pay for a service that you feel is better.

You say the therapy works for you and ‘not for everyone.’ There is a lot of ‘therapy’ that frankly has no evidence base like NLP. The NHS cannot and should not pay for just anything that anyone fancies. Should homeopathy and aromatherapy be on the NHS? Chinese traditional medicine? Ayurvedic medicine? Lots of people think those are great and are helping them.

People need to understand that the NHS and the benefit system provide a basic safety net not everything that anyone ever felt they wanted.

And a lot of countries do not….

If you’re able to work more hours, why aren’t you doing that? Instead of relying on benefits?

I was specifically told the therapy on offer by the nhs, and through my employer assistance package was not appropriate as my circumstances were too complex. Absolute massive failure of most posters to actually read my posts. And quite how we've arrived at the solution that someone disabled by multiple health conditions, both physically and mentally, with a lifetime of extreme trauma is simply told to work all hours on a low income (as that is all they aee capable of) to pay for the treatment that works for them is quite beyond me. Where does one find the time for the treatment itself, particularly if a parent of SEN children and elderly parents as well?

I'm actually going to stop reading this thread now, since I can see I am going to have to resort to explaining the full extent of my health issues and life history in order to justify my position, and I'm not prepared to do that.

But, if you’re not doing it cash in hand, and declaring it for tax, then surely your UC would be reduced anyway?

All these things are linked through your NI number.

Yes, I said that upthread. It's a pipe dream in any case so I shouldn't worry about it. I have just reminded myself that I simply don't have the capacity in my life to work any more hours or harder than I do. Never mind the time and hard work it takes to go through intensive therapy. My mistake really was posting on here about a fleeting thought around whether there was a better way for people like me.

That is why I said 'some'. It is actually quite a surprising number though. A lot of countries have far less fully funded state education as well. It is always interesting to see how other people do things, even if you disapprove.

However you said upthread you are able to make additional cash money as a side hustle if you choose to.

perhaps other posters just see you as being selective as to when you are actually able…

Think I just answered that in my last post.

You clearly don’t you just don’t want to because it’ll reduce your benefits and you’ll have to pay back your student loan. You want things you can’t afford, but don’t want to work for them.

And genuinely, I am sorry to have posted. I should have realised I would have to explain more and more detail about my circumstances in order to justify my position. I order to reserve anonymity I cannot do that, so it fails to be helpful and probably a waste of people's time. Thank you for the contributions in anycase.

It is completely reasonable to feel frustrated and try to think of other ways to do things. People on here will jump on you, but it isn't as if we have the perfect system.