Finances

What financial help can I get if I can’t work?

If having a SCAD has had an impact on your ability to work, you may be struggling financially. While we cannot provide advice, we suggest that you find out about your rights here:

For information about Employment Support Allowance for periods of short-term illness.

You can also talk to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau.

The Federation of Small Businesses is an organisation that provides support to small businesses.

Disability Rights UK provide a guide to applying for a personal independence payment as well as other help.

Turn2Us is a national charity helping people when times get tough. They provide financial support to help people get back on track.

And the closed online SCAD community on Facebook is often a good place to ask questions.

Mortgage/critical illness cover

If you took out a Critical Illness policy as part of your mortgage arrangement before you had your SCAD, it is worth checking your policy wording very carefully. Some SCAD survivors have had their mortgages discharged completely. Others have not – you just have to check the small print.

You must also consider that if you obtain a pay-out of this kind, you may find it difficult to secure another mortgage in the future.

Life insurance

Some providers will not sell a life insurance policy to someone diagnosed with SCAD. Other less risk-adverse providers will do so, but the premiums charged may be prohibitive.

Travel insurance

We recommend that when buying travel insurance SCAD patients declare that you have had a SCAD.

SCAD has an association with recurrence – it’s not a high risk but it’s there. If you tick the box saying you don’t have a problem, your insurer won’t cover you if you have a recurrence. 

Insurers may list SCAD as a cause of heart attacks or you may need to tick the ‘heart disease’ box. If they don’t list SCAD and you want to discuss it with them, you may need to call them rather than fill in an online form.

If you find any additional useful resources please email us so that we can review them.  Please also let us know if you discover any broken web links.