Hello everyone, I now know that my OSP will run out on 21st November and my ssp is the woeful amount of £41 per week. My company are being very unhelpful and the benefits agency want to know so many questions i can’t answer. I am over a year after treatment and still having problems mainly mentally. Today i got myself in such a state that my OH came home from work early as worried about me.I am under the mental health team and trying to get my medication sorted out which is proving difficult as been on every medication there is. All that is left are ones that are very dangerous ones with dietary restrictions and terrible side effects.All this is making me feel so worthless and feel on the scrap heap at 40. Also as though I am skiving off which i know I am not. Only all of you on here know the true lasting effects of BC so trun to you all for advice.
You’re definately not for the scrap heap so lets push those thoughts aside.
Even with this dreaded BC and what it does to us, we are still in control of how we feel.
I agree life can be tough at times but remember the Happiness you give to others is really the happiness you are giving to yourself.
If you dont feel anyone is helping you re:finances why not get in touch with your local Citizens Advice B. they would only be too pleased to assist you.
Don’t forget also you can ask Macmillian for help too in completing forms etc etc
Benefits agency staff too have a responsibility in assisting with the completion of forms should you be struggling.
You are worth far too much in personality, spirit and looks to let yourself down.
This BC has already had enough of you don’t let it take you completely.
If you can try hypnosis or cognitive behaviour therapy too.
Thanks Jo for your reply.I am slowly starting the benefits process now. I think it was my fear of the unknown that was making me feel so bad. I am very poor at change and worse after bc etc but am taking it step by step every day. I still think full time work is out of the question- I tried to do this for nearly a year - so gave it my best shot.
Hi, yes i believe they did, im waiting for the letter to say why they refused it, i will appeal as i dont think i will be back at work until about april, i still have surgery after chemo then i presume rads.
Hi Anna, and anyone else fighting for benefits. Rach, I have PM’d you, hon.
I used to work a mental health nurse, and knew the struggles that people went thru’ trying to claim DLA. It is a horrid, excruciatingly long form, and takes hours, no, days to fill in, and then they almost always automatically turn you down at first attempt. On my second attempt, I just reiterated all the salient points I had already told the, highlighted them in red, and re-sent it…got it not just lower, but high rate!! No more info given, just the same stuff. It’s quite disgusting. All I can say, is try, try and try again, and if you can, get help as its so long and hard, and when energy levels are low anyway, it is hard work.
Try CAB, but make sure you book an appointment, or they send you away after 10 minutes, which is useless when dealing with DLA.
Write down every single person who is involved in your care; every single drug you are on, and fill in the form not as you are on a good day, but how you are at your VERY WORST. This is what they require, and most of us are too good at thinking ‘oh, I’m not too bad’.
I hope this is of some help, and if I can offer any further advice, so far as I know, I will be glad to.
Best wishes,
Jax
Thanks jax, when i get the letter saying i have been refused i am to ring them up they said (not sure why when i rang to see what was happening today, they couldnt deal with it) but i will certainly be less brave about it. I feel really annoyed about it, never claimed anything in my life, i was quite snotty with the guy on the phone im afraid, but that was only after the way he tried to talk down to me, how very dare he!!!
take care
anna
hi, i got my letter today, so have rang up and told them to look at claim again, i think i will write a letter also and tell them just how debilitating this whole thing can be! I think these decisions are obviously made by people who have not been unlucky enough to have to go through everything that having cancer entails.
good luck
anna