Finance
Am I entitled to sick pay if I can’t work for a few months?
Each employer will have their own sick pay arrangements. Some only pay the legal minimum, while others are more generous. If you have been paying National Insurance contributions in
How can I find out if I am entitled to any welfare benefits?
It is not easy to answer this question as benefits and allowances change regularly. For specific and detailed financial advice, you should speak to your personnel or welfare officer at work if there is one, or to the hospital social worker. Cancer Support has a specific information line which can provide up-to-date information about benefits and other financial matters.
My son may have to give up work or take a long time off to look after me. Can he claim benefits?
You should seek specialist advice to find out if your son is entitled to any welfare benefits if he stops work. Individual employers may be willing to discuss ways in which careers can take extended leave without losing their salary, or they may keep their job open for them for a period of time.
If your son has not paid enough National Insurance contributions to ensure a full pension, he can protect his state pension if he is off work caring for you. In this case he could apply for Home Responsibilities Protection. Contact one of the organizations mentioned earlier or Careers United Kingdom for more details.
Can I get life insurance if I have had breast cancer?
Different companies have different rules about this. Some companies will sell you life insurance if you have been disease free for a certain period of time, or if your cancer was an early stage cancer. Other companies will only insure you for an extremely high premium, or will not consider insuring you at all, regardless of the type and stage of cancer.
You are unlikely to be able to get life insurance if it has been less than two years since you had cancer. Between two and seven years after having cancer some companies will insure you, but will probably charge a higher premium. If you are seven years cancer-and recurrence-free, you will probably find you can get life insurance without incurring penalties.
I’m the main wage earner. I haven’t been able to work full time for some months and I’m worried we won’t be able to pay the mortgage and all the bills. Where can I turn to for help and advice?
Talk to your bank or building society; they should be able to advise you about your mortgage. Many of the utility companies have schemes to help people spread out their bill payments so it’s worth talking to them about this. You may also be able to claim some welfare benefits, even in the short term, so contact one of the agencies referred to in the previous questions. Don’t feel bad about this – you have been paying into national schemes for many years!
Will the fact that I have had breast cancer affect my chances of getting a mortgage?
You are just as likely to be able to get a mortgage as anyone else even if it has been less than two years since you had cancer, but it may not have any life insurance cover (see previous question). The type and terms of the mortgage can sometimes depend on whether you are the sole person taking out the mortgage or if it is a joint one.
Can I get private medical cover if I have had breast cancer?
Like all insurance, most private medical insurance will have certain exclusions, so that in some situations you will not be able to claim. It is possible that if you have had breast cancer you will get medical insurance but it may state that it will not pay out for anything to do with the cancer in the future. It is also possible that your Premium will be increased once you have had breast cancer.
