You are fit to work, cancer victim told
CANCER victim Heather Goodman broke down in tears after being told by the benefits agency she was capable of work — despite undergoing gruelling chemotherapy.
The 49-year-old lollipop lady was diagnosed just after Christmas and had a mastectomy to remove one of her breasts.
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Lollipop lady Heather Goodman was told that her benefits were being stopped
She then started six months of chemotherapy and began her second round of treatment at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital yesterday.
But despite being too weak to drive, dress or go shopping herself, she was horrified to be told she was no longer entitled to benefits.
In a letter she was told her payments — which she is relying on to get her through the treatment — would be stopped immediately.
In addition to the sick notes from her doctor informing the JobCentre Plus of her condition, she was required to fill out an assessment form to see if she was fit for work, which missed its deadline by two days.
In a bombshell letter she was told: “A decision-maker has decided that you are capable of work...This means that you are no longer entitled to employment and support allowance or national insurance credits.”
Speaking to the Echo from a hospital waiting room as she prepared for her chemotherapy, Mrs Goodman, of Prince Charles Close, Exmouth, said: “I was absolutely horrified when I got the letter, and broke down in tears. I wish I could be able to go back to work and would love to be fit and healthy like I was. I loved my job and I carried on working as long as I physically could.
“But I have six months of chemo, which if successful will be followed by three months of radiotherapy and five years of checks and taking tablets every day.
“I am very tearful and weak at the moment and have watched all my hair fall out. I have hardly got any left and cannot drive or go shopping unless someone is with me now. The JobCentre has all my sick notes from the doctor so they know I have cancer.”
She added: “Sending the form was the last thing on my mind. I was not able to cook, drive or dress myself and had to rely on the help of my family for the first few weeks, but I still sent it off just two days after the deadline and they should have been more understanding.”
Mrs Goodman had been receiving £62 a week, paid fortnightly, and had been due for the next instalment tomorrow.
She said: “The money is to help me get to chemo, and for food.
“This is making it so much more stressful when my focus should be on getting better and stronger for my family.”
When she queried the decision over the phone Mrs Goodman said she was told there was nothing that could be done.
She said: “They definitely knew I had breast cancer. They have had the letters and forms from my doctor.”
Despite the difficulties over benefits Mrs Goodman said she had received “fantastic” support from the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital and the Force cancer charity.
She said: “You could not wish for nicer people and they have helped make things a lot easier for me. It is just a shame the same cannot be said about the job centre.
“I have three daughters and six grandchildren and it is my family that is keeping me fighting. But I have only just started my journey.”
Caroline Godden, one of her daughters, said: “I am totally disgusted at the way mum has been treated. I understand there are some flankers that cheat the system, but cancer is not something you play around with.
“She has been through such heartache in the last few months and this is causing extra stress that she does not need right now.”
A spokeswoman from the Department for Work and Pensions said it had no option but to stop benefit payments because it did not receive her forms in time to qualify for the Employment Support Allowance.
She added: “We have recently been in contact with Ms Goodman to see how this can be resolved.”
25 Comments
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by Jem Allaway, England
Friday, March 19 2010, 7:04PM
“My wife had exactly the same treatment from the benefits people after chemo. Now her immune system is down and she has had to take more time off work than ever before her chemo. She was sent back to work too early and now she is suffering. Faceless people behind decisions that they have no comprehension about, no conception of the damage they can do just to save a few quid. i HATE THEM WITH A PASSION.”
by sandhy, exeter
Friday, March 19 2010, 7:59AM
“Howling? Hmm - better than sniping. Gordon - I think you'll find, if YOU ever have to deal with cancer in your family, that it is VERY hard to keep one's 'wit' about one. It is extremely distressing, and one's priorities change radically.
Time scales mean nothing when you are dealing with a possible threat to one¿s life. Let's hope you never have to see how difficult it is to 'keep ones wits' about one in this kind of situation. I find that an insensitive remark. And I think you need to look carefully at yourself. The ¿utmost sympathy¿ would mean that the stuffed shirt who dealt with her application would THINK a little before denying her claim - perhaps a simple phone call to check why the claim was late? But then, that would take compassion wouldn¿t it.”
by jak flood, exeter
Thursday, March 18 2010, 8:35PM
“the way people are treated by members of the job centre is absolutely disguisting ! i my self am in full time employment but have a partner who is actively seeking work and regularly visits at the job centre.
Do they actually do any work?
they never recieve letters , computers are always down , i mean how many new systems can they have?
if you want to ask a question you are told to use a phone service and yet
theyll always "bend over backwards to help you get a job"- umm!!!!
and are forever losing important information and forms .
maybe they spend to much time on courses on how to treat all people the same !
this is not to sound predjudice in any way but surely this case would be completely different than some one who is able to claim sick benefit for being on drugs or alcohol .”
by M, exeter
Thursday, March 18 2010, 7:06PM
“terry, dont get me started on the bloody lazy english, totally agree with what you said about that”
by m, exeter
Thursday, March 18 2010, 6:53PM
“Terry, have you ever lost anyone or cared for anyone with cancer, i very much doubt it. I work with foreign dr's and they work bloody hard and are superb, so you think the asylum seekers are entitled to our money, you obviously do. get a life and have some thoughts for others.”
by caroline godden, exmouth
Thursday, March 18 2010, 3:58PM
“hi all i'm heathers daughter, i'm one of 3 girls, mum had this letter while in having the mastectomy, therefore only allowing here one day to get the form filled in and returned therefore masking it 2 days late, as the benefit office state, and yes with there being 3 of us we do help mum, now are there any other questions that need answering? oh by the way THANK YOU TO ALL who have offered kind words”
by WAYNE, Plymouth Cornwall
Thursday, March 18 2010, 3:42PM
“how on earth is this poor lady
supposed to live on that money??
just cant believe what i am reading it makes me so angry.
best wishes to Heather.”
by M James, Central Exeter
Thursday, March 18 2010, 3:36PM
“Gordon, the final paragraph only became available online this afternoon, after myself and a few others had already passed comment on the abridged version.
Regarding the expiration of the timeframe for making a claim, I see that as nothing but bureaucratic nonsense. I wouldn't support retrospective claims, but if you're ill and needing to receive payment then no time limit should be imposed.”
by Gordon, Exeter
Thursday, March 18 2010, 3:27PM
“When everyone has finished howling, have they read the final paragraph? - "A spokeswoman from the Department for Work and Pensions said it had no option but to stop benefit payments because it did not receive her forms in time to qualify for the Employment Support Allowance".
Mrs Goodman deserves the utmost sympathy, but this is not a case of applying for benefits and being rejected; she was denied benefits for failing to send in the application before the time limit.
Of course it's difficult to keep track of paperwork when you're worried and ill - but wasn't there anyone in her family with the wit to keep the application in order?”
by Jo, Exeter
Thursday, March 18 2010, 3:22PM
“Disgusting! People like Heather and many others should never be treated in this mannor, I can understand that her application was late and that strict guidelines are to be upheld but these guidelines only come about by people abusing the system, yes not all single moms are responsable but I know of a great deal who are and squeeze every penny they can out of the government! It's disgusting and it needs to end! I often ask myself why I should even bother going to work especially when I consider that one day I shall have children of my own but will be forced straight back into work to pay my way!?! Why should some people be allowed to spend all day with there kids when I cant?!?!?!”