extra benefit if diagnosed with cancer?

xlesleyann

My stepdad who is 78 has just been diagnosed with lung cancer.

He is on incapacity benefit and gets dla. Does anyone know if he wouldbe entitled to any extra benefits?

Chrysalis

as far as I know the only difference is been excempt from the PCA tests on incapacity benefit and put in an excempt group with automatic entitlement to the long term rate. But at 78 I thought he would be too old for incapacity benefit as its a working age benefit.

suelees1

There is no automatic entitlement to anything else just based on the diagnosis. He might be entitled to higher rates of DLA but it will depend on his care/mobility needs. He would need to ask them to carry out an anytime review. However you need to check that he is receiving DLA and not Attendance Allowance.

Are you sure about his current benefits? I would have thought he should be getting state retirement pension (and maybe an occupational pension?) in addition to possible pension credit depending on his income/savings.

If he rings the Pension Service they should clarify it and he should ask if someone will go out to see him.

clairec79

I think if it is terminal then you get bumped up to thee higher rate/become entitledto it without the usual waiting period, but only if terminal not just any diagnosis of cancer

suelees1

clairec79 wrote: »

I think if it is terminal then you get bumped up to thee higher rate/become entitledto it without the usual waiting period, but only if terminal not just any diagnosis of cancer

Claire's right

If this is the case his doc should provide a form DS1500. If he had this he wouldn't even have to complete the lengthy form again.

However there's no guarantee it'll be accepted. I've a client where DLA was refused completely even though he had the DS1500.