Benefits?

[stinkysrevenge]

Hi all,

 

Hoping someone here can shed some light on a couple of questions...

 

I was diagnosed with cancer on Monday. There are still tests to do, but I may have to be out of work for some time in near future for treatment.

 

My partner and I are both contractors (so if we don't work, we don't get paid), I am full time and he works 19 hours per week.

 

I do not have any critical illness insurance but do have a little bit in savings, which should cover us for a couple of months.

 

I've gotten all the macmillan brochures regarding benefits, but don't know what exactly we would be eligible for (as the brochures are good, although non-situation specific).

 

I don't have an idea of when treatment will start as I still have scans to get done, but just thinking ahead and want be prepared and to get as much info as possible.

 

Don't know if anyone could shed some light?

 

thanks in advance....

[honeybee13]

Hello there. What tough news for you, I'm sorry, if that's the right word. Please forgive me if it isn't.

 

I can't answer the question directly myself, but I'm sure others can. Would it also be worth looking at the Macmillan website or speaking to their helpline if they have one? Often charities are very clued up on benefits for the conditions they specialise in.

 

I'm sure someone will be along soon. Btw, we have several friends who've had successful cancer treatment and have resumed normal lives after treatment. They're fine now.

 

My best, HB

[loopinlouie]

Best wishes to you and hope all goes well, advice should follow xxxx

[Simon7685]

I believe you will be entitled to claim ESA. Also you may be entitled to Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and DLA. There is a Macmillan benefits helpline available on 0808 808 00 00, you could give them a ring and I am sure they will be able to be more specific. Alternatively Erika will be along when she is online and I'm sure she will be able to help you better than me.

I hope things go well for you and you can make a good recovery after treatment.

[ErikaPNP]

Hi there.

 

If you are unable to work due to your illness or the affects the treatment has on you, you should make a claim for ESA. What type you would receive would depend upon what contributions you have paid in the qualifying years. Self employed people tend not to pay class 1 NI which is the type required for contributory related benefits. However if you have paid the right type of contributions and enough for the qualifying years, you would receive contribution based ESA if your claim satisfied the criteria for ESA.

 

If contributions are an issue, you would be assessed for income related ESA. This takes into consideration your total household income and savings, so the income of your partner would be taken into account and your ESA award (the amount of benefit you receive) would be reduced penny for penny for what your partner earns after any earnings disregard (in most cases the disregard is £10 per week for a couple, for people with disability it is £20 per week). If your partners income is above the applicable amount (this is the sum of ESA you are entitled to) you would not qualify for income related ESA.

 

In regard to savings for income related benefits, it goes like this: savings below £6000 are disregarded. Savings above £16000 will not entitle you to any income based benefit. Savings between £6000 and £16000 will reduce the amount of benefit you receive by £1 per week for every £250 or part thereof, of savings between the two figures.

 

Now ESA amounts is not something I am a master of, but we do have some people who actually process ESA claims in the forum who will be able to advise you more on this.

 

In regard to DLA (Disability living Allowance), if you have care or mobility needs arising from your illness, you can apply for this. It is not dependant on income or previous NI contruibutions, it is awarded according to your care and mobility needs. It is also fully disregarded for the purposes of housing benefit and council tax benefit.

 

If you rent your home, and do not have enough income to cover the rent, apply for housing benefit. Also apply for council tax benefit if you do not have enough income. Housing benefit and Council tax benefit are both benefits which are payable depending on income and savings. For people who have a disability as a result of their illness, some premiums are applied (more benefit).

 

It is very difficult to advise as you and I do not know what your circumstances will be if/when you make a claim to benefit, however there are calculators which can help you get an estimate. One here and another here.

 

Also, if/when the time comes when you need to make a claim to benefit, get in touch with your local council and ask them for contact details of their Welfare Rights Representation Unit. This may be called something else in your area, such as the "Income Maximisation Service" or "Money advice centre". They are there to assist you in claiming all the benefits you are entitled to, can help with labarious form completetion (DLA in particular is a very long and in-depth claim form), and can help you fight for your rights if you have a problem with benefit claiming. They are a totally free service.

 

Hope this helps a little.

[robbond55]

Hi there - sorry about your news and hope that you have a full and speedy recovery.

A useful nember is the Benefits enquiry Line which gives general advice about benefits for disabled people and their carers - it is a DWP line and the number is 0800 882200.

Bear in mind that you are automatically covered from 2005 by the Disability Discrimination Act from the point of diagnosis of your cancer regardless of whether you are showing symptoms are not so as far as the law is concerned you are classed as having a disability.

Hope this is of some help and all the best.

[antone]

Now ESA amounts is not something I am a master of, but we do have some people who actually process ESA claims in the forum who will be able to advise you more on this.

 

 

ESA rates are complex and, as you mentioned elsewhere in your post, specific amounts can be difficult to predict because of this.

 

The first 13 weeks of the claim are referred to as the "Assessment Phase", and the basic rate is currently £64.30 per week for a single person and £100.95 for a couple if the income-related benefit is payable. After the medical exam (WCA), if the customer is judged to have limited capability for work, the weekly rate will increase to either £89.80 or about £95 - I can't actually recall this amount precisely - depending on the degree of incapacity.

 

Premiums can then be added for those who receive DLA care components (middle or higher), who are over state pension age, or who have carer responsibilities and are in receipt of Carer's Allowance. Explaining all of these in detail would have the readers of this post bored to tears well before the end, so it would probably be best to answer any specific questions rather than try to give a general idea.

[surreyguy]

Hi and let me say how sorry i am to hear of your illness.

 

My partners mum is recovering from breast cancer .

 

Aside from any other benefits/help you may receive , make sure you put in a claim for disability living allowance (DLA).

 

partners mum gets this benefit and to her it is a massive help.

 

Cancer is a terrible illness , not just for the poor person who is sufferering but also for the family too.

 

Take care of you xx

 

Guy

[Rachie1973]

Hi all,

 

Hoping someone here can shed some light on a couple of questions...

 

I was diagnosed with cancer on Monday. There are still tests to do, but I may have to be out of work for some time in near future for treatment.

 

My partner and I are both contractors (so if we don't work, we don't get paid), I am full time and he works 19 hours per week.

 

I do not have any critical illness insurance but do have a little bit in savings, which should cover us for a couple of months.

 

I've gotten all the macmillan brochures regarding benefits, but don't know what exactly we would be eligible for (as the brochures are good, although non-situation specific).

 

I don't have an idea of when treatment will start as I still have scans to get done, but just thinking ahead and want be prepared and to get as much info as possible.

 

Don't know if anyone could shed some light?

 

thanks in advance....

 

 

 

What hard news for you to have to deal with.

 

Whilst not being able to offer much in the way of helpful advice I just wanted to add my words of encouragement to you xxx

[Werner M]

......let me wish you all the best and a speedy recovery.

Werner M.