I’ve just been diagnosed with IDC grade 1. MRI next week then they’ll decide treatment pathway. Based on what they know so far they think lumpectomy then hormone therapy only, but obviously that may change depending on MRI/pathology results.
I’m self employed (copywriter). Wondering how best to plan financially for having to take time off for treatment, and I’d love to know how others have approached this?
I see there’s employment support available from the government but it looks like a very small amount (~£90/wk). Has anyone self employed successfully applied for this? Was it difficult to get? Anything to note?
I don’t have any savings after my long term relationship ended last year and I bought my own place (all of which I’m very happy about, my life now is much better and happier, it’s just left me skint!). I have 2 children who are with me 65% of the time and I receive child maintenance from their dad.
I am very fortunate that in a worst case scenario my parents will be able to lend me some money to cover my outgoings for a month or 2 if I need it. Obviously I’d rather not have to ask them but I appreciate I do have this safety net which not everyone has.
If love to hear anyone else’s experiences of how they navigated this, any other suggestions I haven’t thought of?
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Hi there, I was self employed when I was diagnosed with my first BC. I am so impreased that you are figuring out the financial issues as I was too much of an emotional mess to do anything sensible. In my area there was a self employed forum, a group of people who got together once a month to support and encourage each other. They were very helpful. Its a while ago now so solutions will be very different, but I wonder if there is a similar forum near you? I do understand its a really scary time without sickpay. All best wishes.
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Haha we all cope with bad news in different ways, I tend to go into research and planning mode. Helps me feel like I can do something when so much is currently out of my control. Writing to-do lists makes me feel better 
That’s a good idea about speaking to other self employed people. I’m already in an online community with other freelance writers and they are a fabulous supportive bunch.
You’ve also triggered a thought, I know a woman who specialises in helping female business owners. So I may contact her to see if she knows of any extra support I could tap into or she might know someone who’s been in a similar position.
Thank you! Xx
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Hi,
I’m self employed. I filled in the forms online. I think it was DWP but I can check when I’m near my paper work. I had to get a fit (sick) note from the doctor and a phone call with someone. It was all pretty straightforward. It wasn’t much £90 a week, although it did increase after my last tax return. They have paid it directly into my account fortnightly. It’s not enough to survive on but it’s a help!
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Hi
If you have invasive bc check if you have critical illness cover, can often also a stipulation when you take out a mortgage. That might give you a big lump sum and take the financial pressure right off.
I’ve just had my lumpectomy for dcis which critical illness won’t cover. I got the booklet for the ESA to complete (after I put my details in online), I’ve not completed it yet as I’m put off by the size of it and you also have to have an interview. One of my clients said it was a stress for her, she had excruciating sciatica which stopped her working as a hairdresser. They declined her saying she could stand and raise one hand! She appealed and won, but she said it was a stress.
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Im self-employed and had to work right through my treatment.
I work part time because of having Lupus on top of breast cancer. Fortunately I’m no longer the breadwinner in my family, so that took the heat off things.
I wasn’t entitled to any support without an expenditure assessment. That was from Macmillan. Luckily treatment part was only 6 months, so it would have took to long and too much hoop jumping to venture with DWP.
The assumption from health professionals is that everyone works in an office/lenient environment and can have X time off.
The reality is very different as the covid proved.
Its a tough journey. Hope things come through for you soon.
Take care.
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Thanks for sharing your experience! If you don’t mind me asking, how long did you claim it for? And was it only for when you weren’t working at all due to treatment?
I can imagine I may want to reduce my hours at some points but not stop working altogether, but it doesn’t seem like it’s possible to continue claiming it in those circumstances? (Don’t worry if you don’t know, I’m just curious in case you do happen to!)
Unfortunately I don’t have critical illness cover 
I did look at it when I bought my current home, but given that it only covers certain illnesses I decided it wasn’t worth the cost.
That’s awful about your client’s experience. The last thing you need is more stress when you’ve already got the stress of being unwell.
Good luck with your application xx
Thank you. I’m hoping very much that my treatment will only be a few months too, as it’s grade 1 and caught early. In which case, it sounds like as you say it’s probably not worth the lengthy, hoop-jumping application to DWP. I’ll see.
It’s just very hard to anticipate how much I’ll be able to continue working throughout this whole process. Right now I’m finding work is mainly a helpful distraction. But I can see that could easily change. Like everything else, I guess I just have to take it one step at a time.
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Something similar happened to my late sister. She wasn’t self-employed but she was on agency work, which wasn’t guaranteed all the time. By the time she applied for ESA or equivalent, she was back at work but in the meantime had to use her savings to pay her rent etc…by the time DWP came through with the payments (although backdated) as she lived alone.
