What benefits and financial support are available after Aortic Dissection?
Type B Aortic Dissection patient Sarah Nuttman provides a practical introduction to benefits, workplace support and other financial help that may be available to patients and families following an Aortic Dissection.
When Aortic Dissection changes everyday life
An Aortic Dissection can bring significant and unexpected changes to everyday life.
Some people need an extended period away from work or return on reduced hours. Others may find they're unable to return to their previous employment. There can also be additional costs associated with care, mobility, equipment or adaptations at home.
Drawing on her own experience as a Type B Aortic Dissection patient, Sarah Nuttman looks at some of the support that patients and their families may be able to access.
Sarah stresses that everyone's circumstances are different and that eligibility and the support available can vary across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Her presentation isn't financial advice, but is intended to help patients understand some of the options worth investigating.
In this talk
- Speaker: Sarah Nuttman, Patient
- Event: Annual Patient Event 2026, Birmingham
- Duration: 13:44
- Topics: Benefits · PIP · Attendance Allowance · Employment · Workplace Adjustments · Carers · Financial Support
Benefits, work and practical support
Sarah introduces some of the benefits that may be relevant depending on a person's age, location and individual circumstances, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance and Universal Credit, as well as equivalent or alternative schemes in different parts of the UK and Ireland.
For people who remain in employment, she also looks at the support that may be available through an employer. This can include sick pay, occupational health, phased returns, reduced hours, reasonable workplace adjustments and Employee Assistance Programmes.
The presentation also considers support for carers and other practical help that may be available through local authorities and other organisations.
Sarah's practical tips
One of Sarah's most useful recommendations is to keep evidence.
Clinic letters, hospital discharge summaries and records of symptoms can all be useful when applying for support. She particularly recommends keeping a symptom diary, as benefit applications may require people to explain in detail how their condition affects everyday activities.
Sarah also encourages patients not to assume that they won't qualify for help. Organisations such as Citizens Advice, local welfare services and hospital support teams may be able to help identify what's available.
Her final message is simple: don't continue to struggle without finding out whether support is available. For some patients, accessing the right help can play an important part in regaining independence following Aortic Dissection.
This presentation was recorded at the Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland Annual Patient Event 2026, held in Birmingham on 18 September 2026.
