giving up work to look after terminally ill husband

smithyjules

Hi there,

My Father in Law has just been diagnosed with advanced aggressive lung cancer that has also spread to his liver. He is 62 and possibly the kindest man I have ever met (second best only to my husband). Obviously we are all devasted but I am trying to focus on what I can actually do to help.

FIL is retired but MIL is working part-time earning about £850 per month. She will have to give up work to care for him once he comes home from hospital. She is 55 and has only ever claimed child benefit some years ago and is somewhat distressed and confused about it all.

They cannot manage on FIL's pensions alone and i'm not sure what they should be looking to claim really. They own their own home and have little savings but nothing that will really help them for long.

I would appreciate any thoughts or direction please.

Many thanks

beecher2

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

Macmillan are really good - their nurses and their financial advisers will help you out.

Perhaps your mother in law can ask for a leave of absence?

smithyjules

Thank you Beecher2, I hadn't even thought of Macmillan, my head is not functioning just now.

She works for a small independent company, due to the nature of her job they would need to get someone in to replace her, even if temporarily and she would be on no pay so they would still be without her income.

She loves her job dearly and would rather earn her own money but wishes to look after my FIL. This has all come on very suddenly, just weeks ago he seemed perfectly well. We haven't yet been given an idea of how long we may have left with him. Only the actual diagnosis.

Browntoa

Another vote for the Macmillan

xylophone

https://www.gov.uk/pip/what-youll-get

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/coping-with-cancer/coping-practically/financial-support/government-benefits

The above might help.

McKneff

Disability Living Allowance is rushed through for cases like these.

Poppie68

Not really the place to vent your displeasure with Macmillan...
That said they are an amazing organisation staffed with amazing selfless people who go over and above, mostly run with charity donations..also when they did'nt make contact there was nothing to stop you doing it as you seem to have done for yourself..no they will not be able to help you at the moment as you don't have a diagnosis and their time is taken up with helping to make a difficult time easier for people that are in immediate need.
PS: try posting it on the Praise & Vents board:

Poppie68

OP they will be able to make a claim for DLA/PIP, this should be sorted quite rapidly not too sure with regards to ESA.

Sorry meant too add....your MIL can also put in a claim for SSP if their is no company sick pay, she will need to go see her GP for a fit note.

princessdon

You should apply for DLA under the special considerations for terminal illness. Once DLA is awarded then Carers allowance and income support may be applicable (dependant on his pensions).

You should also apply for council tax relief.

Also of he's on state pension look at pension credit.

smithyjules

Thank you very much indeed to each and every reply.

I spent 17 minutes on hold calling about Carers Allowance today but it was worth every minute (of hideous music!)because the last who answered was very knowledgeable and explained lots of things to me in a really sensitive way.

They will be applying for PIP, which used to be DLA, which will be pushed through quicker due to the circumstances, then Carers Allowance. Once those are in place I will look into the other things.

They have an appointment with Macmillan next week.

Thanks again for the time people have taken to reply. It has made a difficult time a little easier.

Dunroamin

Poppie68 wrote: »

OP they will be able to make a claim for DLA/PIP, this should be sorted quite rapidly not too sure with regards to ESA.

Sorry meant too add....your MIL can also put in a claim for SSP if their is no company sick pay, she will need to go see her GP for a fit note.

I don't think that MIL can get fit note and SSP for looking after her husband, she isn't the one who's ill.