What happens when IB stops but nearing retirement age.

TomsMom

I don't know if anyone on this board can offer any thoughts. I did put the question on the benefits/job seeking board but there was no response.

This is a bit of forward thinking really so any advice would be welcome.

OH is nearing the end of a course of chemo for what he was told is an incurable condition. He was self-employed but had to sell the business and claims Incapacity Benefit at the moment. He has been told that his condition is considerably improved and that at the end of his treatment he will probably be OK to work. Further tests will tell if he is in remission or whether he will need further treatment at a later date. He will know the outcome in 3-4 weeks time.

We live in a very small, fairly rural, coastal town where most of the jobs are seasonal. Also he is 61 years of age so not exactly in the age bracket where employers rush to take you on. We have a few shops and catering establishments, that's basically it as far as employment is concerned.

As we've never claimed benefit before we don't know what comes next. If he's deemed fit for work and the IB stops, what can he apply for? As I am over 60 I get my state retirement pension. We wont be able to apply for any means tested benefits as we "saved for our retirement" but it's not enough to give us an income to live on.

He would be very willing to work but if there are no available jobs what is expected of you?

I'd be most grateful for any advice or suggestions anyone might have.

seven-day-weekend

TomsMom wrote: »

I don't know if anyone on this board can offer any thoughts. I did put the question on the benefits/job seeking board but there was no response.

This is a bit of forward thinking really so any advice would be welcome.

OH is nearing the end of a course of chemo for what he was told is an incurable condition. He was self-employed but had to sell the business and claims Incapacity Benefit at the moment. He has been told that his condition is considerably improved and that at the end of his treatment he will probably be OK to work. Further tests will tell if he is in remission or whether he will need further treatment at a later date. He will know the outcome in 3-4 weeks time.

We live in a very small, fairly rural, coastal town where most of the jobs are seasonal. Also he is 61 years of age so not exactly in the age bracket where employers rush to take you on. We have a few shops and catering establishments, that's basically it as far as employment is concerned.

As we've never claimed benefit before we don't know what comes next. If he's deemed fit for work and the IB stops, what can he apply for? As I am over 60 I get my state retirement pension. We wont be able to apply for any means tested benefits as we "saved for our retirement" but it's not enough to give us an income to live on.

He would be very willing to work but if there are no available jobs what is expected of you?

I'd be most grateful for any advice or suggestions anyone might have.

He may be eligible for Pension Credit:
http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/pensioncredit/

There may be other things - the best thing to do is to see a Welfare Rights Sdvisor at the CAB (Citizens' Advice Bureau) who will be able to tell you what you are entitled to.

Also try putting your details into
https://www.entitledto.co.uk

Hope this helps.

TomsMom

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

He may be eligible for Pension Credit:
http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/pensioncredit/

Thank you so much SDW. We never realised that Pension Credit was available before the age of 65 - not that we'd looked into it, just assumed because of the word "pension" that it was something to do with when you reached pension age! That certainly makes us less apprehensive about lack of funds in the near future, we will be sure to check it out when his treatment is coming to an end.

PS - just been reading further about Pension Credit and it seems our careful savings for our retirement probably rules this out. It's not enough to give us a good income but too much to claim a means tested benefit. Makes you wonder if it's worth saving doesn't it?

Oh well, we'll just have to hope that someone wants to employ a 61 year old who could at any time relapse and require an extended course of chemo again.

EdInvestor

What kind of savings do you have?Does he have private pensions?These can be activated at any age over 50, paying out 25% in tax free cash and the rest of the fund providing an income (or not until later, depending on how it is handled).He does not have to wait until age 65.If he has deferred company pensions, he may also be able to take them early on medical grounds.

Post some details of the pensions/savings if you'd like a view.

Also, have you got a state pension forecast for him?
https://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk will provide one.

What work did he do before he became ill?

Newly_retired

Might he qualify for Disability Living Allowance?
Again, I suggest you go to Citizens' Advice Bureau where they will help you fill out the forms. You would also get Carers' Allowance I think.

TomsMom

Thanks you Ed for replying.

EdInvestor wrote: »

What kind of savings do you have?

We have 5 years' worth of ISAs each (maxed out each year up to now).
Then there is a joint fixed rate account which will be looking for a better home when the 12 months is up in April.

We each have regular monthly savers which, when the 12 month bonus is up, will go into an ISA next year.

Together these take us over any savings limits related to benefits.

The proceeds of our house sale went into Tesco as it is about the best paying instant access, but that money is for the new house we've just bought and is being renovated so that will all go very soon.

Does he have private pensions?

He has a small pension from the Fire Service as he was invalided out after an accident many years ago. He only managed 6 years service so it's not much.

He has another small pension fund from a firm he worked for a few years and a private Pru pension he paid into. Both of these were frozen (I think that's the term) but they don't amount to very much.

He has just been to see an IFA who is making enquiries to see about taking these early, emphasising the medical condition in the hope of squeezing a bit more out of them as his prognosis was poor when diagnosed.

