Help with benefit applications

Hi  and welcome to the Online Community, although I am so sorry to see the circumstance that brought you here and so sorry to hear that your mum has been diagnosed with Lung Cancer.

Navigating the benefits system for a cancer patient is very difficult but follow the links below as these are some of the places where you can get help. Professional help is required to put the correct words down on paper.

Maggie’s Centres

https://www.maggiescentres.org

CAB

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

There may actually be a CAB/Macmillan financial adviser attached to her hospital so ask her Specialist Nurse or just at the hospital main reception.

You may also find our various Macmillan Support Line Services on 0808 808 00 00 to be helpful as you can talk to a friendly person that can help in lots of ways.

My cancer journey was rather different but if you follow this link to our Lung Cancer  Forum you will be able to connect with people who understand the journey your mum is on. You can ask the folks questions about treatments, what to expect and how to help mum during this time.

Follow the link and join the group. Hit the 'Start a Discussion' tab and introduce yourself to the group - you could just copy an paste what you put in this first post.

Remember to go to the right on the group home page and select how you want to receive email notifications when someone answers your posts.

We also have these forums where you can connect with others supporting family and friends through their cancer journey: Carers Forumand Friends and Family Forum

If you haven't yet completed your profile when you have a minute could you pop something about your journey so far into it. This really helps others when answering. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Edit Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine profile by clicking on my username Thehighlander.

All the best.

Hi

There are indeed people who help and it’s a good idea to ask them. There’s an art to filling in these forms. The trouble is finding them...

One really good place is your local Macmillan information service. I get my treatment at uclh in London where there is a Macmillan service on site and they can provide advice and help on finances. You can find out where your nearest centre is by going to the In Your Area tab on the Macmillan website.

 I am living with incurable cancer so I have been able to get help with forms from the local hospice too - they were brilliant. The Citizens Advice Bureau might be able to help. 

 I think a good starting point for finding someone to help you would be your mum’s clinical nurse specialist. She (or he) should know. 

You can also get in touch with Macmillan financial advisers by calling the Macmillan helpline - details are on the home page. They can also answer questions via the Ask a Financial section in this community. 

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_experiences/ask_the_expert/ask-a-financial-guide/

Good luck! 

Thank you so much for the information and taking the time to respond to my post.

Im trying to find my way around this site, think it will take a while

Im sorry to hear you have incurable cancer but pleased to hear you have had good support from some organisations.

I have a 4 month old baby girl so im currently juggling lots of things but i will be sure to look in to the information you have provided.

Thank you sgain