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Hi @beachfox, I believe Macmillan do offers grants to help with cancer expenses. Another source of help could be benevolent funds, either local to your area, or trade related. Contact The Association of Charitable Organisations. www.aco.uk.net
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Thanks so much, I will definitely investigate these! Really appreciate it 
You can claim for up to a year. The nice lady told me on the phone you can still claim and earn (I think) £86 a week. I will be coming up to a year fairly soon and have just started back to work but not going full bore as I have a physical job, lifestyle, three children and am still having some preventative treatments that will go on until March. My payments started really promptly so I would definitely advise looking into it. I did the application on line with the ESA, had a follow up call with Job Centre Plus and had to return a questionnaire with a Doctors note and that was it, all done. How much you can work will depend on your treatment plan and what sort of work you do. I have friends with office jobs who have managed to work right through treatment. I’m an equine coach so my situation is a little different. Good luck with it x
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Hi there
I was in a similar situation . I applied for the Employment support allowance which isn’t very much . I took 9 months off work as unable to do my job while attending to my own health problems. I was fortunate to have critical illness cover which I forgot I had which covered my lost earnings . Maybe check and see if you have as it covers certain types of cancers as mine was invasive it paid out . I also spoke to macmillan for financial
Advice they were brilliant at telling you how to get finial support or discounts . They also offer money if you have limited savings . Hope all goes well with your treatment
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Hiya,
Well done for getting things sorted! I also wanted to do the same right away and it’s made a big difference.
I’d definitely get in contact with MacMillan asap they were a big help. They also have a calculator on their website that can tell you what to apply for and then the advisor can help you with your applications.
You should be entitled to ESA as has been said. You also can get UC in some cases if you are the main earner and your new earnings are below the threshold.
It’s also worth looking into disability allowance (PIP or ADA). For cancer diagnosis the MacMillan people will tell you these are absolutely guaranteed. I know the process for decisions are very lengthy but they backdate it from the date you apply so even if you receive it when you don’t need it anymore that’ll help pay back your savings or credit that you need to use, that’s what I’m having to do though I’m still waiting on my decision to come through and I applied in March!
It’s also worth taking the time to reach out to credit agencies or loan/mortgage payments you may have if you have any and asking for a payment hold. I did that and it was a big help. It got me a few months of relief and all they typically asked for was a letter confirming diagnosis or a number of someone they could phone to confirm diagnosis, then they had me do an ‘affordability’ check with my new earnings which is literally them going through your expenses and how much you will be making it’s very easy to do over the phone or they send you the paperwork by email and they are basically all the same no matter how many of them you do so write down the answers for the first one and you’ll be golden. Even if you are renting I’d recommend reaching out to ask if this is possible. These are pauses so rent will probably ask you to pay eventually but it gives you a break to focus on treatment and hopefully get some of those benefits in place. Surprisingly even big companies can be kind to cancer patients who would have thought!
Wishing you all the best and hope you get back to work soon! I should be able to work again in October and I’m looking forward to it.
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Thank you, this is super helpful and has given me some new avenues to explore.
I wish you the best of luck with everything and hope your return to work goes as well as possible xx
Hey - I am self employed and was in a similar position - lumpectomy and radiotherapy was treatment plan at the start but that all changed. I was a business coach/mentor and found I just couldn’t work at all. I was very lucky to have critical illness cover, which has meant I can take all the time out I need, but it took a couple of months to come through and honestly I was in dire straits! I really didn’t want to, but friends encouraged me to use my Ko-fi link and share it on socials, and I was truly blown away by the love, support and generosity of folk. I know it can feel uncomfortable, but I could not have got through the first two months without the help of the kind souls who donated funds via my Ko-fi link. It was a godsend until the life insurance pay out. Worth a try? I also sold lots on Vinted etc which although not a lot, did help too. You said you are freelance - do you have any digital products you could create to sell for some passive income? Or any resources you have already that you can package up to sell online? Although I closed my business, I’d be happy to brainstorm ideas with you - my business brain still works haha!
Hi everyone - financial stress is such a worry! I’m employed but I did also have critical illness and income protection and Aviva is refusing to pay out due to a referral for an ultrasound which actually never happened! So bad of them!
That’s terrible of them, I’m sorry. The absolute last thing you need while dealing with cancer.
It’s disgraceful! They’ve cancelled my life insurance and income protection too but I’m definitely going all the way to the ombudsman with this! Just a fight I really didn’t need. I’ve started a petition to raise awareness so please do sign and share if you’re able: Petition · Urge Aviva to Honour Their Critical Illness claim - Vereinigtes Königreich · Change.org
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