Support
Having any kind of arthritis can affect how you feel about yourself. It can help to share how you are feeling so others can support you.
In this section you’ll find advice about helplines and support groups, charities, financial support and benefits, social care and housing, aids and adaptations, support for carers and support from healthcare professionals.
For support with mental health issues please see the ‘addressing wellbeing page’ in ‘Living well’
Financial Support
Money worries can have a serious impact on your physical and mental wellbeing.
- Building Better Opportunities in Stafford and South Staffordshire helps people across the area to take control of their finances and feel better about money. They provide free financial and welfare advice, to support you to manage your financial situation.
Building Better Opportunities Stafford & South Staffordshire (bbostaffs.org)
- AgeUk
If you have arthritis, there’s support available and things you can do to help make life easier. This site contains information about benefits, help and driving.
Arthritis UK | Information and Support on Arthritis | Age UK
- Versus Arthritis – Financial Support for People with Arthritis
If you’re struggling to work because you have arthritis, you may be able to claim government benefits or get help through financial support schemes.
You may also be entitled to financial support if your condition is making it difficult to do everyday tasks such as getting about or caring for yourself, and this is causing you extra living expenses
Financial support for people with arthritis | Benefits, loans and pensions (versusarthritis.org)
- National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society – (NRAS)
The benefits system can be tricky to navigate, especially if you have never claimed any benefits before. Your healthcare team will give you information on treatments, but when it comes to finding out about benefits, this is often something you are expected to do yourself, but there is support available to help you through this process.
Benefits | NRAS | Advice on claiming benefits
- Help with Paying for Care and Support
If you need help with paying for care you will need to have a care and support assessment. This assessment applies national rules to see if you have care needs which make you eligible for financial support.
Funding the cost of care and support – Staffordshire County Council
- Financial and Welfare Advice in Staffordshire
Funding the cost of care and support – Staffordshire County Council
- Carers
There are a range of benefits available to carers and working through them can be daunting. Carers UK have a useful guide to these benefits and how to claim them.
Carers UK CAN help with benefits. Carer’s Allowance. Personal Independence Payment. Carer’s Credit. Disability Living Allowance. Attendance Allowance. Benefits for carers who are pension age. Plus:
- Help with health costs.
- Help with debt.
- Help with household finances.
- Disability-related expenses.
- Help with your pension.
Click on the links below for more information
Benefits and financial support if you’re caring for someone – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Blue badges
Who can get a Blue Badge? – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Citizens Advice
Can provide advice on financial support that you may be entitled to
https://citizensadvicessw.org.uk
- Disability Solutions West Midlands provide a range of services including an information and advice line that contains advice about benefits: social care services, independent living services, health services, housing, education, employment and carer support.
