Advice on benefits and what I need to do

Hi all, hope everything had a great Christmas and NYE!

I've only recent joined and I'm looking for some advice as I don't have a clue what I'm doing - so for the last 18 months - 2 years I've had aches and pains, numbness in my arms and fatigue etc, my GP referred me for loads of blood tests and nothing showed up, so they referred me to a rheumatologist who diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, I was also referred to a neurologist and saw him in the summer time (2019) he did a few checks there and then and found there to be some issues with touch and that I couldn't feel temperature properly in my fingers and toes so he referred me for an MRI which happened in November.
In the mean time I've found the pain and pins and needles etc getting a lot worse, I'm now off work sick and have been for about 3 weeks - I work in an office and find after a couple of hours performing basic duties my arms go stiff and numb and I can't use my hands properly.

I haven't heard back from the neurologist but have been told by his secretary the letter and report are finished and I should get this back late this week/early next week. I have seen my GP who was sent a write up of the findings and there's narrowing down my spine which is damaging the nerves, which explains the loss of feeling and pains.I know I need to wait and see what the neurologist recommends regarding treatment/surgery etc but my concern is that I have a partner and 2 young children, I am the main earner in the house so I'd appreciate any advice you guys have regarding benefits and what I'd be able to potentially apply for.

I'm entitled to less than 10 days sick pay in work and so will be getting SSP now.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Thanks for the info Gordon.

I’ll look into universal credit tonight, so I can’t get that and SSP at the same time?

Hi Andy. Make sure you keep all your medical letters, appointments etc in a safe place in case you need to take copies of them to send to DWP. If you have a supportive GP get them on board as much as possible . Make regular contact with them even if its just a phone call . You may find all this 'evidence' very helpful further down the road if you need to claim PIP etc. Good luck

Hey thanks, my GP has been really good and supportive so I have no concerns there, good shout regarding keeping a record of everything, I guess that’s something I’d never really thought about - naively, and because I’ve never been down this road before, I assumed people who were sick just got what they needed! Thanks again