Cancer patients face poverty as benefits 'hard to access'

Last updated at 11:45 09 November 2004


More than three-quarters of cancer patients may be suffering financial hardship because they have difficulty accessing benefits, campaigners warned today.

Many patients are eligible to claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Attendance Allowance (AA) and income support or Carer's Allowance for help with care and living costs.

But Macmillan Cancer Relief said that more than half of people who died from cancer each year - nearly 83,000 - never receive the benefits to which they may be entitled.

It is estimated that £126.5 million in disability benefits goes unclaimed by people who go on to die of cancer.

In its survey of around 200 patients, 77% said their cancer had led to financial difficulties.

Macmillan has launched its Better Deal campaign to expose the problem of financial hardship and raise awareness of the help available to patients.

The charity called on the Government to make sure every cancer patient is offered specialist benefits advice when they are diagnosed.

It also wants the law changed to waive the three to six month qualifying period for cancer patients claiming DLA and AA.

The definition of terminal illness should change from six to 12 months so more patients can qualify for benefits, Macmillan said.

The charity's report outlined how loss of income, coupled with the extra costs of travelling for treatment, can leave patients crippled with debt.

One patient, Lyndsay Baker, from Luton, was diagnosed with breast cancer while studying for a degree last year.

The 37-year-old said: "I took on several jobs to make ends meet but eventually felt too ill to work.

"With no income, extra costs for things like prescription charges meant I struggled with bills.

"I tried to stay positive but how could I when I was worried sick about money?"

Another patient Ray Strachan, from Huntly, Aberdeenshire, said he found it very hard and stressful to access benefits.

"My Macmillan social worker told me I was eligible and helped me fill out the forms.

"Even so I was rejected the first time and so I went to appeal and won.

"You have to fight for everything," the 50-year-old said.

Macmillan said a combination of lack of knowledge, embarrassment or the difficulties in making a claim stopped patients accessing benefits.

Peter Cardy, Macmillan chief executive, said: "It is unacceptable that cancer patients should suffer the huge problem of debt, poverty or financial hardship at a time when they are most vulnerable, especially when help is available if only they knew about it.

"This is why Macmillan wants a better financial deal for people dealing with cancer and to see changes in the law so that claiming benefit is made much easier."

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said the Government was committed to helping people with extra costs.

"Steps are being taken to modernise the claiming process for Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance, including simplified and shorter claim forms.

"We already have introduced a system to fast-track payments to customers who are not expected to live more than six months.

"This is working well and claims for these are turned around quickly.

"We want anyone who thinks they may be entitled to DLA or AA to make a claim.

"In fact take-up of DLA and AA has increased, with a respective 26% and 12% rise in DLA and AA over the last five years."

More information about the Macmillan campaign is available by calling 0800 500 800 or visiting wwww.macmillan.org.uk/abetterdeal.

Most watched News videos