The Government is changing the benefits system. Macmillan agrees the system is too complicated and needs simplifying. But we’re worried the changes are going to leave more people with cancer facing poverty.
What is Macmillan worried about?
Firstly, we want people who are out of work because of cancer to get financial support for as long as they need it. The Government is planning on limiting this support to one year for some people. But we know that people with cancer often take longer than twelve months to return to work.
Secondly, people shouldn’t be treated differently in the benefits system because of the type of treatment they receive. At the moment only patients receiving non-oral chemotherapy automatically receive financial support, because of the effects of the treatment. Oral chemotherapy and radiotherapy can have similar effects, yet patients receiving these treatments may have to do job interview practice to get their benefit.
Finally, people with cancer should be able to get financial support, as soon as they need it, to help them with the extra costs they face because of their cancer. Under the new system, people would have to wait six months before they could even apply for this support. But we know people with cancer face immediate costs including parking, new clothes (due to dramatic weight changes) and bigger heating bills.
What is Macmillan doing about this?
We’re campaigning to put the fair into welfare. Email your MP and ask them to speak up in Parliament on behalf of people with cancer. On the first day of our campaign over 500 people took action. We want to tell every MP about these issues.
If you want further information on the changes to the benefits system you can read more here.
