Health care help
Community Care Grants. This is for patients receiving Income Support or Pension Credit to enable them to come home. It can help pay some travel costs, or pay for child care in certain circumstances. Claim using Form SF300 from local benefit office. Forms can be downloaded from www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk (England, Wales, Scotland) www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/ssa.htm (N.Ireland).
Free prescriptions. Patients are entitled to free prescriptions and NHS wigs if they: have low income; hold a valid medical exemption certificate; live in Wales. Ask your doctor.
Essential travel costs, Blue Badges and Road tax. Essential travel costs for patient and carer to and from hospital may be met if on income support or income-based jobseekers allowance. Form HC5 from hospital. Blue Badges entitle holders to park in disabled spaces sometimes free of charge or with unlimited time. Road tax exemption may be available for drivers. www.dft.gov.uk
VAT exemption. Relief is available for the chronically sick or disabled, including cancer sufferers, when buying items designed to help with the disability (e.g. adjustable beds, emergency call systems, special vehicles, hoists). Ask the supplier to give you a declaration of exemption to sign.
Home care services. Social Services will provide an assessment if asked, which may help with subsidies. Home modifications may be considered by local authorities if needed. The Red Cross may help with equipment e.g. a wheelchair, and organisations such as Macmillan and Marie Curie can help with advice, nursing and care (see Useful contacts). Carers may be entitled to a Carer’s allowance Claims on DS700 (or DS700SP if receiving state retirement pension).
For information on disability and carers see www.direct.gov.uk and www.direct.gov.uk/carers
(The information provided here is based on Support for Cancer Patients by Chantal Simon in InnovAiT 2008 1: 126-133; doi:10.1093/innovait/inn002).
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