How do you cope financially?

BeatNikDub

I was in hospital for 2 months at the start of the year and havent been able to go back to work yet.
I am on illness benefit and have moved home to my parents but i still have all the bills to pay plus i am still waiting for medical card. My meds cost 120 a month (would be more but have the drug payment scheme card for what it is worth). My consultant is 120 euros and I had to stop seeing another specialist because he was 80 euro. If I was to go public the waiting lists are about a year.
Money is so tight I am really getting so worried here....

Splendour

BeatNikDub wrote: »

I was in hospital for 2 months at the start of the year and havent been able to go back to work yet.
I am on illness benefit and have moved home to my parents but i still have all the bills to pay plus i am still waiting for medical card. My meds cost 120 a month (would be more but have the drug payment scheme card for what it is worth). My consultant is 120 euros and I had to stop seeing another specialist because he was 80 euro. If I was to go public the waiting lists are about a year.
Money is so tight I am really getting so worried here....

It's very difficult BeatNikDub. For the first time in my life I'm in debt on a credit card all due to illness In fact, I only got the credit card so I could order tests online...

Tizzy

Im in same boat ... on ilness benefit too and just got refused a medical card based on my earnings :eek: .... my ilness benefit is my only earnings .... :rolleyes:

hope you have more luck getting a medical card ....

I have health insurance as my OH pays it for me... so im lucky that all proceedures are covered ...

however like you tablets are a fortune and every consultant visit is 150-200 euro (I will get half back at end of year thankfully) ... am doing physio too which is 40 Euro a week ....

am struggling to cover it tbh ...

BeatNikDub

Tizzy wrote: »

Im in same boat ... on ilness benefit too and just got refused a medical card based on my earnings :eek: .... my ilness benefit is my only earnings .... :rolleyes:

hope you have more luck getting a medical card ....

I have health insurance as my OH pays it for me... so im lucky that all proceedures are covered ...

however like you tablets are a fortune and every consultant visit is 150-200 euro (I will get half back at end of year thankfully) ... am doing physio too which is 40 Euro a week ....

am struggling to cover it tbh ...

Tizzy I got accepted for the medical card today and my only earnings is my illness benefit. Did you list all the other medical costs you have because I was told very much to make sure they were listed (ie consultant and any other doctor visists).
Also im wondering did I get accepted because I was in hospital for a long period of time.....I dunno seems so unfair on you.

I was so relieved when I opened the envelope that I burst out crying! Im still kinda shaking, it will save me 100+ a month which I know aint much but to me it will go so far!!

I hope they rethink their decision, I know when I was in hospital some of the other patients were refused first time but went back again with more information and got it second time round.

Best of luck x

Richard Dower

BeatNikDub wrote: »

Tizzy I got accepted for the medical card today and my only earnings is my illness benefit. Did you list all the other medical costs you have because I was told very much to make sure they were listed (ie consultant and any other doctor visists).
Also im wondering did I get accepted because I was in hospital for a long period of time.....I dunno seems so unfair on you.

I was so relieved when I opened the envelope that I burst out crying! Im still kinda shaking, it will save me 100+ a month which I know aint much but to me it will go so far!!

I hope they rethink their decision, I know when I was in hospital some of the other patients were refused first time but went back again with more information and got it second time round.

Best of luck x

Bless you.

Charisma

Im recovering from cancer and am very weak etc after my treatment. This may be permanent but we are hoping no .At the moment Im hoping I would be able to work day on day off due to the exaustion for the moment. I have after not resting on day one I need to rest after a hard day or I go right down hill. Ive been practicing having a busy day but need complete rest the next day to be able to go again. I think working like this will be ok for me and my employer will be OK with it as an introduction back to work. As I get stronger I will add a day and hopefully be back fullltime within a year , Please god. My question is am I entitled to sick benefit fir the days I am to tired to work due to the treatment I had taking a long time to recover from as I am genuinley not able to do two days in a row. I would be able to do Mon wed Friday and rest Tue and Thurs so ,so Tue and Thurs I am sick- too sick to work.3 day weekers on the dole get 2 days dole. Would I qualify for reduced illness benefit for 2 days as I am ill sometines and able to work other times.

CathyMoran

Charisma wrote: »

Im recovering from cancer and am very weak etc after my treatment. This may be permanent but we are hoping no .At the moment Im hoping I would be able to work day on day off due to the exaustion for the moment. I have after not resting on day one I need to rest after a hard day or I go right down hill. Ive been practicing having a busy day but need complete rest the next day to be able to go again. I think working like this will be ok for me and my employer will be OK with it as an introduction back to work. As I get stronger I will add a day and hopefully be back fullltime within a year , Please god. My question is am I entitled to sick benefit fir the days I am to tired to work due to the treatment I had taking a long time to recover from as I am genuinley not able to do two days in a row. I would be able to do Mon wed Friday and rest Tue and Thurs so ,so Tue and Thurs I am sick- too sick to work.3 day weekers on the dole get 2 days dole. Would I qualify for reduced illness benefit for 2 days as I am ill sometines and able to work other times.

I do not know anything about the financial side - I do know as a fellow cancer survivor that it is very tough and people do not understand fatigue when you look "normal" again. The fatigue does get easier with time but you will have a new "normal", forgive yourself if you can not do everything and do not let it get you down...as you know now life is for living - best wishes.

kildareash

Charisma,
My OH has been out of work for just over a year due to illness. He was on illness benefit too.
There is some allowance that will allow you to work up to a certain number of hours a week and retain your illness benefit.

I found this info on Citizen's Information:
Work and Illness Benefit

You may be able to do part time rehabilitative work (up to a maximum of 20 hours a week) and keep your Illness Benefit. You must get written approval from the Department of Social Protection.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/disability-and-illness/disability_benefit

I'm not sure who decides how many hours a week you can work ie doc, SW, employers, you.
I know it took a few weeks for them to send out the form, and about 3 or 4 weeks for the approval to come back.
He was really frustrated at the length of time everything took. As he was eager to try and get back some sense of normality after so long out.

Maybe your local SW office or Citizen's Info will have more details on the scheme.