Its been a while since I've been on here as my IVA has been going ok and I am now into my final year.
Recently I had a serious illness where I was off work for five months, during this time I had all sorts of tests, one of which was a head MRI scan.
The results of this scan shown that I have signs of Multiple Sclerosis, I have been referred to a neurologist and now undergoing/waiting further tests for confirm the diagnosis.
My place of work have been great, they've continued to pay me whilst I was off sick and I am now back in work and everything is ok.
My main problem is that if or when I am diagnosed with MS what are my options concerning my IVA?
I am meeting my monthly payments with no problems at the moment but there are going to be lots of unexpected expenses etc for obvious reasons, My problem is that my IVA payments cannot be reduced any further and by submitting a new I&E will not help my with the any quick and unexpected expenses that I may have.
Being so far into my IVA I do not wish to declare myself bankrupt or default on my agreement in any way.
I have no monies either for a full and final payment....
What options if any do I have to maintain my quality of life ???
You should speak to your IP and provide any medical eveidence. You should also investigate any entitlement to disability benefits as this would help with any additional costs. If there is still a lower surplus or not at all, creditors would likely look favourably on a reduction in payments or even a closure based on the payments made to date. You have got this far and creditors will not want to penalise you for an illness.
Hi,
Thanks for the prompt reply, my problem is that I am in the very early stages of diagnosis and it could take a few months for the neurologist to confirm my condition, by that time I may be virtually at the end of my IVA.
I have no definitive proof of my condition at the moment so I am unable to inquire about disability benefits or similar.
My current health is fine but with MS it can hit you today, tomorrow or in 20yrs time so I will be still able to meet my monthly payments....unless something happens with my condition....
Hi endsmeet - sorry to hear about your health problems - well done though for continuing to concentrate on the IVA. If as you say your health is ok at present I would just carry on. However, if it does affect your work and you need to adjust hours for example I would definitely ask your IP to ask your creditors to accept payments to date and end the IVA.
I have been prescribed some medication that is also used in MS and I have to say I have had an improvement in my health since starting. Makes me feel queasy, but believe me, I prefer that to the muscle spasms and headaches I was getting.
I would also suggest if your health deteriorates then you apply for DLA immediately. I have mobility rate and it is a godsend to help with my disabilities.
Hi Kazza,
Thanks for replying, I recently had a dose of Vertigo which knocked me out for months, spent most of the time in bed.
I have now recovered from that and I was sent for a MRI scan which found plaques in my head which, grouped with vertigo are early signs of MS, I am now still waiting further appointments and tests with my neurologist but he did hint that I've got early signs.
My current health is fine at the moment, I suffer alot from fatigue which again is another sign of MS but continuing to work is not a problem at the moment, in fact everyone says that I look great and that you wouldn't know I had anything wrong with me. My place of work have been great with me, having monthly reviews with the on-site nurse etc.
What concerns me is that if I get hit with another dose of vertigo or similar, I may be worse than last time and because of the extra expenses etc that I may have, that I will default on my IVA which I don't want to happen at all being so close to the end.
Think that I may pre warn my IP of my impending condition so that if anything does effect me in the next year, he can put plans into action with the creditors to stop me being made bankrupt.
Thank again for all your advice, good luck yo you too and I hope that you continue to manage your condition without any further set backs.
With less than a year to go, I would be sorely tempted to contact your IP, explain the tests you are going through and see if they could ask for payments made conclude the IVA. By the time they set up a variation meeting(if one is needed in these circs) you would have prob paid a couple of more months and they may just agree. No harm in asking?