Also, have you got a state pension forecast for him?
https://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk will provide one.

Thank you for reminding me, I didn't think of that :rolleyes: . I'll get him to do that now.

What work did he do before he became ill?

Self-employed for 14 years, we owned a restaurant until he had to give up work because the chemo made it impossible to have constant close contact with the public because of lowered immune system.

My state retirement pension is £105 per week, that's it.

Our biggest fear is that his prognosis was 2 - 4.5 years as there has never been anyone survive much more than 5 years with his illness. So, as we had to sell the restaurant (which was also our home) we had to buy another house. This leaves us with trying to sort out a financially secure future for me if he doesn't survive beyond the prognosis. We have come to terms with this, it doesn't frighten us and we're just getting on with it but he doesn't want to leave me with any problems. (I think he's amazing that he's worrying more about me than himself!). Obviously, if he doesn't survive, his Fire Service pension passes on to me but at about half the rate he gets. Not sure about the others.

TomsMom

Newly_retired wrote: »

Might he qualify for Disability Living Allowance?
Again, I suggest you go to Citizens' Advice Bureau where they will help you fill out the forms. You would also get Carers' Allowance I think.

Thanks Newly retired. However, he doesn't fit the criteria for either of these benefits. He is perfectly capable of looking after himself at the moment, doesn't need any help with anything.

His specialist has said that once his course of treatment ends then he MAY be capable of going back to work. He would be delighted to do that as he's never been without a job but the problem is how does a 61 year old with the possibility of an incurable cancer recurring going to be taken on, especially in a very small town where the work is mainly seasonal and 50% of the town are on benefits .

That's why we're wondering what benefits someone of his age in that position can expect. One young man in the town is receiving Job Seekers Allowance but he is being sent to interviews over 30 miles away. He doesn't have a car and the train takes about 45 minutes or more depending where he's sent. How on earth are people supposed to be able to afford to pay travelling costs out of their wage if they are offered that job?

Anyway, we should know next month whether he's in remission or not. Once we have that information we'll know if his IB will stop and make further enquiries.

EdInvestor

Pretty well anyone with cancer can get DLA which is not means tested, and is not affected by getting the state pension so is well worth having.But you need help with filling in the form, most fairly independent minded people do

Age Concern is another org who will guide him through the process and is very helpful with over 60 benefits issues..

Let us know what the IFA says about the other pensions.

TomsMom

EdInvestor wrote: »

Pretty well anyone with cancer can get DLA which is not means tested,

OK, we'll have to look into that but what we've read already seems to make out that he wont qualify, e.g.

Disability Living Allowance - sometimes referred to as DLA - is a tax-free benefit for children and adults who need help with personal care or have walking difficulties because they are physically or mentally disabled.

and
Who can get Disability Living Allowance?
You may get Disability Living Allowance if:

you have a physical or mental disability, or both
your disability is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or you have walking difficulties, or both
you are under 65 when you claim

Even now, whilst receiving treatment, he doesn't need any help. Obviously if the consultant says he is fit for work again then would he be able to claim that?

This bit:

Special rules - if you are terminally ill
If you have a progressive disease and you are not expected to live for more than another six months there are special rules for claiming to make sure you get your benefit more quickly and easily.

wont apply because even if he doesn't go into full remission his prognosis goes further than six months. It has never been described as terminal, but "incurable" and at it's worst the prognosis gives him up to 4.5 years.

Age Concern is another org who will guide him through the process and is very helpful with over 60 benefits issues..

Thank you for that. All these suggestions are very helpful as we've had no need of any of these organisations before so didn't realise that they could help with this sort of thing.

Let us know what the IFA says about the other pensions.

OK, when we have something back from him I'll let you know.

Again, thank you for your help and suggestions.

zzzLazyDaisy

TomsMom wrote: »

T
His specialist has said that once his course of treatment ends then he MAY be capable of going back to work.

You might want to discuss this with the specialist in more detail before worrying too much. It is entirely possible that the specialist made the comment because he thought it would encourage your OH and keep his spirits up. If he realises that OH is now worrying about it and stressing about losing his IB (which may have an adverse effect on his health) the specialist might clarify what he has said, and may qualify it by saying that equally he MAY NOT be well enough to work. PLEASE speak again to the specialist. It is quite possible that, at his age, and with his medical history, he may continue to get IB

Also, as you are already in receipt of a state pension, I wonder if it is worth enquiring about a dependent's pension? If he was on a state pension with a much younger wife who was capable of working, but didn't work, he would get an extra £50 (I think) dependent's pension. So in theory, the same should be true for you. You wouldn;t be entitled to it if he is on IB, but if he has no income whatsoever, then he is your dependent. I don't know the answer, but it is worth a phone call.

EdInvestor

I seem to remember the MacMillan nurses also have a service helping cancer victims claim benefits - might be good to look into that, as it probably gets priority treatment in the system.