Returning to Work
Returning to Work Hi all, I’m about to start chemo this week, followed by radiotherapy then chemo again.
Thing is, I was unemployed and jobhunting when diagnosed and as I will now have to put this on my CV once the treatment has finished and I am well, I am worried about the effect it will have on being a future jobseeker. I know there is a lot of legislation about discriminating against people, but I always think that employers find ways of getting round this. I have had to put my jobhunting on hold for the time being as I know I won’t be considered for anything with this hanging over me.
When I was unemployed I wasn’t getting JSA, just NI credits (long story, but I had to take a year out of work to care for my late father; when this finished I was told I couldn’t claim JSA until I went back to work on account of the gap in my NI). I have applied for IB and DLA but I’m not holding out for anything as the DWP have sent my claim to 3 offices for assessment even though I was certificated by my GP for 6 months and I gave them copies of letters from the hospital. This is a very difficult time finanacially as my husband had retrained and had just started a new business venture when I was diagnosed, it isn’t making any real money yet so we are living on a small pot of savings which we use for council tax, bills and other expenses.
Has anyone else faced a similar situation? I would be glad to hear about it.
this is going to be useless and i am sorry but i did have address of site that helps you to fill in DLA form with a veiw to you getting it but i can’t find it at the moment.
can you get a reduction on your council tax?
i hope you get something sorted.
sharon. x
Publication Hi cherub
The link below is for a publication produced by Breast Cancer Care on the subject of Breast cancer and benefits.
The factsheet can either be downloaded or ordered through this website on the link below.
breastcancercare.org.uk/docs/bcandbenefitsjuly06_0.pdf
Hope this of help.
Kind Regards
Forum Host
Breast Cancer Care
Thank you - I will make sure I read this carefully.
Hi cherub I can’t say I have had a similar experience myself, but I just wanted to say a couple of things…
Firstly. since December 2005, people with cancer have counted as disabled under the Disability Discrimination Act, which makes it unlawful for a potential or actual employer to discriminate against you, and indeed they must make what are known as ‘reasonable adjustments’ , if you need them, to the selection process prior to employment, and to your working conditions once you are employed. I totally agree with you that it is difficult to believe that some employers don’t wriggle out of these obligations, but at least we now have some protection under the law which we didn’t use to have.
Secondly, your DLA claim - mine took ages to settle, but eventually I was awarded the lowest rate, but again better than nothing. I personally think that many women with bc should be able to claim the lowest rate of DLA successfully if they have had lymph node removal and are therefore at lifetime risk of developing lymphoedema, because this means that you shouldn’t be lifting heavy items, such as pans full of water, and therefore you can’t cook yourself a meal unaided, and that means you satisfy one of the criteria for the lowest level of award.
In the end the DLA sent a doctor round to examine me - and although he was only doing his job I found it pretty upsetting and ended up having a good cry in front of him…which probably didn’t do my claim any harm because he obviously felt rather sorry for me.
If you get turned down for DLA ask for an immediate review - even if your circumstances haven’t changed you may find you are successful at review. Also, I know that other people on this site have had excellent help from macmillan nurses in help with filling out DLA forms, so again, if you end up going for a review of their decision it might be worth asking macmillanm nurse for help. I didn’t - but I used to be a social worker and have long experience of filling in DLA and similar forms for other people !!
Anyway best of luck
Kate
Thanks for that info Kate. I had a letter from the office dealing with DLA last week to say they are requesting a report from my GP. I won’t qualify until January, but I’ve worked out it will be around February when the radiotherapy starts. This will be the most expensive time for us as it will be 25 round trips of over 40 miles. Thankfully, we have a small amount of contingency and our mortgage is paid off, but we still have full council tax and other bills to cover. Although my husband has started a business and is working from home, he is also looking at the job market to see if he could get a contract somewhere.