My Grandad who is 76 has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, he struggles with long distance and I was wondering if he is entitled to a blue badge for his car and parking. Any advice or info would be greatly apprciated thank you in advance.
I have been asked to apply fr a blue badge by my nurse (I haven`t as I didn`t feel like need one - there are obviously people who needs more helps with mobility). I have also received medical exception card for prescriptions etc.
This is the information I have found - you can also go to your local counsil or on the website gov.uk to get all infirmation needed.
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For many of us claiming benefits during cancer is something we don’t do because we don’t think we are eligible, we don’t think it’s the right thing to do, or we just don’t have the energy – mental or physical - to go through all that form filling.
Too often it’s the case that GPs and nurses say nothing about these things or mention it late in the day as an afterthought, but you could really be missing out on something to which you are entitled, which is rightfully yours, and which can be immensely helpful at a time when you are likely to be incurring additional costs – e.g. for prescriptions, parking, heating, wigs/hats, help with household work to name but a few.
An associate of mine who has recently been through cancer treatment has highlighted at least four key benefits that people affected by cancer should be aware of:
NHS Medical Exemption Certificate
The Blue Badge scheme
Employee Support Allowance
The Equality Act (not a benefit but an important protection)
NHS Medical Exemption Certificate
In Scotland and Wales NHS prescriptions are free but this is not the case in England. However, in England all people undergoing treatment for cancer, or the effects of cancer or its treatment are exempt from charges for at least 5 years after diagnosis. You can apply through your GP surgery.or oncology clinic using form FP92A
The Blue Badge Scheme (or equivalent)
If you are undergoing cancer treatment – especially chemotherapy – you will be able to apply for a Blue Badge (or similar – some parts of London have different colour badges). Remember you don’t have to be the driver to use one. When you are exhausted because of the effects of treatment, being able to park near to your destination is immensely helpful. You apply for this from your local authority, it takes about ten days to arrive and it is usually valid for at least one year.
Employee Support Allowance (ESA)
You can apply for ESA if you’re employed, self-employed or unemployed. If the former, you may be able to apply for Employment and Support Allowance if you’re not eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) or your SSP has ended or is coming to an end. You apply via your local Job Centre Plus and if you make it clear you are having cancer treatment they should complete the form for you over the phone.
ESA is particularly helpful if you are self-employed, cannot work due to your illness, and have been paying your National Insurance contributions, because you will be eligible to ESA of up to £57.35 a week if you’re aged under 25 and up to £72.40 a week if you’re aged 25 or over.
After 13 weeks of receiving ESA at the basic rate, if you are receiving, waiting for or recovering from chemotherapy or radiotherapy, you will be placed in what is called ‘the support group’ and receive up to £108.15 a week. What is more there’s no time limit on how long you can claim contribution-based ESA if you’re in the support group.
The Equality Act (2010)
Last but not least, do remember that you are protected against discrimination, harassment or victimisation because of your cancer both at work and during the recruitment process. The protection lasts from the point of diagnosis for the rest of your life, even when you are declared cured.
For more information about benefits and managing the cost of cancer, I recommend you get hold of the Macmillan pamphlet ‘Help with the Cost of Cancer’ or ring their helpline."
If you apply online, please be sure to check that you're going directy onto the government's wesite (www.gov.uk) and no other. When searching for this information, I very nearly clicked on a scam site that came up top in the search list.
For info, you may also be eligible for a free bus pass. If you are receiving PIP then they look at the amount of points the DWP have awarded you. The library can advise.
That's all assuming you can get PIP in the first place. The system is deliberately stacked against claimants. You might have lost both legs and an arm, but if you can stagger to the office on your stumps, and eat with your remaining hand, they'll claim you can manage and refuse the claim.
It is a complete waste of time to apply, and is simply this Tory government trying to save money.
Much as I hate to disagree with Telemando, putting people off applying is doing exactly what this government wants. That way they have to pay less out and fewer people are aggrieved by an unfair process. About 50% of claims are approved first time around and about 60% of appeals are successful. That means that eventually about 80% of claims are approved.
Talk to your local MacMillan benefits advisor, or Citizens Advice, MacMillan seem to have the best knowledge about cancer related benefits. PIP is only available up to age 64, but there are other benefits after 64 (mainly Attendance Allowance). These benefits act as gateways to other benefits including Blue Badge - most (not all) councils automatically issue a Blue Badge if you receive PIP or Attendance Allowance.
I recently applied for a Blue Badge for my Mum. Go to your council website and there should be a form you can fill in online, or download one. I had to send 2 passport size photos and a payment of £10. You get the money back if your application is not successfulsuccessful.
Age UK also has advice on qualifying for and completing the form.
I found out I had cancer, the nurse specialist at the hospital put me in touch with a Macmillan financial advisor who took some details from me, by the time I came out of hospital the week after she had sorted out my pip payment and I had a free blue badge waiting for me. If you can try and get their help as they have been brilliant for me taking a lot of the stress off me at a time when I didn’t know which way was up. Good luck Diana x
Unfortunately, claiming PIP is a stressful process, requiring the filling in of a massive form, then an assessment. You also only have a limited time period to fill in the form and return it - usually 4 weeks to gather all the necessary complex information about your entire health and life-style. The process of filling in form itself is designed to be off-putting, and for many claimants just getting the form in proves to be highly stressful.
Then there's the assessment, carried out in some anonymous office - but you only have to take a look to see that there are cameras inside and outside the building monitoring the people that enter and leave. And don't kid yourself - the images are recorded and inspected with the sole aim of catching people out. The "assessment" is carried out by barely trained people, who are under instructions to fail as many as possible. These people have no medical training and their first loyalty is to the scummy company that employs them. Most of the time, these "assessors" fail to understand the claimants situation and condition. Which is why there are so many cases overturned on appeal. My wife was reduced to a nervous wreck by this process, and was unable to appeal because of the emotional toll on her.
Yes, you can get PIP, but the emotional price is high, whether you get it or not.
That was pretty much my experience too, which is why I try to signpost people to MacMillan where approriate.
I volunteer with a local disability charity. It is heartbreaking how many people have similar terrible experiences to that of Telemando and his wife. Someone I know (who is severely and very obviously physically disabled) is having her PIP appeal heard in a County Court next month with all the trauma that will involve.
That really sucks - I'm so sorry (but not surprised) to hear about your awful experience.
The current rules push anyone without a terminal diagnosis down that route and so many people with a terminal diagnosis are simply not informed that they are eligible to be fast tracked (the forms are much shorter and there's no face to face "assessment").
As you say, the whole system is rigged and seems (and in my view is) designed to put people off applying for the benefits that they are entitled to in order to fund austerity and subsequent tax breaks for the mega-rich who own our ruling party..
