Return to work

Hi Sledge  I think it is important to do the things that you love.  Like you said you love your job and it keeps things 'normal' for you. Good on you that you proved everyone wrong.  I know our condition will deteriorate but I am also refusing to give in and walk the dogs for one and a half to two hours a day.  I think that once I stop doing it, thats it for me.  That is why  I am determined  never ever stop walking.  Sparkles I know what you mean about the future.  My last day of employment is 31 May and then no more salary eek.  I am claiming PIP and going to claim New Style ESA as cant claim UC as husband is working.  Luckily for me I have worked for the DWP for 21 years so know a bit about benefits.  Sparkles there is forum on here called 

Living with incurable cancer forum - patients only >  

It has helped me tremendously and there are some great people on there.

Lee x

Thank you Lee 

I literally came on here to rant about this!

I've been off 6 months and have found money and trying to work with the benefits system the most stressful part of my cancer journey! As the only income stream for the house I've had to source it all. Spoke to Macmillan on the first day of my chemo-got £200 from them and a really good contact at Citizens advice. 

I wasn't ill enough for PIP so didn't bother applying, despite still being employed I had to jump through hoops and attend in person appointments at the job centre during my chemo. They refused to send me the limited capability to work form as I "earned too much" (I hadn't been working long enough to actually get sick pay-I got a full months pay by using up all my holiday then 2 months of half pay before going on SSP).

They finally sent me the form in March but then have refused to back date it to January when I was on SSP.

Looking at my bank account last night saw my work pay was £200 less, rang payroll this morning who told me my SSP expired on the 19th May (no warning and I've not had the SSP1 form you're supposed to get within 7 days of it ending)

So now I'm back stressing again about where I'm going to find £200 this month and with the benefits system working in arrears £500 next month!

I've been extended my fit notes as my hormone treatment has been delayed by my GP refusing to do my zoladex injections (as I'm not post menopausal, not a prostate cancer or endometriosis patient) so had to wait for the hospital and oncologist to arrange the chemo team to do it and I've not had any of my zoladrenic infusions yet as my Vit D levels are still too low. I just want to get 1 out the way so I know IF I get any side effects and how to cope with them going before I go back to work. I've only been on my letrozole tablets for a week and a half. 

I don't really want to go back to work at all to be honest-I've heard nothing from the charity head office at all about my diagnosis, treatment or how I'm getting on. My local colleagues have been supportive but only 2 people have bothered to reach out to me since October. My line manager has messaged a couple of times but our overall manager hasn't bothered at all despite being a cancer survivor herself. 

My sister is taking me away for a holiday just to the Highlands next month before I go back to work in July (not the Italy trip sadly I'd been dreaming about for months) so hopefully that might reset me but I know now I won't be able to give her any money to pay for it.

I'm now sat here even wondering if I can afford the petrol in the car let alone the oil change to make sure the car is in good nick for a long trip, the dentist appointment I've got next week, the payments for the hospital car park or even food or fun.

I was hoping I'd have a new zest for life after all the trauma but I think it's sadly back to the old grind which is pretty depressing. So I'm going to have to go back to work in July whether I want to or feel ready for anyway. 

Hi,  I am so sorry you are having an extra burden of finances on top of everything else.  Learning of what you have been through and continue to go through I think you are in denial of how you are feeling.  I would talk to MacMillan again and ask them to help you fill out a pip application form.  They helped me with mine.  Don’t forget it’s all about your worst days not the best.  I know also how you feel about work and how they are showing no interest or concern.  That’s exactly how I felt and sadly ended up with counselling at Action cancer because of it.  Don’t let them grind you down and claim all you can.  Big hugs xx

Thank you.

I probably am in denial but just feel exhausted of banging my head against a brick wall with just trying to get by and seemingly getting little help.

I think it's too late to apply for PIP now anyway as I'm just waiting for my infusion (fingers crossed the 17th June) as everything else is underway and as it looks like it takes 3 months to sort ESA it looks unlikely I'll get that in time.

I'll probably have to see if I can get any free counselling through work after I've gone back. Glad I've got spaces like this to vent on though as everyone understands! 

So sorry to hear you are going through all this. Macmillan have been a great help to me. My PIP was refused, but it's been challenged. I have ESA in place and universal credit. Macmillan helped me sort it all out. I am a little nervous of how things will pan out. 

My oncologist said psychologically. I might not be able to return to my job role, as I work in a hospice. I have another bone scan in July on my secondary bone cancer, so I atleast want to wait until I get the results of that. I also start denumosub injections next month. I have just started my third cycle of Ribociclib. 

So I don't even want to think about going back to work until atleast August. Then I might even need to look for something else. 

Applying for benefits certainly isn't easy. I am glad I had Macmillan ti support me 

I got clinical psychology through the hospital. Could you be refered? I am also on a waiting list for Big C counselling 

I'll look into it thank you. I was gonna ring my breast care nurse for something anyway

Hi ToeBeans  I am sorry that you are having all these problems on top of your cancer diagnosis.  Are you on Universal Credit because if you are, you can apply for an advance which is basically a loan that you have to pay back.  It is interest free and you can choose how many months that you pay it back.  If you are claiming New Style ESA they will deduct this from your UC.  You are no better off claiming both other than the fact that ESA pay Class 1 National insurance credits toward your pension and UC doesnt do this.  It really is a minefield and you should not have had to attend face to face appointments at the jobcentre, it could have been done over the phone other than your ID appointment.  Really hard to navigate the benefit system.  I can try and help if you need it.  I have worked in Jobcentre for 21 years and I know from this side how frustrating it can be as I have claimed PIP and ESA now.

Lee x