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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Houghton-le-Spring carer: Bankruptcy 'only option' to money woes | Houghton-le-Spring carer: Bankruptcy 'only option' to money woes |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| Audrey Buckham said financial worries added to the stress of caring for her dying husband | Audrey Buckham said financial worries added to the stress of caring for her dying husband |
| A widow is calling for more financial support for carers after she said she was forced into bankruptcy while caring for her dying husband. | A widow is calling for more financial support for carers after she said she was forced into bankruptcy while caring for her dying husband. |
| Audrey Buckham, 64, of Houghton-le-Spring, which lies between Durham and Sunderland, had £10,000 of debt and recalled she and partner Eddie "cried together" about their finances while he was in the final stages of pancreatic cancer. | |
| Mr Buckham had been too ill to carry on working as a delivery driver and his wife also had to give up her job as an NHS administrator to care for him before he died in 2022. | Mr Buckham had been too ill to carry on working as a delivery driver and his wife also had to give up her job as an NHS administrator to care for him before he died in 2022. |
| The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said the government was looking at whether employers should offer leave to carers looking after the terminally ill. | The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said the government was looking at whether employers should offer leave to carers looking after the terminally ill. |
| Mrs Buckham said: "It got to the point where I couldn't go on anymore and I thought 'what am I going to do when Eddie dies and I don't even have his benefits'. | Mrs Buckham said: "It got to the point where I couldn't go on anymore and I thought 'what am I going to do when Eddie dies and I don't even have his benefits'. |
| "I made the decision I had to do something, so I went to Eddie and I said, 'We have got money problems and I'm going to have to declare myself bankrupt.' | "I made the decision I had to do something, so I went to Eddie and I said, 'We have got money problems and I'm going to have to declare myself bankrupt.' |
| "He felt as if it was his fault. He was really upset, so both of us cried together." | "He felt as if it was his fault. He was really upset, so both of us cried together." |
| The couple were in debt to the tune of £10,000 when they filed for bankruptcy | The couple were in debt to the tune of £10,000 when they filed for bankruptcy |
| She also said she was distressed when a bank shut down the couple's account because of the bankruptcy proceedings, meaning they could not access their money. | She also said she was distressed when a bank shut down the couple's account because of the bankruptcy proceedings, meaning they could not access their money. |
| During her husband's final weeks, Mrs Buckham had to help him set up a new account in his name and write a note to the bank to ensure she could access it after his death. | During her husband's final weeks, Mrs Buckham had to help him set up a new account in his name and write a note to the bank to ensure she could access it after his death. |
| She said the bankruptcy also caused complications accessing a funeral policy. | She said the bankruptcy also caused complications accessing a funeral policy. |
| "At one stage, I was worried I wouldn't be able to pay for his funeral," she said. | "At one stage, I was worried I wouldn't be able to pay for his funeral," she said. |
| "You shouldn't have to be worried about money when you're looking after someone who is dying." | "You shouldn't have to be worried about money when you're looking after someone who is dying." |
| The couple with their daughter Emma in happier times | The couple with their daughter Emma in happier times |
| Mrs Buckham has signed a petition set up by the charity Marie Curie calling for more support for carers of the terminally ill. | Mrs Buckham has signed a petition set up by the charity Marie Curie calling for more support for carers of the terminally ill. |
| A study by the University of Sheffield found an estimated 15% of 762,000 people who care for the terminally ill each year are living in poverty, with that figure rising in the months after bereavement. | A study by the University of Sheffield found an estimated 15% of 762,000 people who care for the terminally ill each year are living in poverty, with that figure rising in the months after bereavement. |
| Marie Curie is calling for changes to the benefit system including an increase in Carer's Allowance and for payments to continue for six months after bereavement. | Marie Curie is calling for changes to the benefit system including an increase in Carer's Allowance and for payments to continue for six months after bereavement. |
| The charity also wants carers to have a right to paid leave from work. | The charity also wants carers to have a right to paid leave from work. |
| In a statement the DWP said: "Carers may be entitled to bereavement support payments which can be claimed within three months of a death of a partner they were caring for. | In a statement the DWP said: "Carers may be entitled to bereavement support payments which can be claimed within three months of a death of a partner they were caring for. |
| "We know carers need help and support to return to work, which is why there is a range of support available from the department, including skills training, career advice, job search help and access to the flexible support fund to aid job entry." | "We know carers need help and support to return to work, which is why there is a range of support available from the department, including skills training, career advice, job search help and access to the flexible support fund to aid job entry." |
| Mrs Buckham is now out of bankruptcy and working again in the NHS. | Mrs Buckham is now out of bankruptcy and working again in the NHS. |
| She said: "There should be help there from the start for carers and families. | She said: "There should be help there from the start for carers and families. |
| "As soon as you're sick and you're told that you're terminally ill, you shouldn't have to worry about where the next penny is coming from." | "As soon as you're sick and you're told that you're terminally ill, you shouldn't have to worry about where the next penny is coming from." |
| Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. |