When something you thought was just a virus, or a short-term health problem turns into something much more serious, you are likely to have to reduce your income. Whether you have become ill or you have had an accident that prevents you from returning to your original job, you may find that you can't get a job that pays the same wage, or that you can't work at all. This lack of income brings its own financial pressures which may mean you have to consider how you can raise additional cash.

Lifestyle changes

When you are diagnosed with a health issue that will have a long-term effect on your lifestyle, you will probably have to make some changes. Depending on the nature of your problem, you may require specialist care, or you may need to make structural changes to your home to help make you more comfortable. These potential changes to the way you live your life cost money – and you may have already lost a proportion or all of your wage. Seeking debt advice before you get into financial difficulty could help you to manage your money:

• Claim your benefits – as someone who has been professionally diagnosed as being unable to work, you should be able to access a range of benefits. Make sure you apply for everything you're entitled to, including any benefits that are designed to help your family or your primary carer.

• Don't overspend – whilst you may need to make adjustments to your property, or pay for external care, try not to overspend in other areas. Don't take out new credit cards or finance agreements, because that's a sure way to get into trouble with your money. Keep a close eye on what you spend so that you can see where all the money is going.  

• Consider selling your home – rather than spending thousands making changes to your current home, why not sell and move to a more suitable house? Bungalow or ground floor flat accommodation may be much better for you and you may even pay less for it, leaving you with some money left over that you can invest for future income or use to treat yourself.

If you need to sell your home because of ill health, contact us at Discount Property Auction. We're committed to helping you, whatever your circumstances. If you want to sell your home, you can use our dedicated online auction facility, which allows you to upload your property yourself and put it in front of genuine, interested buyers. Call us now on 0800 1313 999 or email admin@discountpropertyauction.co.uk to arrange a valuation today.