Can I ask about money?

[Mehfruittea]

On behalf of a friend who has recently been diagnosed with a terminal form of cancer.

He doesn't seem to know much about the financial side of entitlements.

With a workplace pension, would it be normal to get a death in service benefit if he remains employed?

And if he reached a period of sickness absence that meant he was no longer getting paid, would his pension be suspended? (Because neither he nor employer are paying in to it). Would that mean he wouldn't get the death in service benefit?

He has a partner but is not married. Am I right in thinking she will get more financial assistance in the future if they are married? They don't have kids.

He gets PIP but has failed ESA, even though he has a terminal diagnosis of 18 months. He has no choice but to go back to work due to financial reasons. Is there any other help available? He has run out of company sick pay and they have already given him discretionary payments.

Sorry if these questions are inappropriate or blunt, i am a practical person and I can see he is struggling. I feel like this information should be made really easy to find out.

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

Check again about ESA, go to CAB if needed, DH is stage 4 but not terminal, he has PIP and ESA, he has had to give up his business which was a B&B, can't help on the pension. My Dsis was given bothe as well and she was terminal

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

DH's hospital has a specialist social worker who we talked to to help, and she got most sorted

[BiteyShark]

I don't know the answer to a lot of your questions but I think I have read somewhere on the life insurance I get automatically with work that I can claim it in advance if I get a terminal diagnosis. I know my late DM's private life insurance did the same.

[SlB09]

He needs to speak to his employer/finance dept as to his particular entitlements and how this might work. most areas have benefits advisors for terminal illness, namely macmillan, you can phone or some hospitals have there own advice centre.
He may be entitled to more the increasingly disabled he gets and its important to organise and discuss power of attorny -finance and health with significant others and get this organised while he is able to. Inform banks etc of these too as on a practical level it makes it much easier for whoever is left behind.
when presumed prognosis become 6months or less his GP can complete a DS1500 form which will get him the higher rate of any benefits entitled to. Hope that helps xx

[Mehfruittea]

Thank you all. You've given me some pointers and hopefully I can help. He failed ESA because with pain relief he can physically do 'a' job, but he doesn't know yet if he can do his old job to the same standard as before. He's going through a phased return right now but is not confident his role could be done part time if needed.

I'd like to give him some practice pointers rather than just the 'sad face/hope you feel better soon/slap on the back/jolly up' IYKWIM.

Thank you

[CMOTDibbler]

My friends db got a lot of advice from Macmillan about finances when he had a terminal diagnosis - some things will pay out before your death if you have a terminal diagnosis for instance, and there are ways companies can keep you in service to get payouts from their insurers - but this needs the policy to be checked.

[Babyroobs]

Please see if their is a macmillan benefits advisor at his oncology centre or ring them for advice. He should definitely be able to get ESA once his work's sick pay runs out.
if you are talking about bereavement benefits in regards to his partner ( forgive me for mentioning if that is not what you meant) then it would be more beneficial if they were married as widows allowance wouldn't be paid to her following his death if they were not married. It's unfair but that's the way it is. I'm not sure whether he could nominate any pension to go to her but macmillan also have a service which can advise on pensions.

[littlebillie]

If you are terminal you can claim your life insurance in full 18 months pre death

[MiniMum97]

Is he having chemo or radiotherapy or is it planned, or is he recovering from the effects of chemo or radio?