Mum's got breast cancer, what benefits is she entitled to?

norangeduck

Hey all,
Just wondered if anyone can help me,
My mum has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and has just been made redundant (not due to the BC), just wondering if she is able to get any benefits, or grants or anything really?

thank you, xxx

wolfehouse

sorry about your mother
i would first get in touch with a breast cancer charity. if not only to reassure you that lots of women now live a long time with breast cancer.
there may also be more moral and practical support from them.

http://213.219.22.69/content.php?page_id=44

if she has been told her prognosis is very poor (i.e. 6 months or less to live) she will qualify for dla under the special rules and there should be no waiting.

Oldernotwiser

wolfehouse wrote: »

if she has been told her prognosis is very poor (i.e. 6 months or less to live) she will qualify for dla under the special rules and there should be no waiting.

Assuming that this is not the case (it very rarely is!) she should be eligible for incapacity benefit whilst she's being treated/recovering; when her treatment is complete she should be eligible for JSA. If she's on her own there should be help with council tax and rent if appropriate.

All the best to you both, it's really a shame when 2 bad things happen at once. Are you sure your mum's diagnosis has no relevance to her redundancy as this could have other implications if this were the case?

jul22

If your mum hasn't paid enough National Insurance Contributions, then she will only receive a credit towards her old age pension for her Incapacity Benefit claim. Therefore, it might be an idea to make an application for Income Support as well if she is under 60, or Pension Credit if over 60. Income Support and Pension Credit are means-tested though, and so if she has capital £16k or over then she won't be able to claim IS. Also, any redundancy payment may be taken into account, likewise any Statutory Sick Pay paid. Therefore if she makes a claim for IS or PC, then it might be an idea if she encloses her last wage slip.
If she has a mortgage, then IS/PC may be able to help with the interest aspect of her mortgage eventually. (The timescale is dependent on when the mortgage was taken out and if SSP has been paid.)
I don't know much about the qualifying criteria for DLA, but if any is awarded then she will be entitled to more IS as there are extra premiums available depending on what DLA is awarded.

Oldernotwiser

jul22 wrote: »

I don't know much about the qualifying criteria for DLA, but if any is awarded then she will be entitled to more IS as there are extra premiums available depending on what DLA is awarded.

I wouldn't have thought there'd be any reason for claiming DLA; cancer is normally a treatable condition with no reason to be off work for more than a few weeks/months, depending on the treatment. That is, of course, unless the prognosis is more serious which we all hope not. I speak as a survivor of breast cancer and as someone who's had a mastectomy.

GlasweJen

My aunt also had breast cancer and she did not claim DLA until it got to the end stage and she needed help with just about everything.

globbits

My partner claimed DLA, because the intensive treatment she had for breast cancer meant she had walking difficulties - one of the reasons for claiming DLA. One benefit was the use of a disabled badge in her car. Best wishes to the OP for her mother's swift recovery - the NHS does a marvellous job, as my partner and I well know!