Self employment & cancer

Would love to be bright enough to, don't know what the right words/phrase would be (lobby) to bring it to the attention of the government that being self employed when you've got cancer is not a very easy time. You work all your working life pay into the system but when you get the big C you cannot claim a penny, nothing, zilch. So if I'm a burden of the state I get money thrown at me but the 3 months (not long enough) I've had to employ someone to cover my job (courier) while I've had my stomach removed.a little help would not go amiss but no struggle pal, luckily enough we've got it coverd but how many people have lost everything because they could not claim a penny through being self employed .... Anyway rant over..... Last keemo Thursday  onwards and upwards

Parents
  • Hi Alf

    I am also self employed and have just been through a year of on/off working while dealing with cancer. I tried to claim some benefits (the first time in 40 odd years of working life) but there was always some clause that made me ineligible. I had to drag myself to work on many days when I was feeling really ill and tired, from the disease and the treatment side effects, to keep rent and bills paid. It seems that us self employed people really do get a rough deal. For both of us it would have been financially more beneficial to never have worked and been on benefits. Good advice from other posters re McMillan nurses helping out. I beleive that there is a hardship fund from one of the cancer charities that you can apply to. I never did get any help financially, I am now broke and in debt but back at work and still alive and kicking.

Reply
  • Hi Alf

    I am also self employed and have just been through a year of on/off working while dealing with cancer. I tried to claim some benefits (the first time in 40 odd years of working life) but there was always some clause that made me ineligible. I had to drag myself to work on many days when I was feeling really ill and tired, from the disease and the treatment side effects, to keep rent and bills paid. It seems that us self employed people really do get a rough deal. For both of us it would have been financially more beneficial to never have worked and been on benefits. Good advice from other posters re McMillan nurses helping out. I beleive that there is a hardship fund from one of the cancer charities that you can apply to. I never did get any help financially, I am now broke and in debt but back at work and still alive and kicking.

Children
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