Benefits call for cancer patients

Three quarters of cancer patients suffer financial hardship

People with cancer should get more help to meet the financial costs of dealing with the condition, campaigners say.

Macmillan Cancer Relief has called for a reform of the benefits system to make it easier for the UK's one million cancer patients to make claims.

It also said people should receive advice about what benefits they are entitled to when they are diagnosed.

Earlier research found 77% of patients suffer financial hardship but about £126m of benefits go unclaimed.

Many patients are entitled to claim disability living allowance (DLA), attendance allowance (AA), which is paid to people who need to look after themselves, income support or carer's allowance.

But a report published during the summer revealed more than half of all terminally ill patients do not claim DLA or AA.

Better Deal

Cancer patients often incur extra costs ranging from travel to child care, as well as suffering loss in income.

It is unacceptable that cancer patients should suffer the huge problem of debt, poverty or financial hardship Peter Cardy, of Macmillan Cancer Relief 'You have to beg and plead'

The charity said the benefits system worked against patients.

As part of the Better Deal campaign, which will see posters put up on billboards and bus shelter near hospitals with cancer units, the charity said the benefits system should be changed.

It said it wanted the three to six month qualifying period for cancer patients claiming DLA and AA waived.

The definition of terminal illness should be changed from six to 12 months so more patients can qualify for benefits, it added.

The charity also said the rule that means hospital in-patients lose their benefits after 28 days should be scrapped.

Macmillan chief executive Peter Cardy 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.

Government 'committed'

"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."

The campaign posters will be put on billboards and bus shelters

Shadow Health Minister John Baron said: "For many cancer patients, money concerns are a cause of stress when they least need it.

"The government must offer practical solutions, such as making sure the patients are aware of benefits when they are first diagnosed."

Richard Davidson, of Cancer Research UK said: "The financial hardship that can be faced by cancer patients is often overlooked when someone is first diagnosed with cancer.

"Although there are state benefits that cancer patients can claim, the benefits system is complicated.

"Any calls on the government to make access to benefits for cancer patients easier are welcomed by Cancer Research UK."

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions defended the benefits system, saying take up of DLA and AA had risen by 26% and 12% respectively over the last five years.

He added: "The government is committed to helping people with the extra costs arising from the effects of severe disability, and to raising awareness of the benefits available to them.

"Steps are being taken to modernise the claiming process for AA and DLA, 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."