Benefit Info

Former Member over 4 years ago

1 reply
2 subscribers
618 views

Good afternoon everyone.

I am new to this forum, I was wondering if anyone can help me please.

I was diagnosed with Myeloma in November 2021 along with being diagnosed with Coeliac Disease June 2021 & recently Osteopenia due to my Myeloma blood cancer.

Since Novembers diagnosis I have just completed 6 cycles of chemotherapy (6 month) now I'm waiting for stem cell treatment anytime soon.

I was in full time employment & receiving SSP I've been trying to get PIP with help of citizens advice but my assessment came back with Zero points which I have found absolutely shocking as the only other income I have is my wife's part time wage & currently using our savings. Anyways the woman from citizens advice has appealed against the result of my PIP still waiting.

My wife & I have worked all of our lives & never needed any benefit of any kind & now in my hour of need I can't get anything, I'm not allowed any UC because of our savings that we wanted to keep for a rainy day but being penalised for being over the threshold according to UC. I also had a payment from a critical illness insurance that we had paid in for over 25 years which we paid off all of our existing debt & again put the remaining money away, not for me but for my wife incase anything does happen to me following my treatment you just never know.

To me we are being penalised for having savings that we have worked hard for all of our life & at only 54 I still think relatively young.

Can anyone on here guide us to the right people?

Many thanks Peter

Julia - Macmillan over 4 years ago

Hello Peter ()

Thanks for your message. I’m sorry to hear about your situation but hope that we’ll be able to help.

It’s good to hear that Citizens Advice is supporting you with a PIP claim and that they’ve put you forward for a mandatory reconsideration. I hope that this will be successful.

It’s true to say that savings above a certain amount will likely affect your ability to claim means tested state benefits. Your contact at Citizens Advice has probably considered all available options but for further information and to do your own check, there is a Benefits Calculator on our website here. Failing that, we have a Welfare Rights Team who can double check everything for you on 0808 808 0000, Option 1, then 2, then 2 again. They are available Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm or at the weekends between 9am and 5pm.

If you have any other concerns, such as paying off a mortgage, or your retirement options if you’re unable to return to work, please feel free to call the Financial Guides or message us again on here, or speak to us on webchat by clicking ‘Chat to Us’ at the bottom right of the screen. We’d be happy to hear from you.

Kind regards.

Julia

Financial Guide

Remember you can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or by email.

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Benefit Info