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Fuel payment to cancer patients

On Thursday 8 December 2011 it was announced that a winter fuel allowance payment will be available to patients being treated for cancer.

The scheme

The scheme provides a one-off payment of £100 to those patients who are eligible.  It is separate from any other support you may receive from the Social Protection Fund and will not affect any other benefits you are entitled to.  You may qualify for separate payments under each scheme.

Eligibility

Eligible patients are:

  • people who have received surgery for cancer within the qualifying period 13 June 2011 to 18 December 2011
  • people who have received radiotherapy, chemotherapy or palliative care for cancer within the qualifying period13 June 2011 to 18 December 2011

or

  • people for whom a decision is made, during the qualifying week of 12 to 18 December 2011, to provide treatment for cancer in the form of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or palliative care

There is no age limit on entitlement; the fuel payment applies to adults and children alike.

Qualifying

To qualify you must be registered with a GP and be resident in Northern Ireland.  This includes those residing in a residential home, nursing home or hospice.

You do not need to apply for this payment. You will be identified from your GP's records if you are eligible and you will be contacted by your GP if you qualify.

  • your GP will examine patient records and write to patients who qualify
  • you do not need to fill any complicated forms. Your GP will post a consent form for you to sign. The form will say that you are happy for your name, address, date of birth and Health and Care number to be used to make payment directly to you
  • payment will be made by cheque to you from the Business Services Organisation
  • information provided by you to the Business Services Organisation to enable this payment to be made to you will not be used for any other purpose

What do you need to do?

You should send the signed consent form in the accompanying addressed envelope  to:

Winter Fuel Payments Section
Business Services Organisation (BSO)
2 Franklin Street
Belfast
BT2 8DQ

Payment can only be made if you have signed the consent form and returned it in the envelope provided.

Additional information

Customers do not need to contact their local benefits office as the payment will be made automatically to those who qualify. However, you can get additional information by calling the telephone number below:

  • phone: 028 9032 1313

If English is not your first language, the letter and form can be requested from your GP in an alternative language. GPs should contact the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to request copies of the documents in an alternative language.

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