Benefits for cancer patient and family

Poppy9

Short story.

Close relative has brain tumour is recovering from surgery and about to start radiotherapy/chemo.

She is only gradually getting movement back in one side of her body and there will be residual weakness. Her eyesight has been affected, she is prone to falling, has to have care 24/7

She is a "director" of her OH business which he's had to close down so they have no income aside from 2 rental properties.

She is 58, her OH 67. He has reduced state pension due to being an imigrant.

From reading the macmillan site I am guessing she is entitled to:

DLA care & mobility
Attendance allowance.

One of her children has resigned their job and returned home to help care for her. Can they claim carers allowance?

Also can her child claim anything else to help with her living costs?

Also someone mentioned Direct payments to help pay for care costs. Am I right that this is only accessed via social services?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice?

Torry_Quine

Poppy9 wrote: »

Short story.

Close relative has brain tumour is recovering from surgery and about to start radiotherapy/chemo.

She is only gradually getting movement back in one side of her body and there will be residual weakness. Her eyesight has been affected, she is prone to falling, has to have care 24/7

She is a "director" of her OH business which he's had to close down so they have no income aside from 2 rental properties.

She is 58, her OH 67. He has reduced state pension due to being an imigrant.

From reading the macmillan site I am guessing she is entitled to:

DLA care & mobility
Attendance allowance.

One of her children has resigned their job and returned home to help care for her. Can they claim carers allowance?

Also can her child claim anything else to help with her living costs?

Also someone mentioned Direct payments to help pay for care costs. Am I right that this is only accessed via social services?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice?

As she is under pension age then it would be DLA as AA if those above pensionable age and also you can't claim both.

If she has care and mobilty needs then she will be eligible and if she gets medium or high care then her child would be eligible for carer's allowance.

I don't want to be insensitive but if she is thought to be terminal then she will be eligible to be fast-tracked for DLA at higher rates automatically.

Mojisola

Macmillan nurses are usually very knowledgable about the benefits.

Poppy9

Torry_Quine wrote: »

I don't want to be insensitive but if she is thought to be terminal then she will be eligible to be fast-tracked for DLA at higher rates automatically.

Not insensitive at all.

Mojisola wrote: »

Macmillan nurses are usually very knowledgable about the benefits.

I went on the website but no local advisors so was directed to website.

Mojisola

Poppy9 wrote: »

I went on the website but no local advisors so was directed to website.

That's a shame. We found them very helpful.

As he is 67, I would try AgeUK. They should look at them as a couple and claim whatever is possible.

Also, our hospital has a support service for cancer patients and they will help with benefit claims.

rotoguys

I am currently under the care of the Linda McCartney Unit in Liverpool, yet I live on the south coast.

I was surprised when I checked for a local service of MacMillan - there isn't one that deals with benefit help. The nearest is either in London or in Essex.

I'm too far from Liverpool for them to help there so I have had to 'go it alone' in trying to understand the benefit system. CAB have closed, nearest is too busy, DIAL cannot help as they are up to their necks in work and won't take on new clients.

So yes I understand how difficult things are. My mistake in the past was trusting that the DWP would inform me of what I should be claiming. Doesn't work like that, I have lost about £120,000 in benefits I never knew about but could have had.

skibadee

Most cancer paitents have access to a MacMillan nurse, your relative needs to ask their Oncologist or Oncology centre....(my local one has a information centre in it ) for details.
Lots of cancer paitents do not claim the full amount of benefits/financial help they are entitled to as they are not aware of them.
I hope the treatment works for your relative.

creditcardhelp11

If the close relative is terminally ill with less than 6 months expected life then the Doctor needs to complete form DS1500 for a DLA application to be fast tracked. The fast tracking is for Care only (automatic Higher rate) but would still need to complete for Mobility. At first instance it appears the entitlement should be Higher Rate both. Her partner could claim Carer's Allowance thought she would need to get Middle or Higher rate care DLA for him to be awarded the benefit. He can claim now (he'll get refused) and then reapply when she is awarded the benefit and it will be backdated to the point in which DLA is awarded. Do not delay in telephoning the Benefit Enquiry Line (0800 882 200) for a DLA application as DLA cannot be backdated. However, it will be date stamped from the time you call for the application pack. The relative's partner may not be paid Carers Allowance though, it depends how much SP he receives as they are overlapping benefits, the maxiumum he can have is around £55 per week so if state pension is £45 he would get £10 carers allowance. As they have two rental properties this might stop them getting means tested Pension Credit which I would normally say apply for (0800 99 1234). Still put in an application for Pension Credit you have nothing to lose. When they do the pension credit application ask them to link it with an application for Council Tax Benefit, The relative should also be assessed by Soical Services to see about getting carers in to help. The local authority has a duty here. One month to appeal decisions.

rotoguys

creditcardhelp11 wrote: »

If the close relative is terminally ill with less than 6 months expected life then the Doctor needs to complete form DS1500 for a DLA application to be fast tracked. The fast tracking is for Care only (automatic Higher rate) but would still need to complete for Mobility. At first instance it appears the entitlement should be Higher Rate both. Her partner could claim Carer's Allowance thought she would need to get Middle or Higher rate care DLA for him to be awarded the benefit. He can claim now (he'll get refused) and then reapply when she is awarded the benefit and it will be backdated to the point in which DLA is awarded. Do not delay in telephoning the Benefit Enquiry Line (0800 882 200) for a DLA application as DLA cannot be backdated. However, it will be date stamped from the time you call for the application pack. The relative's partner may not be paid Carers Allowance though, it depends how much SP he receives as they are overlapping benefits, the maxiumum he can have is around £55 per week so if state pension is £45 he would get £10 carers allowance. As they have two rental properties this might stop them getting means tested Pension Credit which I would normally say apply for (0800 99 1234). Still put in an application for Pension Credit you have nothing to lose. When they do the pension credit application ask them to link it with an application for Council Tax Benefit, The relative should also be assessed by Soical Services to see about getting carers in to help. The local authority has a duty here. One month to appeal decisions.

That is excellent help. I wish that level of help had been forthcoming from the people (DWP) that actually administer the benefits for me!

swingaloo

Im in a similar situation. However I rang Mcmillan yesterday on the number they advertise on the television- 0808 8080000.

I explained the situation and was told to get together details of the family income and outgoings for rent and council tax and then ring back. They put me through to a benefits advisor who was really helpful. Where I live was irrelevant, it wasnt a local person I spoke to, they will help anyway.

Poppy9

They have an appointment later this week with a benefit advisor linked to the support unit at the hospital she is being treated at.

I have advised them to ring to lodge their claims prior to this though so when they do eventually submit their claims properly they will be back dated.

Thank you for all the advice and good luck & good health to all xx