I was diagnosed fully in January this year with secondary breast cancer. I have liver mets, lung, chest wall, abdomen and pelvic bone.
I am 58 years old in June. I have approached my private pension company who say, if my Doctors signs a note to say i am expected to die in 12 months, they will release my full pension money. It is only worth 1,400. I feel it is like asking “how long is a piece of string”? who can say what time I have left. Has anyone else encountered this?
Also is there anything else I should be doing? I am managing to work at the moment.
I got diagnosed with mets in bones 12 years ago. At this point I was advised to apply for early release of my Civil Service Pension and lump sum, (Only a small amount as I left the CC when I had my first child). It was given right away. I then found out that I could claim DLA. I didn’t even know it existed back then but a friend told me all the details about it. I claimed successfully and it has made such a huge difference between managing and not managing. I would look into the DLA. I am not certain but I think there is an age related cut off point when you can claim it. I didn’t think I would still be here but life is so uncertain with mets. Do you want to continue to work or are you considering retiring early? It is the best thing I ever did. But everyone’s life is different. Best wishes and I hope you get some answers to follow. Val
just a comment on Val’s post. There is a cut off point with claiming DLA and it is that you cannot claim once you have passed 65. If you claim before that then dla continues to be paid. It is not means tested and you do not have to declare it or pay tax on it. You can continue to work whilst receiving dla as well. The first thing to do is to contact the DWP and ask for a DLA claims pack. Your claim if successful will be dated from the date you request the pack. The, ask your macmillan nurse, or onc or gp for a DS1500 and you then complete the form under Special Rules which means you wont have to fill in a lot of it. It is better to ask help from your macmillan nurse or the hospital’s social welfare person to fill it in as it is quite complicated.
Yes, do get the application pack for DLA, find some expert help in completing it and submit the application to the DWP as soon as possible - here’s a link to the Government’s information about DLA: direct.gov.uk/en/disabledpeople/financialsupport/dg_10011731. You can download a pack to print out from that website.
I’ve been living with liver & bone mets for over seven years, was working for the first four years, but then my contract ended when I was 57, and I was able to get my “final salary” pension (from a previous local council job) as “early retirement on health grounds”. That was a lump sum + a continuing monthly payment. In addition, I had three very small pensions (from short voluntary sector jobs), that paid small sums to invest in an annuity – I combined these and was advised to take them to an annuity provider that pays a larger pension to people in our position: ill, and not expected to live a lengthy retirement. If you decide to take early retirement, and your pension plan is one that gives you a sum to invest in an annuity, you’re welcome to PM me, and I’ll give you the details of the firm my broker advised me to go to for mine.
Thank you Marilyn, Dawn and Val for your helpful comments. I did not think I could claim anything, whilst working. Will sort the DLA via DWP and get my Doctor to fill in a DS1500 special rules. Know a bit about this as I have worked in the NHS for over 20 years.
In answer to you question Val. If I keep well I am going to try and work until I am 60 and then take early retirement on the grounds of ill health.
Got my DS1500 ready to complete the DLA form now. Who do you think is best to help me to complete it?
Doctor been very nice and is filling in the form for the small pension. If he does this I will be able to get a lump sum. Not a lot but it all helps.
I am technically still working but on ‘long term disability’. I get DLA and Incapacity Benefit, and my husband gets Carer’s Allowance. My Macmillan nurse helped me to fill in all the forms - you don’t have to be dying to get a Macmillan Nurse, and they are very good. As I am ‘terminal’ (and have been for over 2yrs) I have also been able to claim my life insurance and 2 private pensions, all of which makes life a lot easier.
LOL Lynn
It says above that you can’t claim DLA when you are 65.
You can, kinda. Its name changes to Attendance Allowance when you’re 65 and is the same thing. DLA used to be called Attendance Allowance for all ages and was changed to ‘DLA’ for the under 65s in the 1980s-ish.