Why and who can she turn to for help???!
Question: My Brother-in-law had pain in his right leg for ages. He went to to local GP a couple of times and was told that it was nothing serious. The Gp did not send him for x-ray's or anything just gave him the same answer everytime. They then went on holiday to SAfrica and he was in pain all that time. On their way back they decided to fly to Ireland to visit family there. Whilst walking site-seeing he collapsed and he was taken to a hospital where they took x-rays and found that his femur had broken right off. So they then found he had Cancer, not just the femur in quite a few different places as well. He has been in Hospital getting treatment for over 8 months now and has only been home once in all that time. They the hospital has now set up a bed and all the requirements for him at their rented home for when he finally gets home. His job contacted my sister today and said that it would be the last salary he received. She is absolutely devastated and does not know what do. Who can help her.
Answers: My Brother-in-law had pain in his right leg for ages. He went to to local GP a couple of times and was told that it was nothing serious. The Gp did not send him for x-ray's or anything just gave him the same answer everytime. They then went on holiday to SAfrica and he was in pain all that time. On their way back they decided to fly to Ireland to visit family there. Whilst walking site-seeing he collapsed and he was taken to a hospital where they took x-rays and found that his femur had broken right off. So they then found he had Cancer, not just the femur in quite a few different places as well. He has been in Hospital getting treatment for over 8 months now and has only been home once in all that time. They the hospital has now set up a bed and all the requirements for him at their rented home for when he finally gets home. His job contacted my sister today and said that it would be the last salary he received. She is absolutely devastated and does not know what do. Who can help her.
There are a number of places you guys can go for help - try the CAB who can advise re benefit entitlement. There are several that may apply, e.g. Incapacity Benefit, Disability Living Allowance. Once a family is in receipt of one benefit, they may be entitled to another, like housing benefit for example. It may also be worth her contacting her own local authority, the social services department should know what her entitlements are. I believe that it is possible to apply for a 'crisis loan' (although it may not be called that these days) in order to cover interim expenses while waiting for a benefit claim to be processed. This would at least allow them to cover their immediate bills.
His employer is probably within their rights to stop paying your bro-in-law's salary - there is no requirement in UK law for a company to pay any sick pay. Always worth checking one's contract in this sort of situation.
Cancer charities like MacMillan's or local cancer charities will also be able to provide help & support, which often includes social/benefits advice.
It is really important that you all, as a family, get advice as to what can be done for your brother-in-law in order to allow him to return home & maintain the best quality of life possible. If you don't ask for help, the state in the UK does not offer any - this is not right, but it is unfortunately the way it is.
I do hope you guys get some help, because you all have enough to contend with emotionally. This is the cruelty of these sorts of medical problems - they demand so much attention that leaves you with little energy to work out how you will make it through the coming months. I also hope that your bro-in-law responds to his treatment.
Best wishes
Sarah
Look online for a cancer support group in her area.
Long Term Disability?
She should contact the social worker at the hopsital, unfortunately if his company did not have Long term disabiltiy they may be in a pickle... The social worker can connect her with people and services that can assist them during this difficult time. I would also tell her to consult an atty. due to the fact that she may have a lawsuit pending against the orginal Dr. for neglience. Hope this helps.
She should talk to someone who has been through something similar... there are lots of benefits she will be able to claim he will be able to claim, and she will also be able to claim carers allowance if she wishes to stay home and take care of him... the best people to see are people at the jobcentre... go with her for support
I'll pray for her and for your brother-in-law. Tell your sister to call the Catholic church nearest where they are staying and explain to the receptionist the type of 'help' they need, including food, rent, and 'living money' ... the church may or may not have the agencies to help, but what they WILL have are the names of places that can and will help ... and they even have people who can do the calling for her, since she's under pressure right now, and is spending her time 'taking care' of her husband. They do NOT have to be Catholic, or even believe in God ... the Catholic church helps EVERYONE with no questions asked ... and they do not 'require' any prayer, or anything else. They WILL HELP and will 'stay with her' until she's 'totally taken care of' so she can concentrate on taking care of her husband.
i'm so sorry to hear this.
perhaps they could try the CAB to find out if his employer can legally do this? it depends on contracts etc - but does seem rather harsh.
the job centre plus are also helpful - they will advise on benefits and claim forms as will their local authority (district council offices usually have a benefit adviser who will check everything out).
best starting point though would be the CAB as they can access all the information re employment law and benefits etc in one place.
i hope it all goes well for your family.
just read the additional bit - she needs to get advice straight away, however hard it seems - as someone has already said, try the local church or even the local bbc radio helpline - if they can't help personally then they will know people who can help.
even though you are far away you can give her your support by talking and offering the advice given here.
she can claim housing benefit even if she has a private landlord.
she will not be evicted - please make her aware of this and it will be one less worry for her to deal with.
get her to phone the landlord and explain the position, then phone the local council (if they are different) and ask for the relevant claim forms to be sent for rent and council tax benefit - she can at least get the ball rolling and make everyone aware of her position.
as long as people are aware of the position she is in no-one will turn her out.
He will most likely be eligible for the disability living allowance at the higher rate. Get the Citizen's Advice Bureau to help with filling in the form though. It will be backdated to an appropriate time if approved. Good luck!
Are they from the U.S.? Does he qualify for FMLA? (He'd have to have been at his job for at least a year and his company would have to be of a certain size, plus some other qualifiers.) When he left his job, was it supposed to be just a vacation or was it a sabbatical of some kind? Does he have long term disability insurance, through his employer and/or on his own? The answers to these questions will determine whether or not his employer can legally fire him. Or maybe his employer isn't firing him, but simply not paying his salary. One would hope they're still providing benefits.
I think they need a lawyer. They also need any other type of assistance they can get, whether it's from family, friends, local churches, charities or any combination thereof.
I feel for them both. What's happened truly sucks and they're left to deal with it as best they can.
surely they cant just dismiss him like that with no notice!! i always thought they had to give a reasonable amount of notice so you had time to sort out alternetive arrangements!! my friend got 3 months notice!!
i would get him registered for disability allowance, if hes unable to work then he should be eligable for housing benefit too!! they come and assess the house and work out how much your elligable for!!
is his wife working?? she could get carers allowance too!!
contact the cancer organisations, mcmillan etc they should have some advice!
NCI-Patient Advocate Foundation
1-800-532-5274
United Way:
While local United Ways tackle issues based on local needs, common focus areas include helping children and youth succeed, improving access to health care, promoting self-sufficiency, and strengthening families.
http://national.unitedway.org/myuw/
Cancercare:
http://www.cancercare.org/get_help/assis...
http://www.cancercare.org/pdf/fact_sheet...
What a horrifying story! As others have suggested, the CAB is an excellent source of info.
You should also contact Cancer Backup - email info@cancerbackup.org.uk they are a wonderful organization and I'm sure they will be able to advise you.
I'm astounded that more hasn't been done to put you in touch with help before now. 8 months is a long time.
There IS lots of help out there. God bless.