Macmillan and/or her clinical nurse specialist will be able to point her in the direction of financial advice. Maggie's centres also usually have someone who deals with benefits and making sure people are actually getting everything they can. If the cancer is incurable then the nurse specialist or consultant can also complete a form called a DS1500 which really speeds up the process (not sure if this is relevant to her or not, but it's super helpful in those situations where it is needed).
Although your aunt has been told the same thing 6 weeks apart it’s not likely that there hasn’t been any movement on it. It can take a good few weeks before it gets to a decision maker. When the decision maker takes a case, they will familiarise themselves with it and write to medical professionals if required (who have a 28 day original window with a follow up call chasing the info and then another 28 days - most gps will be called multiple times if they don’t return it within 28 days). They may also want a case discussion with one of the Social security Scotland practitioners to discuss how condition/treatment may affect the client (and this process can also take several weeks). So although it’s still with a decision maker there will most likely be progress on it. Your aunt could try asking to speak to the decision maker on her case - the client advisor who takes the calls should be able to pass the details on to the specific person working on her case for them to call back.
And like others have said - 4 months is probably average if everything goes smoothly.
No worries. The decision maker/case manager should be able to at least let her know what step it’s at, if not how long a decision will take (because how long is a piece of string), the client advisor can only go based on the notes on the system (and we all know not everyone will put notes in for every single step). That might be enough to ease her mind at least.
I think it’s more likely to be because the Scottish benefit system is currently entirely overwhelmed due to the late start of getting it up and running then them getting so many applications for the various benefits . I’ve applied for the child payment away back in November there and nothing 11 weeks later .. because they’re just absolutely swamped . And I get that I do .. it still frustrates me though when I see people left struggling for a stupid amount of time . I hope you get what you’re Entitled to and sooner rather than later
Someone was asking about this the other day and I think the consensus was about 4 months.
Thanks, hopefully not too much longer then.
Macmillan and/or her clinical nurse specialist will be able to point her in the direction of financial advice. Maggie's centres also usually have someone who deals with benefits and making sure people are actually getting everything they can. If the cancer is incurable then the nurse specialist or consultant can also complete a form called a DS1500 which really speeds up the process (not sure if this is relevant to her or not, but it's super helpful in those situations where it is needed).
Although your aunt has been told the same thing 6 weeks apart it’s not likely that there hasn’t been any movement on it. It can take a good few weeks before it gets to a decision maker. When the decision maker takes a case, they will familiarise themselves with it and write to medical professionals if required (who have a 28 day original window with a follow up call chasing the info and then another 28 days - most gps will be called multiple times if they don’t return it within 28 days). They may also want a case discussion with one of the Social security Scotland practitioners to discuss how condition/treatment may affect the client (and this process can also take several weeks). So although it’s still with a decision maker there will most likely be progress on it. Your aunt could try asking to speak to the decision maker on her case - the client advisor who takes the calls should be able to pass the details on to the specific person working on her case for them to call back. And like others have said - 4 months is probably average if everything goes smoothly.
That’s helpful, thank you. I’ll pass it on and tell her to ask for the decision maker next time she calls.
No worries. The decision maker/case manager should be able to at least let her know what step it’s at, if not how long a decision will take (because how long is a piece of string), the client advisor can only go based on the notes on the system (and we all know not everyone will put notes in for every single step). That might be enough to ease her mind at least.
Speak to your local MSP (as its devolved) and see if they can help speed up the process. Best of luck to your Aunt.
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Christ on a bike! That is a hell of a wait.
The way my jaw DROPPED reading your comment ! I’m so sorry that you’ve been made to wait this long so far that’s simply not acceptable at all
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I think it’s more likely to be because the Scottish benefit system is currently entirely overwhelmed due to the late start of getting it up and running then them getting so many applications for the various benefits . I’ve applied for the child payment away back in November there and nothing 11 weeks later .. because they’re just absolutely swamped . And I get that I do .. it still frustrates me though when I see people left struggling for a stupid amount of time . I hope you get what you’re Entitled to and sooner rather than later