Help with heating costs after major cancer surgery

Brie

Also consider whether there are any other associations to him that might help.  There's ex-military organisations, ones for the building industry, for those whose families have been in finance etc.  

luvchocolate

Definitely try for attendance allowance..my friend going through cancer treatment at the moment and it was backdated to when she was diagnosed. 
I believe it was applied for at the hospital 

Murphybear

I agree with the others. 

Look at Attendance Allowance.  This is paid for care needs.   I helped a friend who had cancer get this.  AA does have a high rate of refusal but that is often because people have understated care needs.  Have a talk with Citizens Advice or Age U.K., they both have experienced  people who can help with the AA form

I see they are not entitled to Pension Credit.    However getting AA will raise the threshold for getting PC.  This happened to me.  With both AA and PC I do not have to worry so much about heating costs.  

Getting both of these benefits will make a huge difference to their lives.  

Spoonie_Turtle

Murphybear said:

I see they are not entitled to Pension Credit.    However getting AA will raise the threshold for getting PC.  This happened to me.  With both AA and PC I do not have to worry so much about heating costs.  

Only if the person claiming AA is treated as living alone, so unlikely in this case (unless the other half of the couple already claims AA or is registered blind and it hasn't been mentioned).

However it means their spouse can be officially caring for them, thus raising the PC threshold by the amount of the carer premium, so it still might help them be entitled to PC.

peteuk

sky_rat said:

I am writing this on behalf of my parents who are retired.

My father has just had major surgery to have a large tumour removed and may also need chemo.

He is now at home recovering, but they are worrying because they can't afford to keep the heating on.

Is there any support with heating costs for someone recovering from cancer ?

I am worried it will be detrimental to his recovery if they cannot afford to have the heating on.

PS.  They are not elegible for pension credits

Although I totally sympathise with the situation, their finances wont have changed due to his diagnosis and treatment.  I get there is a greater need to be warm but I do feel this eating or heating has been pushed to the point that people are genuinely scared. 

If, as i believe he is, past state pension age then he can not apply for PIP, I also believe you cant make new DLA claims so AA is the only option potentially available.

Speak to Marie Clare, or any of the cancer charities they will have further advice which will be targeted at help for those with cancer.