Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 - 10:36 PM

I cant find the directgov websit in the list of links. Please excuse me(blind ol bat an all) can you post a link here please?

Rain

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 - 11:40 AM

Hi Rain, I am sorry to say I was in a similar situation.

I have to say I was very disappointed with the help I received from the government. I also had to travel at least 10 days in every 21 to hospital for treatment, and was not given any help with transport. I had not been at my new job long enough for them to pay me SS pay, so was told I would have to apply for Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance. I was not entitled to IB as they had used my years at university to calculate my NI contributions, as I didnt have a job while I was at university I had not paid enough - to be honest, its not something a student thinks about at the time, as I lived at home and off my student loan and wasn't on benefits or anything, I didnt need a job. But if I had known it would come back and bite me on the bum later things might have been different, but it just felt like I was being punished for studying.

As for the Disability Living Allowance, I did qualify for it but at the time I had applied I hadnt been sick for more than 6months so could not have that either.

So I got no benefits or help for being sick, the only thing I they would give me was Income Support (I think they had to give me something), which was £35 a week. £35 for petrol, and as I'm sure you'll all know the other costs of having treatment, foods, vitamins etc.

My mum gave up her job to care for me, because I couold do nothing myself because my treatment was so intense, I was just too weak, but she couldn't get a carers allowance either.

Oh but I did get a blue badge. So I was disabled enough at the time to have a blue badge, but for nothing else. Its crazy, this country stinks, all I can say is I am glad I had such a supportive family around me. I just didnt think it was fair that they had to pay for me and everything I needed. Its not like I asked to be ill or was feigning it. I wasnt planning on being off sick for the long term, I'm going back to work in September, 10 months from diagnosis, because I don't want to sit around, I could probably stay off longer because I have nerve damage in my hands and feet, but I wasnt brought up like that.

I'd just like to know how ill you have to be before this country helps you. I hope you have more luck than I did.

Laura x

Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 - 09:34 PM

Laura that is sooo wrong and what a shit way to be treated in your own country!!!

Its a sad day when a cancer patent dont meet the required criteria for financial help when you are on a low or non existant income!
I dont mean to talk out of line here, but our goverment make me mad as hades with their red tape and who they dish out help too!!!...grrr

If you come in off a boat or the back of a truck, then you are housed and fed and can claim benifit for all of them. If you are a born an bred person of this land, and are struggling to manage your finances an costs involved with life saving medical teatment, you get buggered by them and get told to sodoff in red tape wording.

Laura....its wrong and its a goverment sickness. I am glad you made it through though hon.

Blessings on you,

Rain

Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 - 05:05 PM

Hi,
Thanks, thats worth looking into. Another problem I found when I had cancer was that noone was forthcoming with information on the benefits available to claim for. Its ok for people who know every trick in the book to claim benefits, but myself and my family had no idea what (if anything) I was entitled to. When I contacted the DfWE the first time I was toold to apply for Incapacity Benefit, however the second time I contacted them I had the fortune of speaking to someone who had himself gone through chemotherapy and advised me best on what to apply for. I cant fault the help and advice I received, its the powers that be who make up the silly rules unfortunately :-(

Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2006 - 10:05 PM

Well i dont know what to do now *shrugs*

My daughters claim for disability living allowance got knocked back on the grounds that she can walk an cook herself a meal, so therefor she does not qualify.

No matter that she cant even bear the smells of cooking when she is on chemo, let alone stand an cook herself a meal! no matter that she cant carry her shopping because of her grushon catheter, an is vulnerable an needs assistance. She is on stage 4 of chemo an trys her hardest to stay independant, but cant even wash her own hair without pulling on the perminant catheter that exits under her armpit. Her stomache tube is being but in in a couple of weeks, in preperation for her throat being burnt by the radiotherapy. What good is being able to cook a meal anyways to her then.*sighs*

I dont know what to do now! The mac millan nurse makes all the right noises in front of the consultant, offers to sort this an that out, yet we aint seen hair nor hide of her. She dosnt turn up when she says she will, an not once has she contacted my daughter to follow up with her offers of help.


Suggestions anyone?

Rain *fed up*

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 - 12:04 PM

HI. I used to work in housing and council tax beneifts. You may be entitled to claim housing benefit (help towards your rent) if you have a low household income. You cant claim housing benefit if you own your own property, but you can claim council tax benefit in either circumstances. I came across a few people who claimed this benefit when they were ill with cancer, and it really helped them. Also if you are getting income support you are entitled to full housing and council tax benefit. There is lots more information on the website. www.dwp.gov.uk. Hope this is useful. xx

Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 - 07:05 PM

it is called the disability discrimination act 1995 this covers physical and sensory disability to mental illness