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.

Get her to contact her mortgage provider to see if they are able to offer her any support. I work for financial services and we have a specialist team to support people in this situation. Not all do but it is definitely worth a conversation. Other than that I can't offer any more advice than what has been given already. There are also other cancer charities other than Macmillan depending on the area such as maggies, so also worth a google.

I really hope you can get some support so that your friend/relative can concentrate on recovery 

Is she working? What about sick pay?

Maybe should could get a mortgage payment holiday?

You say she is not working now but what was she doing?

Was she self employed and now unable to work?

What field did she work in? There are benevolent associations for many trades.

PIP you need to have had a condition/ care needs/ mobility issues for at least 3 months and expect them to last longer than 9 months. It can take up to 16 weeks to process and she will need an assessment. They can do home assessments if she’s having treatment. 2 categories, daily living and mobility. 8 points for a standard award, 12 points for enhanced award (in each section).

If she has no income look at application for council tax reduction. This is done through local authority.

With Esa/jsa/ universal credit all initially work out about 73.10 a week. If she’s receiving cancer treatment GP can sign work capability assessment for to say she’s not fit for work or work related activity and after 13 weeks she will get an extra 37 quid. How this is awarded will depend on whether your full service universal credit or not.

I’m afraid benefits are only there for the basics and will require assessments. Even for people with cancer.

Just income support unless they are terminal. DB has a brain tumour and can’t work and doesn’t get sick pay from work but isn’t entitled to pip or Dla. It’s a joke.

Why is she not getting statutory sick pay?

Because she’s no longer employed baby mama. Unfortunately.

Income support - I don’t understand the bit where it says you can claim if you’re ‘ not signed on as unemplyed’ Does that mean signed on as in jsa? Or if you’re just not employed. The term income support makes it sound as if it’s supportibg what you earn. May need to look into that.

@gamerwidow. It is a joke. It really is. How can people survive on £70 a week? How are they supposed to go through cancer treatment and still eat properly and keep warm and pay all bills. It’s mad.

She can claim pip after 3 months.

*Gamerwidow He should be getting PIP. Remember to answer any question with your worst day!

OP what treatment is she on? What's her prognosis?

Pension credit guarantee - depending on the age. Pip. Income support. These are the main things. Or universal credit - again depending on age.

For example, my mum is disabled and receives her state pension, plus attendance allowance high rate (£80ish a week for people aged 65 plus I think, like pip for older people), then pension guarantee credit which is about another £60 a week and gives free dental treatment etc too. She also receives a warm home discount off her gas which is £140 a year.

I have a disabled child and have experience of the benefits system so helped her to claim whatever she can.

Lots of people don’t realise about the pension credit bit or to tell them if you get dla / attendance allowance - but they give you extra money.

PIP seems very hard to get. She has slight issues with mobility but is ok caring for herself at the moment. Doesn’t look like council tax reduction will apply either. She’s a single person living in a 2 bed flat.

Sorry meant to add my mum is 70 so I’m not sure of whereabouts in age in her 60s your friend is, it makes a big difference.

She’s early 60’s so can’t claim state pension or pension credits. Although may not be around long enough to get to that point. Prognosis isn’t great but depends on treatment. About to start chemo.

If she's worked all her life presumably she has some kind of pension - could she do early draw down to tide her over?

If she has no income, no savings she can apply for a council tax reduction online.

Any benefit she applied for right now 73.10 is as much as she will get. If she goes on to ESA and gets placed in the support group after 13 weeks she will get an extra 37 a week.

(I mean private pension not state pension)

@Havelock yes she does and she can acesss it now but she’s worried that if she survives the cancer, there won’t be enough left for the future, baring in mind she’s only 62. She’s hoping to have treatment and recover well enough to get a new job but that could be a year or so down the line and and I think it’s unlikely she’ll get new employment at 63 or 64 (due to age) and after having a cancer diagnosis too. I don’t think she will probably ever be well enough again to be honest.

She could cash in some of her pension as a serious ill health claim.

She could get ESA, it’s around £120 a week. Probably PIP too.

ESA is 73.10 a week for the first 13 weeks. 37 added on if she meets support group criteria.

I would say drawing her pension early is her best bet to provide security for keeping her home.

This is obviously a very difficult time for your friend. Benefits are no where near as much as people think they are. And most come with conditionality. Going to her pension may be only way to help