benefit advice

shaz1010shaz

i get incapacity benefit, im bringing up my 17month old grandaughter. For the first 8months of her life we didnt get child tax credit or family allowance, as her mother wouldnt sign them over to us, and because of this we got into debt as we had to get everything from scratch cot pram, well everything a baby needs from birth. I found out i had breast cancer dec 2011, iv had 2 operations which one was for a mastectomy, iv started chemo, my question is iv asked about a social grant and a social loan but because i m on incapacity benefits im not entitled to claim this help, just dont know where to turn as everything changes financially when you have cancer the cost of traveling to and from apointment mastectomy bras dont come cheap. my grandaughter is ready to go in to a bed but cant afford to get one. This is what i wanted a loan or grant for to get a bed and bedding. Is there anything i can claim to help me get these things, any advice would be great thank you.

BigAunty

I can't answer your specific benefit related queries.

However, my friend going through chemo got a mattress provided by a cancer charity (McMillan, I think, and things like aromatherapy and massages from another) and so if you contact some cancer charities, or look at their websites, they should have info or support workers who could help you with grants or equipment and benefit entitlement support.

On the question of getting a bed for your grand-daughter, you could try something like Freecycle, Freegle, gumtree freebies and put in a wanted advert, too, and get a second hand one for free. Some places have local furniture charities who donate or sell very cheaply furniture to those in need, charities like Emmaus and many others.

[Deleted User]

others will advise better but have you looked at DLA?
people like mcmillan often offer very good advice on benefits,if you have a working partner means tested benefits would usually be unlikely

daimonde

I think you could do with someone sitting down & doing a proper benefit assessment.

It sounds like you may be entitled to a means tested benefit now you have the wee one under your care & receive Child Benefit (family allowance) for them. This in turn would change things regarding the Social Fund.

But also as mentioned DLA sounds worth investigating.

Woodbines advice is the way id go, through MacMillan, who where i live are paired up with the CAB.

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx (theres a freefone number on their homepage too)

Dognobs

I would also contact social services as they do help people in your situation. You may be allowed to claim fostering allowance. This can be a large sum of money.

cattie

There is also a charity called The Family Fund that might possibly be able to help. As others have mentioned, Macmillan should be your first stop.
Also, check out Freecycle for items you might be in need of, often lots of baby stuff offered there.
Good luck.

SuziQ

I'm afraid the Family Fund have very strict criteria, they only provide for children with disabilities-it also takes over 6 months to get any grant off them these days even if you fit the criteria.

Better_Days

A couple of people mentioned on another thread that the British Heart Foundation can be a good place for second hand furniture.

There are also some great bargains to be had on ebay if you look regularly. Go to 'home and garden' and search by 'distance nearest first'. Furniture can be got cheaply as it is usually 'collection only'.

Hope your chemo goes well and you get a bed sorted for your grand daughter. Alll the best.