some time ago I wrote re my nephew, he is only mid thirty's and a year ago got phnumonia with septicemia, we were lucky not to loose him, however it has left him with heart failure. he has been told by his consultant that this is as good as it gets.  he cant walk very far without exausting himself, he wont be able to return to his wowr  (that he has been in the same job all his life) as a welder. his doctor signs his sickness lines.  however those in power who pay the benefits say he is alright, (those in power are the doctor that works for the dept employment) and his consultant has told him that he expects a letter from them asking him to stop writting the sick lines.  who sould my nephew go to for help, local mp. health minister?  I find it a strange one.  no one would take him on to work as he would be a liability. I thought it would be straight forward and that after some time he would be classed as disabled and that the family would be treated fairly. not so. he has too young children and a mortgage. My sister has often to go and stay the night when his wife works at the local hospital as my nephew has in the past felt that when the youngest child got up during the night he cant cope with her as he get breathless and then feels faint.  any helpful advice greatly appreciated. 

my oh was on sickness benefits due to have bi polar, they can't stop his benefits unless the doctor stops signing him off and i can't see that happening, his phychatric nurse said if he ever had any problems with the jobcentre eg getting him to go to opintments to find work etc to let him know and he would get a letter sorted, he said he had expirence of other mentally ill patients being "harassed" by them and they would worry about it.  Would the consultant be able to write a letter to them explaining that he isn't capable of work, i'm sure that would over ride it?

Has he actually applied for DLA? If so, did they refuse it? If so then I would get him to appeal. The DLA is often refused at the first, or sometimes the subsequent applications. Has he tried the Welfare Rights people? They helped my ex get DLA after he had serious health problems. I could ask him who he had dealings with if you like. He is based in Angus so it would be the same people in Arbroath that your brother would be dealing with.

Can I suggest this website:-
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=139

It's very useful and helpful - people giving advice on there really do seem to know their stuff.

Good luck.

thanks all who replied. My nephew lives in the central belt Lindylou.

I would make an appointment with the welfare rights worker at Citizens advice, they have some extrememly well trained and knowledgable people there. They will advice on ANY benefits he is entitled to and if he is entitled to DLA they will help him with a claim and also take him through ANY appeals for that or Incapacity Benefit. I would also go and see his local MP, explain the situation and exactly what the Consultant expects in regards to recovery(or NON recovery) a letter from an MP can have a drastic effect! HTH, Dawn x

Oops! Different people would be involved then ;-) I would still get in touch with Welfare Rights though. They really do know their stuff.

If he gets a letter from the DWP, tell him to read it really well, as there is a Med 4 letter that they send out to say tat no more medical evidence is needed & they continue to pay benefits. The medical evidence from the GP is a Med 3 & the Med 4 means that the DWP accept that e is ill & unable to work. A lot of people only read the bit about not sending anymore medical evidence in & panic !

If the DWP Doc does consider im to be fit for work, he should lodge an appeal immediately & contact the nearest Welfare Rights, they will present his appeal & represent him.

The consultant may mean the Med 4 & tat means he will get paid & won't have to provide anymore Med 3s.

It can all be a bit confusing. It does sound like he should apply for DLA & Welfare Rights will do they forms for him.

I worked for the DWP for 34 years-until I was considered medically inefficient & had my contract terminated with an RSI that they had caused !!