Caring for, during sickness

workingboy

I know this may not be the correct site to ask this, but.


I'm asking for any suggestions or etc.

My wife who has to have 8 mths of treatment and its going to be tuff.

She wants me to stay home and look after her during this period and there will travelling back and forth to the hospital etc of some 12 miles or 30 miles depending.

My employer do not offer any leave as such, all my children are working and we have a disabled daughter too who needs care. I have some 4 years before retirement.

Are there any benefits etc. I could claim to cover me during this time and then go back to work in approx 9 mths other than go and claim sick leave from my employer for 9 mths.

thanks

TomsMom

Workingboy - I am making an assumption here, and I apologise if I am wrong, because my OH is half way through an 8 month course of treatment for a rare form of lymphoma so he is being treated in the cancer unit. I think maybe you are in a similar situation.

There will be a social worker attached to the unit where your wife is being treated. Ask for an appointment to see the social worker and he/she will be able to give you all the information you need about what benefits, if any, you may be entitled to and can point you in the right direction if you need to arrange extra care for your disabled daughter.

My OH is four years away from official retirement age but because of his illness he has had to sell our business and cannot work, therefore our income disappeared completely. He claims incapacity benefit (lowest rate at present) and I have my state pension. We looked into any other benefits but unfortunately, because we have been careful enough to save for our retirement and have over the allowed limit (£16,000 I think), we cannot claim anything. OH does use hospital transport to save on petrol costs as the hospital is 50 miles away and the appointments were very frequent to begin with.

Hopefully your children who work are willing to share the load too, even if it is just a day here and there to keep your wife company, share the household chores, drive to hospital appointments, etc.

Sending good wishes to you and your wife, hoping that she remains positive and strong throughout the course of her treatment, and that she regains her health in due course.

workingboy

Thank you for your reply.

It appears that the standard treatment for Hodgkins Lymphoma is of some 8mths.

She has yet to attend for Chemotherapy consultation and where we shall meet a Social worker and discuss what can be done.

Thank you again and may I wish you both good wishes too.

Thanks

jimmo

I’m afraid I can’t offer any “professional” advice on this but when I had cancer my wife really was the “rock” that got us through it.
Financially we were probably more fortunate than most because I was on paid sick leave and so was she. Our doctor signed her off for stress.
Hopefully the social worker will guide you through the benefits side of things
If it will work for you I really suggest you go to your doctor and see if he will sign you off now.
Your wife needs you and that is far more important than money, no matter how tight things are.
I really do wish you well

belfastgirl23

It might also be worth getting in touch with some of the specialist charities in this area - Macmillan have a specific helpline devoted to financial issues - see here for further info http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Get_Support/Financial_help/Financial_help.aspx

I hope it all goes well for you and your wife!