Patients to get advice on benefits

Published on Tuesday 19 May 2009 09:42

CANCER patients missing out on thousands of pounds in benefits are to get help in a deal between the council and a charity.

Some 500,000 has been invested in a scheme which will see the council and Macmillan Cancer Support offer advice to everyone who has had to give up work after a cancer diagnosis.

Councillors will hear today that millions of pounds are unclaimed across the Lothians by people who cannot face filling in pages of forms or do not know what options are available to them. The City of Edinburgh Macmillan Welfare Rights Partnership will identify statutory benefits for cancer patients and hardship grants others may be entitled to.

The charity's director for Scotland, Elspeth Atkinson, said: "For many people who are diagnosed with cancer dealing with the financial problems it brings can be almost as difficult as coping with the illness itself.

"Also, many people affected by cancer won't have had contact with the benefits system before and will need assistance to access everything they are entitled to."

If approved today as expected, the service should be in place by July and will receive charity funding for at least three years.

Past studies by Macmillan have found that, nationwide, more than 120 million a year goes unclaimed in the UK. Further surveys revealed Scots were less likely than those in the rest of the UK to investigate avenues of funding.

The 150,000-a-year funding will secure a project manager and three other staff, who will track down cancer patients in the city as quickly as possible then provide support throughout their treatment and recovery.

The project will be reviewed after two-and-a-half years to see what additional benefits have been made up in that time.

'The last thing you want is money worry'

WHEN 60-year-old Angus Grant was diagnosed with lung cancer last year, filling in forms and making endless phone-calls wasn't high on his agenda.

Mr Grant, a former actor – he has appeared in Taggart and Monarch of the Glen – and former concierge at the Carlton Hotel on North Bridge, was forced to give up work.

He was fortunate to come across Macmillan and the help it offered, and he now receives income support thanks to the charity making him aware of it and helping him apply.

"The last thing you want to be doing is worrying about money. I think it's great news that this service is being strengthened," said Mr Grant, of Polwarth.