So had my stroke Easter Monday and unable to work since, as I’m self employed can’t claim sick pay or ESA as I’m a pensioner, applied for attendance allowance but was turned down as was under 6 months rule so reapplied just had the letter saying because I don’t need constant care/ help night and day. Can’t survive on pension alone so totally frustrated as I’ve worked all my life and hardly ever been ill but now I need some help there’s nothing. Just wondering if anyone else has managed to claim anything?
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Don’t know much about this, but Pension credit is possible. You should go on one of the benefit calculators:
www.entitled to.co.uk
or try Citizens advice, Age UK or the Stroke association
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Speak to citizens advice. They can help you understand what you may be entitles to and they can also help you complete forms wtc. You don’t have to have constant care for attendance allowance…my mother in law lived alone with family calling in throughout the day and she gor higher rate. Someone from the local council helped her complete the forms. Have a look at this link too.
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All the help already mentioned and possibly PiP or ADP - both the same different names as such, do you without being cheeky pay rent as can qualify for housing benefit and council tax relief. Think you should be able to claim for SSP as well or incapacity benefits but please follow up with someone like Citizens Advice, the helpline here or your local money matters advice place. Ask them all -sorry I know little more but wish you well and hope things get fixed for you.
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@Jelevents That is absolutely dreadful. Good luck 
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Are you a veteran? If so there are loads of veteran charities that may be able to help.
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Hi no I’m not a veteran, just worked for over50years, but can’t now work anymore, I’ll try another claim.
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I find this a very sad state of affairs.
I know that sometimes the benefits system can be a nightmare and even unfair if you happen to be [just] on the wrong side of some [random] cut off point that is set as part of the qualifying criteria.
I wonder of the difficulties here are due to being self-employed. I am not an expert on employment law and taxation but have it in my head that the self-employed are rewarded in a different way to the employed. For example, they don’t pay as much taxes (sorry of this is not true, it is my belief on what I have seen, heard and read). In that respect, they enjoy benefits during the working time i.e. higher take home pay and less taxes and are then expected to save invest for their retirement. I don’t expect every self-employed will fall into this category as we are all different and have different breaks in life.
Perhaps your accountant (if you employed on as a self-employed person) can advise you?
But as others have said, there are organisations who can help e.g. Citizen’s Advice and Age UK (you are a pensioner).
It is very sad you have worked for over 50 years and are experiencing financial difficulties.
Unfortunately, I can’t think of anything from personal experiences as I have never been self-employed.
I wish you all the best.
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Thanks for your feedback, I called DWP yesterday and explained my situation saying I think I’ve not given enough information on my claim form, he was very understanding and will let me know their decision, Just for information for the purpose of claiming Ipreviously thought the definition of bodily functions meant toileting etc, but no bodily functions means anything your body does,seeing,hearing,sleeping,communicating,walking/movement and of course toileting.Will see what comes back. Regarding self employment tax is paid on profit after deductions of expenses from the turnover and is paid at the same rate after personal allowance, and don’t forget we don’t receive any holiday or sick pay, before starting my business I was employed as paye for over 42 years but was never ill then.
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Well done for chasing it up 
Thanks for the info re types of employment and taxation. From your earlier posts I had misunderstood your employment history - I thought you had been self-employed for 50 years.
Not sure if you have been unlucky, but 42 years as a PAYE might suggest you would qualify for a good company pension. Someone of your age may even be on a Final Salary pension.
Anyway, from what you are saying, I rather think you might know more about these things than I do.
I hope things work out for you and now that the bodily functions issue has been clarified with the DWP officer.
Wishing you all the best.
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Ah thanks for your support it’s a great site here, no company pension unfortunately, I used to work in the motor trade and moved positions several times over the years.
Wish you all the best too
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So further update following on from me calling DWP and putting my case to them, great news! They have reviewed their decision and agreed to grant me the allowance which will be a massive help and I’m truly grateful for it
Stay positive everyone
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That’s great news & such a relief for you I am sure.
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