Long-term sickness may not just be a danger to your health – it could also be a danger to your finances. Without being able to work, you won’t be able to take in an income.
Fortunately, there are many ways to fund yourself when battling long-term sickness. Here are just a few options to consider.
Talk to your employer
Many employers are able to offer sick pay. In some states, it may even be mandatory for employers to offer some form of sickness pay. Often this is only a fraction of one’s regular wage and it may be limited to a certain amount of days.
That said, you may still be able to talk to your employer about offering some extra funding – if you are a long-time employee and have a good track record, your employer is likely to try to help you out.
With desk-based jobs there may even be an option to work from home. Providing you can still use a computer/phone, you should be able to carry on duties at home. Even if it’s reduce responsibilities, it could allow you to keep a steady enough income coming in. Just be careful of taking on too much – if your job is stressful and your doctor has specifically recommended you rest, you should follow their advice.
Look into eligible benefits
You may be eligible to certain state benefits as a result of being sick. These are worth looking into.
If you are too sick to work and are unlikely to go back to your previous job, consider if there is an unemployment benefit you could be taking advantage of.
You may also be eligible for disability benefits if you have been ill for a certain length of time or if your medical condition is likely to be ongoing.
Check your insurance
If you have a health insurance scheme in place, check whether there is any form of income protection. Such protection can compensate you for any income lost when ill, but it may only be for a certain number of days.
There are individual income protection schemes available if you are not covered – however you will need to take out one of these schemes before you fall ill in order to be eligible.
Take on odd jobs online
You may not be able to work your regular job, but there may still be ways in which you can make money online by taking on odd jobs.
There are freelance work sites in which you can lend digital skills such as writing, graphic design, accounting or computing. Alternatively, you may be able to make some money by answering surveys. You can also take up online micro jobs – these are low paid, very simple jobs set by companies which could be something as simple as testing that a link works or commenting on a video.
Sell your clutter
Many of us have lots of unused possessions in our home that could be sold for cash, but never get round to sifting through these items. A period of long term sickness could provide the perfect opportunity to sort through your clutter and sell some of it.
If you’re too sick to take it to a second hand store, you may still be able to sell it online through local advertising sites, encouraging buyers to pick up the item from you. If you’re too ill to sort through your clutter, you may still be able to get a friend or family member to help you.
Can you make a legal claim?
In certain cases, you may be able to seek legal compensation for an injury or illness that was directly the fault of someone else.
Neck injuries and brain injuries following a car crash are a time when you may be eligible for legal compensation. You can read more about brain injuries online and the legal compensation you may be entitled to. Hiring an injury lawyer could be worthwhile.
You may also be eligible for compensation following a workplace injury or following a case of medical malpractice.
Get help from charities
If you are truly financially struggling, it’s possible that you may be able to get help from a charity. There may be local charities in your area that can offer financial aid or possibly help out by providing food or medicine. There may also be nationwide charities that you can turn to for financial support.
Reach out to family and friends
It’s important to let your family and friends know if you are financially struggling due to long-term illness. They may be able to help you out in some way such as buying food or helping to temporarily cover bills.
If you need a full-time carer, there may be benefits available to your carer if they are a family member/friend. This may allow them to take time off work if needed in order to give you the care you need.
