Hello,
I am new to this group and am looking for some help and advise please 
My mum has been diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. She started her first round of chemo but 4 days later had to have emergency surgery as the chemo + cancer has caused a tear in her bowel. They managed to put in a stoma and thankfully she pulled through the operation but they found the cancer has spread more than first thought so now palliative rather than treatment to cure. My mum is my world so obviously this has come as another devastating blow. I have decided to ask work for 3 months unpaid leave to look after her and my dad (he had a stroke 3 years ago and mum was his carer). However I have 3 young children and financially this will also be a struggle (hence the short term request for leave). I am trying to see if I can claim carers allowance but it all seems very complicated (I have never claimed benefits before but also my head is already spinning with everything going on!). My parents don’t claim any benefits and never have.
can anyone please give me advise or point me in the direction of where to start. It is all so overwhelming.
Apologies for the long post and thank you for listening x
Hi @wbl4483 and welcome to the community.
JaneyC is right that your mum could ask about a DS 1500 and you can see more information on that here, some doctors seem happier signing these than others. Even without a DS 1500 your mum may well be eligible for benefits just not the fast track.
If they did get a benefit you may well be eligible for carers allowance - and a real plus in that is this includes covering your national insurance record.
Possibly the easiest thing might be to talk to one of our financial advisors see the booklet here.
Depending on the age of your children some of the advice in talking to children and teenagers might also be helpful.
Last - but very much not least - make some time to look after you - Your feelings when someone has cancer
<<hugs>>
Steve
