What benefits when long term sick (cancer)

[Pibplob]

Does anyone know what could be available please so I can look into them. Someone in their 60’s. Unable to work now so considered unemployed. Thanks if anyone can help.

Macmillan will advise. Just google.
HTH

Thanks. McMillan have come up with £60 a week. (Not sure what benefit that is though) She can’t afford to pay her bills and food on that. She’s worked all her life and not claimed a thing. Now she’s stressing massively about money amounts everything else 😢

She might be able to draw her pension early. Definitely worth looking into.

Yeah she could but she’s worried if she gets through it she won’t have enough for the future. How old does a person need to be to draw the state pension at the moment? Wonder if that’s a bit more. Will have a google but I think it’s 65 😢

Has she had a look at entitled to site?

I'm thinking income support, HB, disability living allowance just off the top of my head

Thanks. Will have a look at those. They surely can’t expect someone to live on £60 a week. What’s HB?

Phone citizens advice to get a full benefit check

How into their 60’s op? It makes a difference to what they can claim and to what age,

For example PIP’s upper age limit is 65,
If able to draw state pension, they may be entitled to pension credit.

I’m so sorry they’re going through this OP.

Macmillan are good in terms of applying for income related grants and adhoc financial help.

If she’s on chemo she is automatically entitled to ESA when SSP comes to an end (or if she’s not eligible for SSP). She can also look into PIP depending how her cancer affects her day to day living.

Either of those two benefits will passport extra help (eg housing benefit, income support, council tax reduction...)

www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/practically/financial-support/government-benefits

If she's signed off as not fit for work then she can claim conts based esa. If she's in a universal credit area then she needs to claim that for help with housing, if non uc area then housing benefit. Personal independence payment if under 65, attendance allowance if over 65.
See CAB or step change for budgeting support

Attendance allowance is available to over 65’s who need help with their persona care.

It really depends whether she owns her own house or is renting, whether she has a partner working or not.

They surely can’t expect someone to live on £60 a week. That's more or less what jobseekers allowance is (age dependent)

Has she paid into a pension at work? She may be able to retire early and draw on that. She needs to speak to her boss about accessing early medical retirement for that. A dear colleague of mine did just that last year for a brain tumour.

Macmillan are usually very helpful with access to financial support and benefits advice. Otherwise it's www.entitledto.co.uk/ for looking at what someone may be entitled to, but shorter term benefits are crap no matter what you've paid into the system.

There's also: www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/practically/financial-support as another place to look.

Has she ever served in the military? SSAFA, Help For Heroes etc are fabulous support organisations.

Other areas for charitable support can be found here depending on her situation: www.turn2us.org.uk/Your-Situation

Early 60’s. Don’t think she’s bad enough yet for PIP from what I understand. Waiting for chemo appointment so will look into that. Thank you. Is housing benefit only for those who rent? She has a mortgage.

I don't think you can get HB for mortgage payments, no. Does she have any insurance policies with health coverage? Her house policy may have critical care type cover, she may want to have a look and see if her diagnosis triggers any payouts.

I would suggest contacting your nearest Maggie's centre and they'll sort it out for you. They are amazing, so much help to is when caring for relatives with cancer.

She can get interest only paid for mortgage but it will need to be paid back when house is sold. Also she can only claim it in six months. It’s very unfair that if you rent you get full rent immediately and no repayment necessary.

Thanks. Will get her to check her house policy. Do you mean insurance or mortgage policy? Just looked through the link someone put up (thank you). Looks like esa at £70 a week is all she’ll be entitled to. She’s not old enough for state pension or pension credits. Not bad enough yet for PIP. No housing benefit if she owns her property. Shit. She’s going to have to work I think. Even though she’s been told not to. 😢

Has she got critical illness cover or any other health insurance policies?

So job seekers allowance is around £60 ish too? I’m guessing those people on that also receive other benefits to top up their money? Housing benefit / tax credits etc. This just doesn’t seem fair at all.

All her insurance policies - get them all out and check them all. It's worth it. Same for any insurance through her work.

Is she a member of a union? Does she work in the Civil Service or anything? There is the Charity for Civil Servants.

She may still qualify for PIP, don't wrote it off. Especially if her doctors are advising against work.

Thanks will check all insurance policies. Know she doesn’t have critical illness as they wouldn’t cover her for it. Not sure what other policies may help but will have a look.
I will suggest pip but don’t think she’s there yet and McMillan didn’t say she was entitled so I don’t think she will be. Even if she was it would only be £20 a week so not going to make a lot of difference to her. Although it all adds up I suppose. Just feel so down for her. I don’t know how people are expected to manage. I know she’s just going to feel so stressed and worried about money now when there’s enough for her to worry about.

Def look at any pension plan, I look into mine today (after a pension thread earlier today) and both of mine allow early withdraw from age 55 if I have a serious illness. I know you said she is worried about it running out but it’ll help short term and state pension will kick in later. Any equity in her house she could release?