MSE News: Half a million could lose disability benefits

ineed

krisskross wrote: »

About 40% of us are likely to be diagnosed with cancer at some time in our lives. Surely you are not suggesting that almost half of us should claim sickness/disability benefits because of a diagnosis?

My husband had surgery to remove cancer last year and made it to the year milestone with no recurrence this month. His care and treatment have not impinged on his life sufficiently, on their own, to warrant extra money. Simply another medical issue to add to his list.

No not if people are just having a minor removal operation with no follow up treatment and feel able to go straight back to work. But I don't think people going through intensive chemo or radiation therapy or indeed anyone in that situation who needs time to recover physically or mentally should be forced back into work before they are ready either.

I think they should have the option to claim benefits for the duration of their treatment and recovery if it is needed and I don't believe people in that situation going through that should have to worry about money and should be focused on recovery and return to work when ready. I'm glad your husband hasn't had a recurrence.

Ellejmorgan

shedboy94 wrote: »

Yeah, especially the ones receiving thousands per month because they have chose to live in mansions or affluent areas.

Is it fair that someone can get the state to pay for them to live in a house that someone not receiving benefits could not afford to live in themselves?

This post proves you don't know what you are talking about...
H/b has a limit per room per person..

You talk rubbish don't believe for one minute you work for HMRC..

bigadaj

This is totally down to the nature of the disease and possibly the individual. I had testicular cancer five years ago, and apart from a week off for surgery went into work during the chemo treatment, though had to be very careful about any colleagues with colds as your immune system is obviously destroyed at that time. For me, work allowed me to occupy my time, and whilst I didn't feel great then time at home was even worse.

it is case specific,I'm currently working overseas and just missed the funeral of one of my wife's best friends unfortunately, she was diagnosed with stomach cancer at a similar time to me and did well to last this long, she was at work until a week before she died.

Comparing my cancer to hers is like comparing toothache to a heart attack, so generalisations aren't helpful.

Dunroamin

ineed wrote: »

So reading over your posts, you think people with cancer that have a chance to beat it should not claim anything anyway and should be forced to go to work even if they feel sick, faint and depressed because of chemo? Seems pretty cold. I hope I'm misunderstanding you there.

If someone is too ill to work, whether because of a medical condition or side effects of their treatment, they should receive all appropriate benefits. Nobody should receive anything just because the word cancer appears in the diagnosis.

Boots888

krisskross wrote: »

About 40% of us are likely to be diagnosed with cancer at some time in our lives. Surely you are not suggesting that almost half of us should claim sickness/disability benefits because of a diagnosis?

My husband had surgery to remove cancer last year and made it to the year milestone with no recurrence this month. His care and treatment have not impinged on his life sufficiently, on their own, to warrant extra money. Simply another medical issue to add to his list.

Good for him, but that's a very insensitive point to make

Dunroamin

Boots888 wrote: »

Good for him, but that's a very insensitive point to make

Insensitive to whom?

Boots888

Dunroamin wrote: »

Insensitive to whom?

To those that don't get through the 5 year milestone so well or at all and without the need for extra financial help - ie benefits

ineed

bigadaj wrote: »

This is totally down to the nature of the disease and possibly the individual. I had testicular cancer five years ago, and apart from a week off for surgery went into work during the chemo treatment, though had to be very careful about any colleagues with colds as your immune system is obviously destroyed at that time. For me, work allowed me to occupy my time, and whilst I didn't feel great then time at home was even worse.

it is case specific,I'm currently working overseas and just missed the funeral of one of my wife's best friends unfortunately, she was diagnosed with stomach cancer at a similar time to me and did well to last this long, she was at work until a week before she died.

Comparing my cancer to hers is like comparing toothache to a heart attack, so generalisations aren't helpful.

I'm sorry you went through that, and for your recent loss.

I wasn't generalising or comparing any form of cancer, I was simply stating that the option for benefit without an intrusive face to face assessment should be there for those who need it in that situation. Each case is different as you say but always the financial safety net should be in place for illnesses like that.

krisskross

Boots888 wrote: »

To those that don't get through the 5 year milestone so well or at all and without the need for extra financial help - ie benefits

He has only made it to the 1 year milestone so far. A long way to go yet.

I didn't understand your point about being 'insensitive'. Are we all such fragile flowers that a simple point like the one I made will send someone into a decline?

Boots888

krisskross wrote: »

He has only made it to the 1 year milestone so far. A long way to go yet.

Oh well done, keep getting checked.

I only oppose your statement that people get through it without the need for help from the state.

Being diagnosed with cancer is bad enough without the worry of needing to claim for benefits and the judgements people are making against those that do.

Many don't survive it at all and what I resent is my mother never got the treatment in the 1st place to enable her to survive, let alone get few quid extra help from the state/tax payers through any recovery she may have needed.

She was just another statistic in the appalling late diagnosis of cancer patients in the Uk that came far too late. Dying in terrible pain, what she always dreaded.

I can't tolerate that nastiness of the cuts to welfare, let alone the inadequate diagnosis and treatment that too many people in the Uk have to suffer, myself included.