Live better

[giovannabett]

A little while ago I spoke with MacMillan and asked if I could have some money to help retain good health following cancer surgery chemo etc. At the time I was told 'no' but because more people are surviving cancer the shift seems to be looking forward to helping people live a better quality of life. Has anybody spoken to MacMillan about this?

[Microbabe]

Yes but the answer I got I didn't really understand so I've sent an email for clarification. I would be interested to hear other people's experience as I am getting nowhere fast. Never being in this position before I have no knowledge of this subject.

[Microbabe in reply to Microbabe]

The loss of income due to OC is the area I wanted clarification of. I was unsure if there was anything I would be entitled to cover the gap while I got back in my feet.

[BJ_UK in reply to Microbabe]

If you have paid sufficient National Insurance during the past two years and are currently off work because of treatment you may well be eligible for ESA (Employment and Support Allowance). You can find out more about this here: gov.uk/employment-support-a... . ESA can be backdated to the date of your diagnosis.

If they say that you haven't paid enough contributions but you're pretty sure that you have, make sure that you send them a list of who has employed you, when and where for the past two years - they are utterly useless at getting information for themselves if you have had more than one employer during this time. (I had had three employers, thanks to TUPE and redundancy, but didn't have any gaps in my contributions, as I had found another job immediately following the cessation of NI contributions from the job from which I was made redundant. It still took nearly three months to get the DSS to admit that I had made sufficient contributions!)

Good luck!Barbara

[giovannabett in reply to Microbabe]

I will give MacMillan a call today and see what their stance is. I realize from the replies I have had that for a lot of people loss of income through illness has been a driving factor.

[Leeds2015]

I have applied for and got pop at the higher rate and am getting the lower mobility rate, as I have taken ill health retirement my pension is topped up with tax credits that I am now eligible for. I have also found out I am entitled to some employment support, something to do with my ni contributions. So if not applied get applying for what you are entitled too. I have just applied for a blue badge too.

[TinaB1]

I'm not particularly writing about MacMillan, but there is a shift towards this agency working with the Government on policies needed to mobilise people back to work and to 'normal'. It's more towards living with survival.

I know some Ovarian patients do go back to work but I can't. I think the way some Ovarian patients have to adjust to a new 'me' doesn't seem acknowledged in the latest dialogue and I find it particularly cruel to be called a survivor when I'm still living with it.

I'm not trying to be difficult and I'm not talking about all women, but I wouldn't want the plight of women battling this disease to be lost in the 'be positive and return to normal' rhetoric.

To be fair, MacMillan has recently outlined the many things 'survivors' have to contend with like the fear of it returning. My own cancer hasn't gone away so although I've now made 5 years, and am very happy that's the case (and I'm technically now a survivor), I'm still actually living with it.

I thought MacMillan do one off grants for, say, a washing machine to help with daily life. Here's the link. The grant averages £400.

macmillan.org.uk/informatio...

The application form's there together with all the relevant info.

Hope this helps. Xxx

[Tracex]

Last year when i was off work i rang macmillian for help as living on SSP from work filled out forms on line with guy i spoke to then in nxt breath he said are you terminal i said no he said im sorry we cant help so i thought what a waste time after spending a good nearly hour on phone filling in forms i just hung up and cried.. emotions at that time were through roof as had operation was due to start chemo.. plus thrown into menopause.. i felt let down and dissapointed how they dont help you thought thats whats there there for.. so a few months later he rang back asked if i got any help with any extra money i said no ive gone back to work and he said oh ok.. good luck if you can get help as didnt xxxx

[Microbabe in reply to Tracex]

Your story sounds similar to mine so I guess I won't get help either. You manage and get by I just thought there might be help available to tide you over. Thank you for you post it explains a lot.

[Tracex in reply to Microbabe]

Yes we get buy think we have it ... savings took a good bashing.. why went bk to work and got to go through chemo again but im not taking much time off if i can help it.. hugs xxx

[TinaB1 in reply to Tracex]

I'm so sorry.. that's horrendous (in reply to Tracex) xx

[Jinny31]

Hi G. When I was diagnosed due to income drop went on SSP and macmillan nurse completed grant form. Was great as I used the money to go on holiday. I was told that I couldn't get PIP unless I was very bad, whatever that means. I completed forms myself and received higher rate. Prior to receiving PIP when I spoke with macmillan it became clear there was not too much in the way of financial help, only grant. It's horrible to have to worry about money whilst going through illness.