AN advice service has been launched to help patients coping with long-term illnesses and assist their families in claiming financial support.

Based on the successful Macmillan Cancer Support benefits service, which has secured £60 million for cancer patients since it began, the scheme will involve Glasgow City Council, the Pension Service and the NHS.

The Long Term Conditions Financial Inclusion Partnership aims to ease the financial stress placed on people dealing with a range of long-term disabling conditions and is also supported by Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland, Glasgow Housing Association and Job Centre Plus.

Gordon Matheson, the city council’s treasurer, said: “When someone experiences a serious long-term condition, such as heart disease or a respiratory illness, their life changes fundamentally.

“Diagnosis can have a major affect on a family’s income at a time when people may struggle to access benefits.

“By introducing very tightly focused support that takes into account the customer’s condition – and the impact it has on every aspect of their life – we can ease that stress and help them to concentrate solely on improving their health.

“Targeted help for vulnerable people is a key priority for the council and I am certain this project can build on the success of our partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support to help thousands more protect both their health and their wealth.”

The Macmillan scheme was founded in Lanarkshire six years ago and has since helped 20,000 people affected by cancer.

It was expanded 12 months ago to cover the Glasgow city area, giving support to a further 1200 cancer patients, their families and carers and raising £4m in Government financial aid.

Benefits staff are based with Glasgow City Council’s revenue and benefits team but make home visits and take part in outreach work at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, the Macmillan Cancer Information Service in Easterhouse and at the New Victoria and Stobhill hospitals.

In addition to identifying the welfare benefits and hardship grants patients may be entitled to, staff also fill in the complex forms and will appeal if their client’s application is unsuccessful.

Elspeth Atkinson, Macmillan Cancer Support’s director for Scotland, said: “Since it was established just over a year ago, the Macmillan Benefits Service Glasgow has made a huge impact.

“By helping people to maximise their income, this service aims to make life more tolerable for people affected by cancer.

“We know that our financial advice services are highly effective and we are convinced that this type of help will also be of great benefit to people with long-term medical conditions, their families and carers.”

According to the charity’s website, the first specialist Macmillan welfare rights officer in the UK was employed in

Lanarkshire five years ago.

There are currently 50 officers working throughout Scotland who have helped patients claim £30m in benefits.

‘He would visit whatever the weather’

CASE STUDY

Billy McLaren was the linchpin of his family; a fit and active father who had worked every day of his adult life to support his wife and two sons.

However, when the then 68-year-old was diagnosed with kidney cancer, his pension did not stretch to cover the extra expenses.

Fortunately, Macmillan Cancer Support benefits specialist Henri Krishna stepped in to help Mr McLaren and his wife Elise, 68.

Billy died in August last year, just six months after being diagnosed, but Elise says the extra help from Henri made that terrible time easier.

“I worked for Boots all my days and Billy had worked from the age of 15. Both our sons worked too so we had never any need or thought of benefits,” Mrs McLaren said.

After Elise was widowed, Henri continued to give advice about the support to which she was entitled.

“The benefits forms are very complex and you’re not in the state of mind to do that sort of thing at that time,” Mrs McLaren added.

Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral of Billy, father to Colin and Craig.

Colin, 41, added: “Having Henri to help really made the difference to mum and dad. He would cycle out to visit no matter what the weather. He was fantastic.”