Dla

iloveboots

Hi
I have been told by a friend that i might be entitled to DLA, i was diagnosed with cancer last year and i am not at work at present. I have just been given IB backdated to when i was diagnosed and do not know what to do about DLA.

Thanks

savemoney

Hi sorry to hear this best wishes

You can get info below. DLA can take sometimes take a while but I believe they can fast track this. I hope you get well soon, dont give up

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/DG_10011731

Have you asked for help with this via cancer support charity

http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=4349

savemoney

http://www.rarercancers.org.uk/forum/view_forum?forum_id=34

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Get_Support/Financial_help/Disability_allowance.aspx

I found this post

"All cancer patients are eligible for Disability Living Allowance - this won't be permanent, most people are taken off it after 2 years. It isn't means tested.

I didn't know this when I got cancer - assumed I didn't qualify because I was working, tho' on sick leave, and had some money in the bank. However, I've met loads of people in similar position who have managed to claim for eg. oesophagus, breast, gynae. cancers. It has been withdrawn at the end of two years.

The snag is the complicated form. You're supposed to claim within so many weeks (can't remember how many)but if you're late with that you just lose the weeks when you didn't claim, and can still claim. I should go to your local benefits office and ask for a form for DLA."

http://rdoc.org.uk/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/26510549/m/1951078941

PolishBigSpender

First of all, I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis and I wish you a full recovery.

DLA is basically made up of two components - mobility and care. If you have special needs under either of these categories, then you're entitled - it's not for having a disability as such, but rather the effects.

In all honesty, there are ways and means to play the system and many people here will advise you as to the best way to fill in the forms. There are also other forums elsewhere which can give more specialist advice - I would advise them over this one, as this forum tends to be more related to the money that you can receive and what to do with it than the actual process of obtaining the money.

Are you receiving other benefits too?

The_walrus

Quote : "All cancer patients are eligible for Disability Living Allowance - this won't be permanent, most people are taken off it after 2 years. It isn't means tested."
I'm afraid it's not true that all cancer patients are eligible, would that it were! The fast tracking referred to is for "special rules" cases. If you are eligible for this a macmillan nurse/adviser will normally discuss with you.

Good luck with your claim but do ask around to see if there are Macmillam funded specialist advisers locally because they can also access Macmillan Grants etc

richard9991

The_walrus wrote: »

Quote : "All cancer patients are eligible for Disability Living Allowance - this won't be permanent, most people are taken off it after 2 years. It isn't means tested."
I'm afraid it's not true that all cancer patients are eligible, would that it were! The fast tracking referred to is for "special rules" cases. If you are eligible for this a macmillan nurse/adviser will normally discuss with you.

Good luck with your claim but do ask around to see if there are Macmillam funded specialist advisers locally because they can also access Macmillan Grants etc

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.

The_walrus

Sometimes (more than you think) cancer sufferers aren't aware of their prognosis and so don't know they are terminal. For that reason benefit advisers don't jump in by saying what the "special rules" are, better to tread carefully at first. Thats why I was vague about the special rules.