Cancer man's battle to claim benefits

That's the belief of Rosemary and Barrie Jewell of Buxton Drive who had a fight on their hands to receive the money and help they felt entitled to.

Having been diagnosed with throat cancer, Barrie endured a total laryngectomy in October followed by six weeks of daily radiotherapy in Brighton which began at the end of December.

He has been left unable to speak and is awaiting a CT scan, but in the meantime wants to know why it has been so difficult to claim the benefits and support the couple needs.

Rosemary said: "There is supposed to be all this care for cancer victims, benefits for cancer, but we just don't know where this is.

"We cannot fault in any way any of his treatment at Eastbourne hospital, but the treatment we have received claiming benefits has been appalling.

"After three months we have had so much trouble and we have only just been sorted out with housing benefit which led us to be in 904 rent arrears, and a repossession order on our home."

She says the experience has turned her husband from "a calm, laid-back, placid person" into "a frustrated, angry, doing-nothing person."

Both are 58 and work in a care home, Lindsay Home in Dorset Road: Rosemary is on unpaid leave from her job to care for Barrie at home.

"At first we had income support - we had it for a week and then it was stopped because working tax credits came in ... you can't win.

"The working tax credits got stopped because we earned too much money in the year 2004-5 - like you know you are going to have cancer the following year.

"The working tax credit was started, stopped, started, stopped - it's absolutely atrocious. I think that is why they got confused with the rent."

"We feel it's been disgusting to have to manage on 123 per week and out of that we have to pay 21 rent and Council Tax.

"Our pay is made up with 68 statutory sick pay, and 54 working tax credits. We have no savings, no other income at all.

"It's like being penalised for having cancer, that is for sure.

"You hear there is so much unclaimed benefit - but if other people are being treated like this, then that is why they don't ask for it, if they have to go through all this rigmarole to get anything."

Barrie has worked 15 years in the care industry, and thinks he can now understand old folk's worries about what they are entitled to. "They say there is help out there for cancer patients but you can't get it."

He also felt the process is so "long-winded" that they had to work out their claims and entitlements themselves.

The couple has received great support from colleagues and management at work - run by Galleon Homes - and Barrie has been lifted by this: "You can be rock bottom, and they bring you back up."

Rosemary is now concerned he might try to work too soon - at the moment he has to carry around equipment to help drain fluid from his lungs.

"I am frightened now because of all this that he will go back to work earlier than he should, because you just can't cope on the money.

"We are still with the rent 300 in arrears, which we have to pay for."

Now they wonder if there are others facing similar difficulties.

Rosemary said: "I feel now we cannot fight any more. We have no fight left in us. There must be more help out there for cancer victims and their families."

Rother Council's David Herman, democratic services officer, said: "If anyone is having difficulty they can contact our community help point in Amherst Road, then one of our customers advisors will actually explain what the process is and if necessary get them through that process.

"The council would apologise if Mr and Mrs Jewell have had problems but won't comment on the individual case."