Cancer + Benefits

sweetstudent

I am wondering about something, In a lot of literature I read regarding cancer it states that I am entitled to benefits - however I would have no idea of how I would go about applying for them and I do not even know if I would be entitled to them as I currently work full time - however I am being made redundant end of september and my wife also works full time as well with a combined salary of approx £40k.

Once I am made redundant we will drop to around half of that income, does anybody know if there are cancer related benefits and are they based on income?

pmlindyloo

sweetstudent wrote: »

I am wondering about something, In a lot of literature I read regarding cancer it states that I am entitled to benefits - however I would have no idea of how I would go about applying for them and I do not even know if I would be entitled to them as I currently work full time - however I am being made redundant end of september and my wife also works full time as well with a combined salary of approx £40k.

Once I am made redundant we will drop to around half of that income, does anybody know if there are cancer related benefits and are they based on income?

There are no specific benefits for cancer.

There is Personal Independence Payment which is for someone who has care/mobility needs. You can google for further information. This is not means tested so if you think you are eligible then you can apply regardless of your income or savings.

Once you are made redundant then you may be eligible for other benefits depending on your circumstances.

If you have been paying class 1 NI contributions for the past two tax years then you would be entitled to contribution based JSA which is not means tested. This lasts for 6 months.

Other benefits like housing benefit and council tax reduction are means tested so would depend on your and your wife's income and savings.

You can put your details into the benefit calculator on https://www.turn2us.org.uk for an idea of what you may be entitled to in the way of other benefits (include the fact that you would be receiving contribution based JSA as this will count as income)when you are made redundant.

jackieb

Speak to Macmillan. They're very good.
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/HowWeCanHelp/FinancialSupport/BenefitsAdvisers/MacBenefitsAdvisers.aspx

shopaholicz

I totally agree with jackieb. When my mum had cancer I helped her fill the forms in and she was rejected. We took the same forms to macmillan nurses in the hospital, they filled them in with the same info and she was approved. She was at the hospital every week, so an extra hour to fill the forms in didn't hurt as she was there already. I think they just wanted easy confirmation of her condition before approval. Macmillan nurses are usually in every hospital. Also, if your cancer is terminal you won't have to wait months for the benefits to come through as they are fast tracked.

Indie_Kid

You may also be entitled to help with transport costs to and from hospital. I know at the local hospital, cancer patients are entitled to it. It's not based on income either.

The problem many non-terminal cancer patients have regarding PIP, would be how long the effects last. But I know from personal experience unfortunately, (my grandfather had cancer) that there are permanent issues resulting from the treatment and the cancer.

alexjonsson

If you're on chemo or radiotherapy (or have been in the last six months when you claim) then you should be entitled to claim contributions based ESA - hence would not need to claim JSA.

Kudos if you're going through cancer treatment and still working in September. Can't they just make you redundant now and let you get on with the job of getting better - especially if you're likely to get ESA?!