My partner was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in February 2019, he has just finished his 6th cycle of ABVD Chemotherapy, and currently we are waiting for his PET/CT Scan at the end of this month, he is still very poorly.
Before diagnosis he was full time working as a commercial/domestic Gas engineer, so his wage was very good, I worked part time and we both have several credit agreements that were affordable before cancer hit us!
He is only entitled to SSP from work, I have had to take a sabbatical to care for him and our children so I am currently not earning. Our bills don’t stop!
We have had to claim universal credit, which in all honesty is an absolute Joke, we started claiming in April, and he still hasn’t had a limited capability work assessment so isn’t receiving the extra he should get for having cancer! They messed up his earnings for July reporting that he earned way more than he did using the Real Time Information (RTI) system they use between his employer and HMRC, which has left us with no benefit for August. His work have paid him full wage for August as his sick note wasn’t sent in by his boss, which in turn will affect next months benefits but work want this money back! I am just so stressed with having to sort all of this out as he is too poorly but he still is depressed with the whole situation as I am. We have 3 children and have struggled massively with sending them back to school with uniforms, shoes and the rest! We are just about to run out of Gas and Electric in our meters! And have no shopping left! I don’t know what to do? I’m ringing the benefits every day but nothing happens?? HELP?
Hi again Joanne and good to see you have found your way over to this little corner of the Online Community.
I am sure that some of the HL folks will pick up on your post and will help out with any first hand experiences they have.
Cancer treatment is hard in its self but the other issues that come along are just as hard and it just does not help that the ‘system’ does not work more effectively.
As I said in your first post, you need to keep talking with the financial support experts to find the best way to navigate this unwanted part of life on to a more positive footing.
((hugs))
