breast cancer

CS

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I am sorry to hear your news.

First of all your ESA. You don't say what type of ESA you receive, it can be either Contribution Based, typically because you were working before you fell ill, or, Income Related because you are on a low income.

Even if it is ESA(CB) you may still be entitled to an ESA(IR) top-up if you are eligible (see below).

If it is ESA(IR) then this should passport you to a number of other benefits depending on your circumstances, these can include Housing Benefit, Council Tax assistance, assistance with your mortgage, free prescriptions and dental care, assistance with travel costs to health appointments.

Eligibility for ESA(IR) is dependant on your household income, assets and savings and any hours that a partner works.

Asset rule for ESA(IR)

24 hour work rule for ESA(IR)

There is some possibility that you can claim Personal Independence Payments (PIP) or DLA (if you are not on the UK mainland), however, the requirements are that you have suffered your problems for 3 months and can reasonably be expected for them for a further 9 months (PIP) or 6 months (DLA).

Both benefits are concerned with the additional care or mobility assistance that you would have due to your conditions, so you not also need to pass the past/future test, but also show that you have sufficient needs for an award. I would be surprised if you would qualify on your new conditions alone (although this is not impossible), but coupled with your existing ones you may be successful. Have a read of our PIP claim guides to see what is required for an award.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/pip

I would strongly recommend that you contact Macmillan Nurses as they have considerable experience in helping cancer patients and can also help with benefit applications.

If you have any questions then please reply to this post and we will do our best to help.

Gordon

Cheryl

The only other thing I can suggest is to have a look at the notice board in your GP surgery, they may have details of voluntary transport services in your area, I'm not sure if you would qualify but if you do then they usually charge for mileage and of course there should not be any parking.

Gordon