Superannuation

Hi there shaz. Go public for your treatment much more affordable. And talk to your bank about your mortgage and they have a financial hardship service you can use and check you don't have insurance with it for illness and or trauma. I took it out but got diagnosed during the waiting period so couldn't claim but you might have it ?? Also all your utiltiy bills you can get extensions on hope this helps. It's an incredibly stressful time that's for sure and with the financials on top of it it's bullshit.  I mentioned earlier about the loan service too. Like I said my son can get one for his expenses involving his apprenticeship and the govt gives student loans too so why can't there be something to help us as well. Margie ❤️

There should be access through Centrelink like a family tax payment and ceases at the 2yrs same as income protection for Breast Cancer Patients being different to sickness allowance and not a loan type arrangement to pay back. Some great points but I actually think it should be more an interim of up to 2yrs % of your full time salary exactly as income protection pays.  Majority of women unfortunately depending on their diagnosis and treatment are unable to go back in full capacity...I for one after 2yrs have to look at changing jobs due to the high physical/mental demand of my job. I've worked hard for 30yrs I've paid my taxes but there is zero assistance available when something like this happens. 

Had I still been married, this entire thing would have been so much easier on so many levels, financially, physically and mentally/emotionally. It's amazing what you do when you have to...I'm just grateful to be finally through my surgeries this year for prevention and moving on big time after 2 diagnosis and 6yrs on this path. 

Great to know, if I ever needed it for any medical reason, I have that inbuilt component in my Super, so I can claim again, no problems. They were amazing, they organized an Exercise Physiologist who I still see, an OT who has worked with me in terms of managing my job and rehabilitating. They even checked over my CV for applying in other areas. The support Ive received has been incredible, even when I needed more surgeries they wanted to organise a cleaner to come. They had so many ways in which they could help, this was through AMP. Cannot speak highly enough of them.

xx M

I had Trauma/Critical Illness insurance as part of my Life insurance linked to my superannuation. I had forgotten all about it and it was only when I called to cancel an appointment with my financial adviser because I was too busy having surgery that he asked if I had claimed? His office actually did all the work - I just had to sign the documents - and a few weeks later I got my lump sum payment which meant I could afford to pay someone else to do my job for several months (we are self employed), get a cleaner to do my house, pay all my medical bills and even pay out our mortgage. 

We have our own business so our insurance and superannuation has always been organised by our financial adviser. I never paid much attention to it all and just followed his advice. Incredibly I had questioned the need for Trauma/Critical illness insurance as I said that we had private health insurance (haha I had no idea how big the gap payments were going to be!) and income protection (forgot about the waiting period) so I didn't know what we would need the money for! I really can't believe how innocent I was. He explained that we would need money to keep our business going if we ever became ill or incapacitated. That was the only reason we got it and even then I still thought he was only recommending it so he got a bigger commission! 

I know I am incredibly fortunate to have had this and I can't imagine how difficult it would be to have financial worries in addition to cancer treatment. Like me, most people have no idea how expensive getting cancer is. I know I could have used the public system, our family and friends would have helped clean the house, and our business probably would have survived but our savings would have been totally depleted and our loans would have grown bigger during the time of less income.

But most of all  - the extra stress would have been another burden to carry.
I think there needs to be a simple system to help financially while you are undergoing treatment. I think it could be set up like the student loans for university. You get an immediate payment to use for your mortgage, medical bills, etc and then when you are back on your feet again your tax rate increases by 1 or 2% to pay it back if necessary. Most (not all) of us only need assistance for a short time and then we return to working and paying taxes! I would be wonderful to know that everyone had the help they need during this time. 

Hi @ShazS, you need to go through the public system and then you won't need to pay for radiation. You receive the same care according to so many posts on here. Perhaps speak to your treating Drs and request to be referred to save you some of the financial headache xx Lesley

@ShazS it is tough, I was on my own  with 2 kidd through 2 diagnosis and my last one was very difficult. Most supers dont have income protection built in. Vic super does which is an Education Fund. I had a 90 day waiting period but it didn't matter as i was a few months post treatment when i found it. It was an enormous amount of paperwork but they back paid me as they take it from cessation of work and income. I lived off savings til then. Its only 65% of your full time wage so its helped. Its for 2 years and mine ceases in January. I have no more assistance and have to return to work full time whether i am able or not ive been working 3 days. Financially its killed me and now have to move as i cant afford to live alone anymore. Its eaten into my settlement money and cannot purchase another home and due now to lack of income. It is a burden we dont need and it has to change. X 

Can't sleep think the aftermath of surgery ect just catching up on me. The stress levels are way up hubby goes back to work Tuesday, had to borrow more money to pay for radiotherapy ect unreal . We really all don't need this extra stress how can we try stay positive and get better when our poor partners are working helping with everything else plus the worry of the mortgage , bills, ect. I feel so helpless now I can't work and can't contribute to helping out. Gee I feel for you all out who have travel expenses , on your own ect. Shazx

Hi Barney , Which super are you with ? Shazx

You have my backing Ladies. Shaz x

Hi ive just been accepted for my income protection thank god .we are only on 1 wage to  but it does take 60days to find out which is ridiculous as BC is a legit or any othet form of cancer or illness it suxs. 
I hope you get an answer soon but be warned it does take a while and so much paperwork to do .i suggest if your applying for income protection maybe start appilcation asap but your super could be different to mine.

You can add it or you can take it out independently but like all insurances it costs.