PREVENTION-diagnosis on Tues(1st) of brain tumour - How to ACT now? Mortgage/Debt?

aplp04

Hi there,
My mother has not been feeling well and after a consult with her GP and a trip to the TIA clinic which produced inclusive results and a recommendation for an MRI scan. The MRI is scheduled for next Tuesday (1st July) and the possibilities range from the radiologist finding nothing to something very serious. (aka brain tumour)
My mum is extremely anxious, as you can imagine and possibly because of a need to be proactive / in control of something in her life whilst we wait for the days to tick by - I have been helping her assess her financial situation based on 'worst case scenarios) (an operation and months of convalescence)

I have been searching sites and looking for advice for a couple of days. There are lots of debt-advice / help lines but when i describe the situation, most people cannot help. It seems you have to be in trouble before you can ask for help:(
We are looking to see if there's anything we should try and put in place now, prior to a diagnosis???

She is self-employed and has a mortgage and credit card debt. She does not have any payment protection insurance on either and no savings.
I've checked with The DHSS and she could qualify for some benefits - none of which will help with the mortgage - which is her main concern.

I know that we will need to speak to her mortgage lender and review her options - The CCCS (Consumer Credit Counseling Service) have suggested to contact them once a diagnosis is given.

So my main question is - is there anything I can do now that could help, should the worst case scenario happen? Should I be looking into any PPI's or now prior to a diagnosis. I am not sure what's on her medical records - I know that we would have to state the truth about her recent health (pre-existing conditions etc)

Advice / ideas would be truly welcome here. I feel completely out of my depth and I would hate for there to have been useful action to take now which I didn't know about until it was too late.
Thanks again,
Aplp04

tyllwyd

I'm really sorry to hear that this is such a difficult time.

I don't think taking out new insurance is going to help at the moment - they won't cover anything to do with her current illness (even though she hasn't got a proper diagnosis, she is having treatment at the moment).

I guess you have double checked that she doesn't have any endowments, life insurance she's forgotten about, anything like a pension from previous job or an ex-husbands previous job that might be triggered.

Easterbunny

I'm so sorry to hear your news. You must both be extremely anxious. The waiting must be unbearable. Just wondered - not much help really - but have you tried speaking to anyone at Macmillan or going onto their website? I realise there hasnt been a diagnosis made yet, but they may be able to give you some help or at least support - they deal with loads of different things other than the obvious - just until your mum and you hear any news and know exactly what you are dealing with. Sorry not much help really..
Take care:grouphug:
Easterbunny x

Runnybabbit

Hi, I am so sorry to hear of your mum's recent illness and I truly hope things turn out well for you.
It might be worth asking at your hospital whether there is a PALS (Patient Liaison Service), we have one where I work and I know they are a great source of information, whether your mums financial position could be helped I don't know, but I suggest you ask.
If I think of anything else I'll let you know, but in the meantime, fingers crossed x

aplp04

tyllwyd wrote: »

I'm really sorry to hear that this is such a difficult time.

I don't think taking out new insurance is going to help at the moment - they won't cover anything to do with her current illness (even though she hasn't got a proper diagnosis, she is having treatment at the moment).

I guess you have double checked that she doesn't have any endowments, life insurance she's forgotten about, anything like a pension from previous job or an ex-husbands previous job that might be triggered.

(Thank you tyllwyd) I have checked all those things. Ironically enough, she was just about to look into life insurance and some protection. She is a single mother and went back to Uni and then trained professionally and so has only just reached a place, after moving a few months ago to her new house where she could think about budgeting for other such things.
i think some kind of insurance is a long shot - but feeling so stubborn about the idea that there could be something useful and preventative to do now!
again, many thanks for your guidance. aplp04

aplp04

Easterbunny wrote: »

I'm so sorry to hear your news. You must both be extremely anxious. The waiting must be unbearable. Just wondered - not much help really - but have you tried speaking to anyone at Macmillan or going onto their website? I realise there hasnt been a diagnosis made yet, but they may be able to give you some help or at least support - they deal with loads of different things other than the obvious - just until your mum and you hear any news and know exactly what you are dealing with. Sorry not much help really..
Take care:grouphug:
Easterbunny x

(thanks Easterbunny) I will look up Macmillan - thank you.
inbetween now and when i last posted, i called the Citizens Advice Bureau (again - you get different answers, depending who picks up your line... as with the DHSS and others...(!)) and they just plainly told me to that they had no advice to give me - but plenty once she is diagnosed. hmm. grrr. feeling like i wish i had a rich uncle or a financial advisor in the family. aplp04

vivatifosi

Hi alpl04,

That was me a couple of years ago. I ran my own business (and still do) and had not long set up, so didn't bother with those little things like life insurance. I also thought I was too young for these things to affect me...

