off work with breast cancer what can i claim help!!

guardian_2

ok heres my problem..i have been diagnosed with breast cancer grade 3 have to have a major op with follow up chemo, i have been working full time for my empolyer for 13 months they have been great it has been expained to me when i have the op n follow up i will be entitled to 2 weeks full pay then 2 weeks half pay then it goes to ssp..i am currently getting working tax credit and child tax credit...i rang the dhss only to be told i am only entitled to claim dla when i go on to ssp...surely this cant be right can anyone tell me what benifit/s i should be looking at i know i can apply to my local council for houseing n council tax rebate forms but what about other income, ssp i have been told is next to nothing..do i have to inform the tax credits about the situation..i will not be working but i will still be employed..employer says by job will still be there in 6 weeks or even 6 years (if their still there) so that is safe as i say they have been great but now i am worried sick about how i and my family survive financially..i dont know the out come of the op result may not return to work at all it depends on the extent of the cancer as i have been told theres a high prob it has spread to there areas...please please can anyone help with advice
thanks Carol

loulou1980_2

I'm really sorry to hear of your situation. My best advice would be to make an appointment at your local Citizen's Advice Bureau as soon as possible, they are very helpful and will be able to advise you of any entitlements. Hopefully someone else will reply with more useful info that I can provide!

All my best wishes for your recovery xxx

milliemonster

Also, ask your breast clinic to speak to a breast care/macmillan nurse, they are brilliant and help not only with the physical and emotional aspects of this, but also can advise you on benefits etc

best of luck xx

fairydiamond

Just wanted to wish you all the luck in the world. The last thing you need to worry about is money so I hope you can get what you need.

My partner was off work throughout December and he was working for an agency so he got nothing at all, not even SSP. It was like getting blood out of a stone from them. If it wasn't for my wages I don't know what we'd have done. Told them he had cancer and they couldn't care less.

Hope everything goes well.

Zara33

I would echo what millie has said get in contact with your macmillian nurse, they are fab! They know the benefits that you will be able to claim...i am however surprised that you cannot claim DLA.

healy

Zara33 wrote: »

I would echo what millie has said get in contact with your macmillian nurse, they are fab! They know the benefits that you will be able to claim...i am however surprised that you cannot claim DLA.

The DLA would be for any care/mobility needs and there is a 3 month qualifying period but it has no connection to SSP.

SuziQ

OP just wanted to send you best wishes. I go in for major surgery for suspected bowel cancer may 4th so know pretty much how you're feeling. I saw Macmillan nurse etc and there seems to be very little available benefits wise-I am currently on IS and get CTB and as I have kids and lone parent,CTC and CB. DLA isn't usually payable in our circumstances. Speak to the Macmillan nurses and see of there is anything else you can claim as your circumstances are different to mine.

Just make sure you stay positive as that's half the battle,and if you want any advice re treatment etc then I have found the forum on the macmillan site to be very helpful.

Oldernotwiser

I also send best wishes, particularly having had breast cancer myself. I can't really think that you'd be eligible for DLA though; I know I wouldn't have needed it.

SallyD

My best wishes to you. Yes, the MacMillan nurses are so informative and the Citizens Adviced Bureaux also. There is also a benefit check up link on the Redundancy thread that you might find useful.

James123_2

Hi Sally,
Firstly, I'm sorry to hear of your diagnosis. At a time like this money should be the last thing for your to concern yourself with.
As others have said, ring the Macmillan people - but the benefits hotline: 0808 801 0304. They should be able to steer you in the right direction. Otherwise CAB can be useful.
On reading your post, I'd have thought that IB would be available to you, although I know that they've re-branded this of late & I'm not sure of the new criteria. Cancer affects people in very different ways so DLA might be appropriate. So don't be put up off if other cancer sufferers tell you they don't claim. (Very many do) It is quite a difficult award to get with a mammoth form.
Anyway, wishing you all the best. Like you, I too have cancer and have had to jump through the many hoops of DLA, IB etc. There is help out there, it's just that you have to go looking for it, I'm afraid!
Take Care
James
PS If you're grade 3 get a copy of all your notes, CT scans etc etc and use these as supporting evidence for DLA. DON'T be put-off. APPLY.
(Oh, and don't forget free prescriptions now for all cancer patients)

guardian_2

thanks all for the replys...i have been told by welfare rights to apply for dla anyway after all what do i loose..also that as n when the ssp kick in i would be able to apply for full council tax n rent rebate so what i loose in income i make by less to pay out..swings n round abouts as they say..so althought i wont have as much coming in i wont have as much going out either..ssp is payable for 28 week then i have to look at other benifits which the welfare rights said they would help me to apply for n fill in all relevant forms..Again thank you all for the best wishes and help.. x x x xs