Cancer patients lose out on £8m of benefits

Macmillan Cancer Support criticised the "confusing and complex" benefits system that leaves many cancer patients living in poverty and prevents them claiming the money they are entitled to once they become terminally ill.

Macmillan's Unclaimed Millions report found 32 per cent of terminal cancer patients in Scotland died without receiving either Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Attendance Allowance (AA) last year, worth 70.35 a week.

These are benefits terminally-ill cancer patients are automatically entitled to, regardless of their income or circumstances.

The charity also said the problem is just the "tip of the iceberg", claiming many more non-terminal patients are also failing to claim benefits.

Macmillan said some patients do not know they are eligible, others are put off by the long and difficult application process and some are worried about the stigma of applying for benefits.

It is calling for all cancer patients to be automatically given access to financial advice on diagnosis, and as their condition progresses.

Allan Cowie, Macmillan's general manager for Scotland, said: "The benefits system is confusing and complex and, for someone who is unwell, it can seem impossible to navigate.

"Money worries are a huge source of stress to people, impacting on the quality of their lives and on their health."

He added: "The last thing people should be worrying about towards the end of their lives is money."

Across the whole of the UK last year, people dying of cancer failed to claim 90.8m of benefits.

The figures show an improvement on the last Macmillan survey in 2004, which revealed 126.5m of unclaimed benefits.

Since then, Macmillan has established a network of financial advice services across Scotland, which have helped 20,000 people claim more than 70m in benefits.

In response to these latest figures the charity has also now created an online guide, Benefits Made Clear, which it hopes will encourage more people to claim.

Helen Sinclair, a benefits advisor for Macmillan in Edinburgh, said: "Access to the right financial information is so important.

"These are benefits that people affected by cancer are entitled to so it is important they are able to access them."

ENTITLEMENT FOR CANCER VICTIMS

PEOPLE with terminal cancer in Scotland are automatically entitled to 70.35 a week.

Under-65s with difficulties walking can also apply for mobility allowance of 18.65 or 49.10 a week.

All cancer patients may be able to claim these as well as Council Tax benefit or Working Tax Credits.

Advice is available at www.macmillan.org.uk/financialsupport

'Even earning a full salary I can claim allowances'

HEATHER Mitchell, 50, discovered just before Christmas that the cancer she has been battling since 2002 is terminal.

Although still earning a full salary from her job with Royal Bank of Scotland, the single mother of an 18-year-old daughter now receives 70.35 a week disability living allowance.

"I thought because I work full-time and still have a salary coming in that I wouldn't be eligible," said Ms Mitchell, who plans to return to work after completing another course of chemotherapy. "I would never have known about it if it wasn't for Macmillan."

An adviser from the charity visited Ms Mitchell in January and helped her fill in the 20-page document. The money is helping with her fuel bills, which are three times higher than normal this year, and travel costs to and from hospital.

"When you've had chemotherapy you feel the cold all the time," she explains. "People come round and say my house is really hot, while I'm practically sitting on the radiator."

Right now, Ms Mitchell is also trying to save: "If … I can't work, it'll help to pay the mortgage. I also don't have any care needs at the moment but I might do in the future.

"I hope to be around for some time yet, but I don't know what's going to happen."