Macmillan Project
If you've been affected by cancer, your finances probably won't be your first thought. Yet many people find a cancer diagnosis can bring money worries, with costs they hadn't considered.
The Derbyshire Citizens Advice Bureaux/Macmillan Project is now in its fourth year. The project delivers a home visiting advice service to people who have experienced cancer and their carers. This project is being delivered across the county and involves a great deal of collaboration with the other five participating CAB?s in order to ensure that clients receive a seamless consistent service throughout the county.
Our Caseworker continues to work one day per fortnight within the Royal Hospital Derby and received referrals from the Macmillan Information Centre based within the hospital. This venue is extremely convenient for clients as they are able to access our service in an environment which is familiar.
Referrals to this project are also received via the CAB/Macmillan Help-line and directly from Macmillan nurses based at Burton and Derby hospitals.
To make contact with the team please ring the Derbyshire Macmillan Helpline which is open 10am - 12.30pm, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday or e-mail
An initial assessment will be made by telephone, and if appropriate the case will be referred to the relevant caseworker at the CAB covering the area in Derbyshire where the claimant lives.
This year our Caseworker has provided advice to 171 clients, approximately 25% increase on the clients seen last year.
Not surprisingly the majority of enquiries received have related to welfare benefits. Our Caseworker works with every client to ensure that they are claiming their full welfare benefit entitlements. Many clients have stated that without our help they wouldn?t be able to support their families. By reducing financial stress clients are free to concentrate on getting better.
Case Study
Client 69 years of age, contacted bureau after receiving an Income Tax demand relating to her late husband.
Client suffers from severe arthritis and is claiming Lower Rate Attendance Allowance. Client also has small Occupational and Retirement Pension. Daughter claiming Carers Allowance to look after client. Client has only a small amount of savings
Tax bill received is for �770 which client cannot afford to pay. Caseworker supported client to write to the HMRC to inform them of husband?s death and enclosed a copy of the death certificate.
Client contacted bureau to ask for support as HMRC had informed her that they had received her letter but would be visiting her home to discuss bill. Client also requested help to complete an R27 form re her husband?s estate.
Caseworker attended meeting and looked through all the paperwork and discovered that late husband had been allocated the wrong tax code. Caseworker asked HMRC to confirm that they were using the correct tax code. Confirmation was given that the tax code was incorrect and bill was recalculated. Client was issued with a revised bill of �170 which client agreed to pay straight away.