A welfare rights advisor has described how at least 30 local benefit claimants with terminal cancer have had their claims rejected in the last year, with every one of the decisions later overturned by an appeal tribunal.
In every case, the claimant has been terminally-ill with cancer but has been told by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that they were completely ineligible for support from personal independence payment (PIP), before later being awarded the highest rate of PIP by a tribunal.
This is terrible thank you for highlighting it. I have a friend who was diagnosed with terminal cancer and she did get the full benefits. But she was told it was only because she had been given 6 months or less to live. If she had been given a year or so she might not have got them.
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I think hole lot is disgrace this no coming back from terminal no mater how long got.
I had relative with stage 4 lung cancer and he got basic pip.
8 Months he was on it for before that was works sick pay
Hi Jeff thanks for article, its a terrible state of affairs when patients and families are put through this stress at a time of great sadness. As I recall this benefit is still automatic quick turn around. It can be got quicker with a letter from a consultant oncologist , cancer nurse specialist usually do them. My late husband survived 7 months so defied the 6 month rule, but the consultant wasn't far wrong was he.
Hi folks. When my husband was terminal with metastatic cancer we got a form from GP(had to request it) A DS1500 this form fast tracks a claim.The DWP still carried out many checks including phoning consultant oncologist also phoned hospital ward to check he was not an inpatient.My late husband was awarded pip but died two weeks later.DWP carried on paying me the carers allowance for two months at 60.00 per week and because of this I was not allowed the widows pension of 112.00 a week saving the DWP 52.00 a week. To add insult to the injury they had suspended the carer allowance from the date of his death! The whole system is a monster machine that does not work!
Thank you Kay1986, that's the same for me I lost out on money from the system when my husband died too what a way to treat families of terminally ill. It is not the money that hurts most its the way they treat you. I lost out on my own benefit plus the heating allowance because it seems when someone dies they just get swept off the system. My husband was alive on the qualifying date for heating allowance but died before payment was made, however it should have gone to his estate, along with any outstanding pension. I lost a week of his pension and a week of my own benefit when they changed me to widows benefit, but I gave up because I could not cope with the DWP hassle. In total I lost almost £500 in the changed circumstances, and was left to manage on £75 per week, with a mortgage. You are right the system does not work for those who need it most.
Hi Katie thank you for sharing. I went onto link that Jeff put up,its an awful state of affairs I read the part about the former miners plight and that struck a chord with me. My husband had a pension pot of thousands with the coal board I`ve been told government keep it I am not entitled to any widows benefit. Also because he died after April 2016 I am not entitled to any of his state pension under new rules.On top of that I was born in the 50s and my pension age has shifted to 66yrs from 60yrs. Talk about adding grief to grief.So to get the new state pension I must pay 11yrs of contributions quite a few thousand pounds I think!!! And if I don't reach pension age that goes to gov too. Hmm what a lot to consider.
I would go citizens advice as am sure the trying to pull fast on.
Also if worked for coal board and sadly passed as he's widow you can put in claim for Industrial injures he's pension that way BUT he would of had to sufferd from prescribed disease.
Here is WHAT IIDB say
2017 If someone who has not claimed Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit dies, but they would have qualified for this benefit, a claim can be made on their behalf, for example by a widow or surviving civil ...
Hi Kay1986, seems Jeff as raised a controversial issue. I would investigate your rights as a miners widow definately. Widows benefit is in most cases only paid to widows with children. I got it for 12 months only. I am not familiar with the new pension rules only the age of receipt changes. You could make a claim for the loss of miners pension maybe via a no win no fee company. Sadly Kay widows have always come off poorly in the states provisions for many years. I used my savings to make ends meet till I was able to get my pension but emotionally it drains you the added insult of losing income your spouse has built up and no provision in the system for widows other than Income support I feel really concerned for young widows especially if they have no job .
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