I then got treated for skin cancer and it took two years to come out of the other side with an all clear. Yes, it really took that long to get a diagnosis (unusual but true, it won't be like that for your Mum I'm sure). I can now get my insurances in place.

Hopefully your Mum will be all fine. The good news is that specialists err on the side of caution and fingers crossed in a month or so when she gets her results she'll be able to put things in place.

The one thing that I regret not doing is speaking to the DSS and finding out what I would have been entitled to. For either physical or mental reasons (the thought of cancer can be as wearing as the physical issues and I still had two ops to remove tumours) I didn't earn a penny for 5 months and didn't get anything from the state.

I'd also find out what options you have - can the mortgage be paid off on interest only for a couple of months? Would the card allow lower rate minimum repayments while she is ill? Some companies can be very accommodating, others can be a total pain in the a**e. Could she rent out a room to someone she trusts?

Also speak to the specialist and see whether they can help. I used to say to mine "its all very well that you're 50/50 as to whether it is cancer, but can't you see my whole life is on hold until you give me a definitive answer"? They were very careful about how my medical records were worded and even wrote a letter for me to get medical insurance so that I could go on a holiday that was already booked.

Be prepared for your Mum to be mentally a bit frazzled and offer any help that you can. If I can help further, please feel free to PM me.

Good luck xxx

aplp04

vivatifosi wrote: »

Hi alpl04,

That was me a couple of years ago. I ran my own business (and still do) and had not long set up, so didn't bother with those little things like life insurance. I also thought I was too young for these things to affect me...

I then got treated for skin cancer and it took two years to come out of the other side with an all clear. Yes, it really took that long to get a diagnosis (unusual but true, it won't be like that for your Mum I'm sure). I can now get my insurances in place.

Hopefully your Mum will be all fine. The good news is that specialists err on the side of caution and fingers crossed in a month or so when she gets her results she'll be able to put things in place.

The one thing that I regret not doing is speaking to the DSS and finding out what I would have been entitled to. For either physical or mental reasons (the thought of cancer can be as wearing as the physical issues and I still had two ops to remove tumours) I didn't earn a penny for 5 months and didn't get anything from the state.

I'd also find out what options you have - can the mortgage be paid off on interest only for a couple of months? Would the card allow lower rate minimum repayments while she is ill? Some companies can be very accommodating, others can be a total pain in the a**e. Could she rent out a room to someone she trusts?

Also speak to the specialist and see whether they can help. I used to say to mine "its all very well that you're 50/50 as to whether it is cancer, but can't you see my whole life is on hold until you give me a definitive answer"? They were very careful about how my medical records were worded and even wrote a letter for me to get medical insurance so that I could go on a holiday that was already booked.

Be prepared for your Mum to be mentally a bit frazzled and offer any help that you can. If I can help further, please feel free to PM me.

Good luck xxx

(Thank you vivatifosi) I have been in contact with The DHSS and have already requested one form on a benefit she can apply for now (due to current inability to work over 16 hours a week) - then there is an incapability benefit if any diagnosis comes through which would leave her incapable of working. These things takes time to come through, so am looking at budgeting for this time lag.
I have taken note of your point about medical records being worded with care, though and have an appointment with her GP next week where one of the questions on my list is what her medical record says and what that means in terms of qualifying for any insurances now.
My mum is def. frazzled and the topics under discussion, not the kind I am loving - but totally understand her desire to get as much 'under control' / organised as possible. Aplp04

RAS

Hi

you need to check this out, but based on other situations, I believe that if your mum is not working and registers for benefits then she will get support to pay the interest component of the mortgage after 38 weeks.

Try sending a pm to debt-doctor for more help.

In the mean-time, if the house is large enough, can she get a lodger?

And please remember that this might be nothing, so you really cannot deal with a situation that does not exist.

Do check whether she has signed up for Income Protection or PPI on any cards or loans. eople sometimes find that they did so without realising.

Also, if she has a professional association, she might be eligible for some support from them or an associated charity.