breast cancer and dla

broadis_2

Hi
Please can anyone help. My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer in January. She has Had 2 ops and so far 6 chemo treatments. She will then undergo 8 weeks of radio every week for 5 days.
She was advised to claim dla by the benefits agency. This was recently declined. Therefore, she now has to appeal.
I know that having cancer doesn't automatically mean that dla will be awarded. But surely if this isnt a genuine case then I don't know what is. She has been through hell (as do all cancer patients). She is 55 and normally works p/t. At the moment she is in receipt of ssp.
Finacially she is seriously in danger of going under.
She doesnt know how she will be able to afford to travel back and forth to the hospital for her radiotherapy. She cannt even go on a bus anymore, she has lost all her confidence.
Many thanks

Indie_Kid

I apologise; but is this iterminal? if not, she needs to prove that she has care and /or mobility needs.

If she's on a low income, she ca fill in a HC1 form. This form means she can claim back the cost of reasonable travel costs to & from the hospital.

Because she has cancer, she's entitled (need to ask GP for the form) to free prescriptions - not just for treatment relating to cancer.

Has she got in touch with Macmillan?

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/HowWeCanHelp/FinancialSupport/FinancialSupport.aspx

dmg24

What care and mobility needs does she have?

(Crossposted!)

broadis_2

No it isnt terminal.
Because of her 2 ops she has limited use of her arm.
She has nerve damage too.
She needs motivation to dress wash etc mainly due to cycles of chemo and general mental state.
She can no longer cook a meal due to limited use of her arm.
She cannot go out alone, she has no confidence.
She sleeps at the most for 2 hrs per day and is very tired all the time.
She is in constant pain and discomfort.

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

broadis wrote: »

No it isnt terminal.
Because of her 2 ops she has limited use of her arm.
She has nerve damage too.
She needs motivation to dress wash etc mainly due to cycles of chemo and general mental state.
She can no longer cook a meal due to limited use of her arm.
She cannot go out alone, she has no confidence.
She sleeps at the most for 2 hrs per day and is very tired all the time.
She is in constant pain and discomfort.

It certainly sounds like she has care needs regarding motivation to wash/dress & help with preparing a meal & perhaps mobility needs regarding the not being able to go out alone

She should apply for DLA.

Good luck & I hope your mum gets better soon.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/DisabilityLivingAllowance/DG_10011925

Indie_Kid

Has she had an assessment from social services?

Oldernotwiser

If she rents her home, has she looked at claiming LHA/HB?

broadis_2

She has claimed dla and she has been refused.
Sorry, I dont know what an assessment from social services is - she hasnt had one. does she need one? How do I organise this?
The home is morgaged.
I have been in touch with macmillan twice, they advise that we beef up the appeal with reason "why" she is ill due to the cancer and the treatment.
Unfortunatly she is too ill to attend the CAB or such like organisations. This is such a mine field. As if thing arent bad enough you have to explain to a non medical pfoffesional why cancer make you feel ill. You think it would be quite self expanatory wouldnt you.
What I really dont understand is a few months before her diagnosis she was told by one of her work colleagues wives how she ate herself into dla and was so proud to show off her mobility car! Why is the world like this? When did it all start going wrong?

Indie_Kid

The assessment I'm talking about would mainly be adaptions to make it easier to prepare meals, wash, get dressed, etc. She (or you) need to contact the council.

When you fill in he appeal form, you need to state why she needs that help. IE, "I am unable to cook a meal due to limited use of my arm. The last time I tried to cook a meal, I dropped the saucepan. A person could help me by picking up the pan for me and draining he water".

Your council should have a welfare rights adviser.

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

broadis wrote: »

She has claimed dla and she has been refused.
Sorry, I dont know what an assessment from social services is - she hasnt had one. does she need one? How do I organise this?
The home is morgaged.
I have been in touch with macmillan twice, they advise that we beef up the appeal with reason "why" she is ill due to the cancer and the treatment.
Unfortunatly she is too ill to attend the CAB or such like organisations. This is such a mine field. As if thing arent bad enough you have to explain to a non medical pfoffesional why cancer make you feel ill. You think it would be quite self expanatory wouldnt you.
What I really dont understand is a few months before her diagnosis she was told by one of her work colleagues wives how she ate herself into dla and was so proud to show off her mobility car! Why is the world like this? When did it all start going wrong?

She needs to either put in a new claim for DLA or ask for a Statement of Reasons depending on how long ago it was.

I claim DLA for the same reasons so know your mum is entitled.

The forms can be depressing to fill in & CAB or Welfare Rights should be able to help.

Please tell her not to give up, I had to fight for 2 years to get my DLA but wouldn't give up as I knew I met the criteria.

Indie_Kid

Breast_Cancer_Survivor wrote: »

She needs to either put in a new claim for DLA or ask for a Statement of Reasons depending on how long ago it was.

Asking for a statement of reasons gives an extra 14 days to lodge an appeal.