Cancer patients missing cash help

Ministers say they are looking at improvements

Tens of thousands of terminally ill cancer patients are missing out on cash benefits because they do not know what they are entitled to, a report says.

The public accounts committee says more than three quarters of cancer patients are not told about the financial help available to them.

This "scandalous" omission means they are missing out on up to £200m a year, the Commons spending watchdog adds.

Ministers say they are looking at improving the system.

These people who are dying, they've got to be told that if they are in financial difficulties they needn't worry, because there is financial help available Edward Leigh

Public accounts committee chairman Edward Leigh told BBC News people who were dying should not have to worry about money unnecessarily.

He said: "Terminally ill patients are entitled to financial support or some financial support, which I, myself, was not aware of, but apparently three quarters of them are not told about it either, so this is quite clearly a very serious situation."

He added: "These people who are dying, they've got to be told that if they are in financial difficulties they needn't worry, because there is financial help available."

Mr Leigh said the money would help patients and their families get over the "desperate problem of them dying from cancer" and mean they did not have to worry in their final days about funeral arrangements and other financial worries.

Government departments

A Macmillan Cancer Relief spokesman said the lack of information given to terminally ill cancer patients was "outrageous".

He said: "The problem really is one that falls between departments. So the Department for Work and Pensions, which is responsible for the benefits, says it's the job of health; the Department of Health says it's the job of the Department for Work and Pensions.

"Nobody has picked up the ball and taken responsibility for it and somebody must."

It is astonishing how long this has gone on Andrew Lansley

Conservative health spokesman Andrew Lansley said changes should be introduced as soon as possible.

He told BBC News: "It is astonishing how long this has gone on. Macmillan cancer care - credit to them - have been highlighting this for some time.

"I hope that through legislation - the Health Bill before Parliament now - we get a measure which ensures that where terminally ill patients are known to the health service, that they are also identified to the Benefits Agency so if they require attendance and require financial support that is immediately assessed for them."

The government said health and benefits ministers were already looking at how changes could be made.

It said the Department for Work and Pensions had already made special arrangements to fast-track claims and make immediate payments for people not expected to live more than six months.