Benefits for cancer?

Brallaqueen

Are there any benefits that can be claimed if you have a positive diagnosis of cancer? . I would have thought (rightly or wrongly) that a patient would be entitled to some sort of DLA or attendance allowance?
Or does it depend on the effects of the cancer rather than the illness itself?

help4help2013

It’s based on how a person’s condition affects them, not the condition they have.

if its terminal cancer Special Rules for those who are terminally ill to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP or ESA ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE )and proving you have a terminal illness.

or if it effects your daily ability to work and its not terminal then you can also apply for PIP.ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE OR ESA

ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE depending on the persons age

have they got a macmillan nurse?

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Livingwithandaftercancer/Financialissues/Benefitsandfinancialhelp/Helpifyouhavecareneeds/PersonalIndependencePayment.aspx

Poppie68

The best place for help and advice in this situation is macmillian they have advisors to help claim all avaliable benefits as well as offering other types of help and support.

tonyciclo

Poppie68 wrote: »

The best place for help and advice in this situation is macmillian they have advisors to help claim all avaliable benefits as well as offering other types of help and support.

They are certainly helpful, I would not deny that, but experts in the field of Welfare Benefits? Not really.
They actually stopped my father from claiming Attendance Allowance for my mother in 2003 five months before she died. Their advice was not at all accurate which lead to him believe that no claim could be made.
My father (89) now has inoperable liver cancer amongst many other life threatening problems. I know that he is entitled to claim AA and have dealt with it without the WRVS (Macmillan) getting involved. My information comes from the Disability Rights Handbook.

SandraScarlett

Brallaqueen wrote: »

Are there any benefits that can be claimed if you have a positive diagnosis of cancer?
Or does it depend on the effects of the cancer rather than the illness itself?

Yes, that is exactly right. I'm sorry to hear of anyone's diagnosis, and sometimes the effects of the medication which fight the cancer cells, cause extreme tiredness and/or depression, and make it hard for the person to do things themselves.

When I had BC 6 years ago, I struggled to get up in the morning, my legs felt like they had ton weights attached to them, and I was frightened to go out without a companion. I was told I had to stay on Tamoxifen for at least a year, but needed so much help that, on the advice of my Macmillan Nurse, I applied for and received DLA LRC and LRM.

Once I was eventually given a different medication, things improved and eventually stopped, and so did my claim. Several of my friends who have had cancer have had similar problems, some have been better and some far worse - everyone's different.



xx

cbrown372

tonyciclo wrote: »

They are certainly helpful, I would not deny that, but experts in the field of Welfare Benefits? Not really.
They actually stopped my father from claiming Attendance Allowance for my mother in 2003 five months before she died. Their advice was not at all accurate which lead to him believe that no claim could be made.
My father (89) now has inoperable liver cancer amongst many other life threatening problems. I know that he is entitled to claim AA and have dealt with it without the WRVS (Macmillan) getting involved. My information comes from the Disability Rights Handbook.

Stop it Andy, just stop it and leave the people that need help and/or advice alone

Brallaqueen

Thank you all for your advice and explaining the situation.

tonyciclo

cbrown372 wrote: »

Stop it Andy, just stop it and leave the people that need help and/or advice alone

And why is it so wrong to post a factual experience? Everybody else seems to do so on this site?

Or you are only allowed to post 'nice' experiences?

PollySouthend

tonyciclo wrote: »

Or you are only allowed to post 'nice' experiences?

Weird place, it seams so.

rogerblack

Brallaqueen wrote: »

Are there any benefits that can be claimed if you have a positive diagnosis of cancer? . I would have thought (rightly or wrongly) that a patient would be entitled to some sort of DLA or attendance allowance?
Or does it depend on the effects of the cancer rather than the illness itself?

Certain treatments for cancer automatically make you entitled to ESA.
(Assuming you either have adequate contributions a low household income, and are not working)

betterlatethannever

Make sure they pick up a form at the doctors for free prescriptions of the next five years.

I was also able to get onto a low cost energy tariff, because of the cancer (surestart with Scottish power) Its the lowest of all tariffs and each provider should have a similar scheme. Maybe give them a ring and see whats available.