Financial help for palliative care

waveycat

Hi. I really need advice asap....my mum has been diagnosed with cancer and the outlook is bleak. She is elderly living on her own. We live about half an hour away. Unfortunately I work full time....I would love to be able to look after her full-time..... however it sadly comes down to finances. Has anyone had experience of where to start....it looks horribly complicated....I have spoken to Marie curie who directed me to government helpline....they just said they would send me an attendance claim form and couldn't help further.... so I am hoping that someone may have some help here? thanks in advance

nannytone_2

phone social services and ask for an adult assessment.
also macmillan

waveycat

Thank you for your time

Mojisola

waveycat wrote: »

I have spoken to Marie curie who directed me to government helpline....they just said they would send me an attendance claim form and couldn't help further....

Sorry to hear your news.

That is all the DWP can do - they don't deal with the day-to-day issues.

I echo nannytone's suggestions about Social Services and Macmillan nurses.

Under the 'special rules' a person who is not expected to survive six months will automatically receive the relevant benefit without having to fill in all the forms. You will need to get your mother's surgery to sign the Attendance Allowance claim form.

Contact the Macmillan nurses in her area - they are usually very helpful and know all the people to contact.

She should at least get an assessment done by Social Services and help put in place.

Also look at getting Power of Attorney for your mother. If she becomes unable to manage her own finances, someone else will have to take over.

waveycat

Thank you....yes that sounds like a good idea. I will sort that out asap. The power of attorney is all sorted...she was forward thinking.

Thanks again

mum2one

Re Attendance Allowance - if your mum has been told she has 6 mths or less you need to ask the doctor to fill in the form ds500 (something like that).

This then go to the Attendance allowance, who rush it through on special needs and give high rate AA - apr £88 a week.

(We had problems when I sent the form on behalf of my dad they refused to up his allowance - I had to appeal and inform them of there rules).

Social services - ask for an adult assesment

Local Hospice - Has your mum been referred to a local hospice ((when my dad had cancer 1st time, he went to the hospice once a week for day care).

Pallative care - My dads care was between the GP surgery and the hospice, they sent out a nurse once a week to check up on him, he was offered additional time at the day care centre of the hospice.

On our case it was planned that Dad would go into the hospice at the end / when pain got too much... which the pain got too much overngt, plans were made, - he passed away within 24hrs of the bad pain.

He was told in Feb - he had weeks left, would be unlikely he would be with us at Easter, he saw past Easter, we lost him on Friday x

Alice_Holt

Your mum may be able to get help from Macmillan. They have benefit specailists who could help with the AA application. It may be possible to get a Macmillan grant.
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/organising/benefits-and-financial-support
Once your mum gets AA, you may be able to claim Carers Allowance.

Or try your local CAB for help with the AA form etc.

teddysmum

MacMillan also have their own non-nursing home care team, called Daffodils.

waveycat

Thank you everyone for your time and help....lots of help.much appreciated.

Mojisola

waveycat wrote: »

Thank you everyone for your time and help....lots of help.much appreciated.

More questions will probably arise - do come back for answers or just for support if things get you down.

waveycat

How lovely of you.... thank you