What would you ask a Macmillan Money Adviser?

Whilst receiving my bcg treatment for bladder cancer I was offered free parking at Peterborough District Hospital.  This was very welcome.

Hi 

I was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2024, I left my job as I didn't think I would be able to do it as well as the treatment and having what I though was a limited time left. 

I currently receive pip payments and Esa.

I am still here and quite well, apart from a couple of days after treatment.

My old job have offered me some hours back doing what I was doing. I'm quite keen to go back, they know the extent of my condition (the owner of the business is a friend)

My consultant also thinks it would be good for my mental health to go back for a few hours each week. 

They are happy to work around my needs, as I am also an amputee now, due the where the cancer spread from. 

I know that I can carry on claiming pip, but not sure about the Esa? 

Thanks Hayley

Hi Christmas 

Thank you for sharing your experience. It's great to hear that you were offered free parking whilst attending treatment. The cost of travelling to appointments and paying for parking can quickly add up, so any help with these expenses can make a real difference.

Not everyone is aware that support with parking, travel costs and other hospital-related expenses may be available, and unfortunately people are not always told about the help they might be entitled to.

For anyone interested in finding out more, Macmillan has information about getting help with travel and parking costs for hospital appointments on our website. Transport and parking | Macmillan Cancer Support

Hi Hayley,

I'm sorry to hear of your terminal lung cancer diagnosis. Please know that Macmillan is here to support you every step of the way. It's great to hear you're feeling well enough to think about returning to work. That sounds like a huge step, and it's really positive that your employer is willing to work around your needs.

You're right that working shouldn't affect your PIP. ESA is a little different, but if you're receiving New Style ESA you can do permitted work. This currently means you can work for less than 16 hours a week and earn no more than £203.50 per week without your ESA stopping.

It's important to let the DWP know before you start any work so they can record it correctly. Permitted work factsheet - GOV.UK

You may find it helpful to join the lung cancer forum and the living with incurable cancer forum. These are places where you can discuss side effects, treatment options or anything else with people who have similar experiences.

We also have our Macmillan Support Line when you want to talk things through with someone for advice, emotional support or even just a listening ear. Our Support Line teams are available 7 days a week, 8am-8pm on freephone 0808 808 00 00. If you would rather speak to them via message, you can also do so via live webchat.

I hope it goes well if you decide to take that next step.

Hello. 

I am due to start chemo next week and am self employed, I have already had to cancel work and am becoming worried about how I will cope financially during treatment which may take a long time I have been told. I do not earn enough to reach the minimum income floor req and am not at all sure where to turn right now 

Hi i look after my wife who had cancer and needs help with day to daty things can claim benefits

Hi Scribbles

I’m so sorry to hear of your cancer diagnosis and of your financial worries whilst you go through treatment. I hope your chemotherapy goes well this week. Please know that Macmillan is here for you. You may find it helpful to join the Chemotherapy forum. It’s a support group for everything about chemotherapy, being treated and side effects.

I don’t have enough information to advise about the minimum income floor as the rules can be quite complex. There are exceptions to the Minimum income floor which may apply to you.  Please get in touch with our money advisers so we can advise your further. You can contact our Money advisers by phoning 0808 808 0000 and choose option 2. Our money advisers are available Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm. You can view other ways to contact our money advisers by clicking here Money advice | Macmillan Cancer Support 

If you have paid enough National Insurance contributions in the tax years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 you can claim New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) - Gov.uk

Please note if you intend to work during your treatment, you can only claim ESA if you work less than 16 hours per week and you don’t earn more than £203.50 per week. You would need to inform ESA of any work you do while claiming ESA. You can find out more by clicking here; Permitted work factsheet | Gov.uk

I would also recommend having a full benefit check to see if there is any other financial help you can claim during your treatment. We can do this if you contact our Money Advisers (see above). Alternatively you can use the benefit calculator on the Macmillan website:

-  Benefit calculator

Please know our Macmillan Support Line is also there if you want to talk things through with someone. Our Support Line teams are available 7 days a week, 8am-8pm on freephone 0808 808 00 00 for advice, emotional support or even just a listening ear.

Hi Chris53

I hope you and your wife are doing OK. Macmillan is here to support you both every step of the way. Should you need any support, there are a couple of forums that may be of interest to you. We have our Family and Friends forum and our Carers Only forum. Here you will be able to share any worries and find emotional support from other members who are going through something similar.

If your wife claims a disability benefit you may be able to claim Carers Allowance for looking after her. All the eligibility criteria including the disability benefit your wife needs to be in receipt is available by clicking here:  Carer's Allowance | Gov.uk

If your wife doesn’t currently claim any disability benefits you can contact our Money Advisers who can discuss eligibility to disability benefits in more detail to see if your wife could make a claim. Our Money Advisers can also do a full benefit check to see if there is any other financial support you can apply for. You can speak to a Money adviser by phoning 0808 808 0000 choose option 2. This team is available Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm. You can view Alternative ways to contact the team by clicking here: Money advice | Macmillan Cancer Support

You can also call the 0808 808 0000 support line for questions about treatment, side effects, emotional support, or even just a listening ear.

At what stage of a stage 3 lung cancer diagnosis, just started chemotherapy and immunotherapy before having surgery, can you claim attendance allowance? 

Hi Merri,

I hope your chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatment is going as well as possible. You may find the following forums on the online community helpful; Chemotherapy forum and  Cancer treatment forum

There isn't a particular stage of cancer or treatment at which you can claim Attendance Allowance. If you've reached State Pension age, entitlement is based on how your health affects you and whether you need help with personal care or supervision during the day or night.

Under the normal rules, you need to have had these care or supervision needs for six months before Attendance Allowance can be paid. However, you don't necessarily need to wait six months before making your claim.

You can find out more about the personal care needs applicable to Attendance Allowance here; Attendance Allowance | Macmillan Cancer Support.

If you'd like some help working out whether your current needs may qualify, our Macmillan Money Advisers can talk this through with you and can also help with the claim form. Money advice | Macmillan Cancer Support

You can contact our Money Advisers on 0808 808 0000, option 2, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.