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.

I haven't read the whole thread so apologies if this has been said. Does she have a company pension? If she has a final salary pension then she can get a serious ill health pension if her life expectancy is less than 12 months or there are other options if her life expectancy is longer than 12 months. Call the pension provider and ask the question.

She'll have to watch out as drawing her pension may stop her accessing benefits. She needs to take proper advice. A pensionwise appointment via CAB may be a good place for her to start. Also if she claims income support or universal credit she should get some help to pay the mortgage, and also be able to claim help with the council tax, but it'll all depend on her savings

I volunteer at CAB which gives benefits advice. However in our area we rarely see anyone with cancer because McMillan helps anyone diagnosed. Cancer is very scary but she does need to know about prognosis and get advice/help before taking the decisions about any private pension.

There is a lot of info on their website about things like pensions and mortgages. If your friend has stopped work it is definitely worth looking at the benefits ASAP so that she doesn't miss out on any national Insurance contribution based benefit - in your friends case Employment and Support Allowance.

DH is in that position. He has a terminal prognosis, and Macmillan helped him to claim PIP and ESA. He only gets contributions based though because I earn over the threshold. He is also in his 60s but not old enough to draw down pension.

Is there no uplift to SSP from her employers? Most bigger employers will pay more than the SSP.

SSP isn’t relevant as no longer employed. McMillan are helping but say she’s only entitled to the esa of £70 ish a week. Not said about anything else and so not entitled. Think the mortgage can be paid off. But it’s living costs that are the problem. She lives alone so no other income coming in so this £70 will be it. That’s all to pay all bills and food and car expenses. I was hoping there was something else that I hadn’t thought of but I don’t think there is.

She can apply for PIP

www.mariecurie.org.uk/help/support/benefits-entitlements/living-with-terminal-illness/personal-independence-payment

Nothing else early on I’m afraid. It really does come as a shock when people realised how little they are expected to live on.

Again, for PIP you need to have had a condition for at least 3 months and expect it to last longer than 9 months. With cancer, they will often only start the 3 month period when you start treatment.

I have incurable cancer and have been having treatment now for about 14 months. I choose not to know how long I’ve got left but it won’t be ages by any means. I live alone too, but am 34 so probably find things a bit easier than your friend. I haven’t taken any time off work- partly for psychological reasons but also partly financial. I know I couldn’t afford to live on the benefits I’d get without my family helping which I don’t want. It’s nowhere near enough to cover mortgage etc. I don’t think people realise how little it is.

I’m surprised that she’s been told not to work- I’ve not heard that before. Did she work with children/elderly/high risk of infection environment?

Macmillan have benefits advisors who are the best people to help her figure all this out. There is a electricity scheme which will cap her bills (I think it’s a joint thing with Macmillan and N Power). She needs to sign up for free prescriptions ASAP, parking permit for her hospital and help with travel costs. None of that is masses but hopefully helps a little bit.

You are obviously a really supportive friend. That will mean so much to her

Oh just seen that her mortgage can be paid off. That’s brilliant news and will help a lot. Is that from an insurance policy?

Why has shebeen told not to work? I've never heard of that before

Lazypuppy I thought you quoted me then but we just asked the same thing in the same way- spooky!

Other than people who were already retired or who have tiny children, most of the people I meet in treatment are working at least part time. I can only assume it’s a workplace that has some inherent risks. I’m generally advised to change as little as I can so long as am still looking after myself etc.

Mortgage is nearly finished as she’s in her 60’s and she should be able to pay it off with savings. Won’t leave anything left though. She already gets free prescriptions as over 60 (I think that’s why)

They’ve told her not to work as she can’t really manage (not bad enough for PIP though although I may tell her to persue this if they’ve given her a certificate as surely that would go in her favour?) also she is due to be spending a lot of time in hospital in the v near future. I guess that’s another reason. She’s got quite vigorous treatment coming up.

Ah sorry forgot there was an age thing for free prescriptions anyway. So that’s already taken care of.

As you say, seems wrong for her to be told she can’t manage work but that she isn’t ill enough for PIP. But I don’t understand the PIP system at all. I know there is a special procedure for the terminally ill but it sounds like her prognosis is much better.

Good about the mortgage. One thing down.

Spoke to pip yesterday just to warn they have a 12 delay. System error. My husband has advanced stage cancer down to half pay fuck all help. Uc comes in for everyone on 30tj November and as my husband's occupation is hb officer we have been warned of a further 12 week delay for any hell. Mcmillan grants are dealt with via chemotherapy and radiotherapy nurses. We got 300 due to travelling to another city covered petrol. Not sure if this is any hell but just to warn. Don't forget to apply for ct reduction and also each hospital has a mcmillan team who have a financial advisors. Speak to a paid advisor not a volunteer as they gave the wrong Info hence we being shit creek. They can also see whether your entitled to a blue badge. Most people diagnosed with cancer will not need a pip face to face as long as you send all information from first doctor appointment to treatment plan. Also the pip for is 40 pages mcmillan stayed in the phone to help me fill it in

user 12 weeks? That’s pretty bad.

Good point on council tax. If it’s anything like mine it’s a bloody fortune so a reduction will help.

Check she doesn't have a life insurance policy that would have been taken out with the mortgage, usually only a fairly cheap amount,/year, but if diagnosed terminally ill or die it pays a lump sum to clear the mortgage.

Speak to a specialist Macmillan nurse who processes benefit claims. IME, PIP is not that hard to get, they just need to phrase the questions in a certain way to elicit the answers looked for. That sounds dodgy but your mum(?) might see things one way and actually because she needs to do XYZ to be able to complete that task, she's eligible. It's all about phrasing.

If she has a 2 bed house, can she rent a room out, it's tax free up to a good amount look on www.gov.uk

Again, while people are well meaning in this thread I urge you to get proper help. Pip is hard to get sometimes. I know this. I help people with cancer apply on a daily basis. The only way to fast track the claim is if she’s issued with a ds1500. This means the doctor thinks it would not be unreasonable to expect her to pass away in the next 6 months. If she has more than 16k in savings she will get no means tested benefits so your looking at contribution based ESA/nes style ESA I’m in a universal credit full service area.

She needs to speak to someone dufferentvat Macmillan it sieak to a Maggie’s centre if there is one.

ESA is £73.10 a week, not £60, and as she’s on chemo she should automatically (but she may have to remind them) get into the Support Group which is £110 a week.

That's what income protection insurance is for.

She also needs Es155 form from her consultant. It will fast track her PIP.

I’ve been a benefits advisor for nearly 4 years. I’ve only ever met 1 person with income protection insurance. Most people assume the state will be there to support them. However, under most circumstances for a single version with no savings the most you will get at the start of your claim is 73.10 a week, council tax reduction of savings under 16k, housing benefit or housing costs from universal credit if you rent, PIP takes up to 16 weeks to process, involves an assessment in most cases and you can’t get it until you e had care and or mobility needs for 3 months. If your in hospital for more than 28 days over a linked period PIP will cease to pay. If you apply when in hospital it won’t start till you get out.