Losing my job..and my mind

Hi Rose,

I am so sorry to hear about your situation - really does sound distressing, and that you work for such an uncaring employer. How long have you worked there? Are you a member of a union? Make sure you document all conversations with HR and your line manager by repeating back to them in an email what's been said and agreed. This will give you more evidence of what's happened if claiming benefits.

McMillan offers some financial guidance and small grants to support those of us living with cancer. You can find this here https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/benefits-and-financial-support

Do you have any family nearby who can help you? Very hard not to worry with your diagnosis and uncertainty about income, especially living alone.

We're thinking of you.
Dx

Hi RoseG.  Phone the macmillan helpline for advice.

Hi RoseG,

I’m so sorry to hear of your situation, that must be  really tough going for you on top of everything else.  I know it’s hard enough dealing with everything connected to this horrible condition without having to deal with other stuff as well. I personally want to give your employer a good kick in the posterior (being polite here), but that won’t help you at the moment.  I’m glad you managed to contact MacMillan for advice, I hope they managed to help you and put your mind at rest a little bit. Hope your surgery goes well and you manage to get your employer sorted out too. Thinking of you and sending hugs .

Take Care

Angie‍

Hello RoseG

That's awful news, I can't believe that neither your line manager nor your HR department had the sensitivity to handle this better. Make sure you send e-mails rather than phone calls so you have a hard copy of everything discussed.

Dreamweaver sent you the link for the Macmillan guidance, give them a call I'm sure they'll be able to help in some way.

The last thing you need during this stressful time is additional financial worry. I've been retired for some years so am out of the loop regarding rules but I'm sure if you've been there over 2 years you should receive some redundancy package and thought you'd also be entitled to sick pay.

Sending you a heartfelt hug, Barb xx

Hi Rose G,

We had issues similar to this when my husband had throat cancer 13 years ago. He had been off work for an operation, then with radiotherapy. As a result he couldn't eat normally, lost weight and really was not well. Added to that we learnt later that his larynx was damaged and that caused him to cough a lot. He went back to work part time under  the consultants instructions.  After one particularly bad weekend, he attended a meeting at work, and decided to call at the hospital afterwards. His boss wanted him to stay for the day, but he left at lunch time!!! When he got to hospital they admitted him straight away and put him on oxygen. They wouldn't even let him home for a bag!! The final insult was when work told him he had no leave left!!! It was at this point he added up his money and decided to retire.

I would like to think things have moved on since then. I hope you get the help you need. xxxx

Hello Rose,

I was diagnosed in March 2020 and made redundant on 31/03/2020.

Does your employer provide you with a Critical Illness Cover, if so I would advise that you make a claim via your employer. Indeed  any claim starts from the time of diagnosis, and you were employed at the time.

I was advised to do so by MacMillan at the time, and my company sent my file to the insurance company a few days before my last day of employment. My claim was approved a couple of month later, and  the lump sum I received did help me deal with all the things one needs to deal with without the added financial burden.

I would also advise you speak to a MacMillan person, they are amazing and gave me the best pieces of advice I could ever had, some I did not even aware of.

I wish you all the very best.

Take care,

Patricia