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Responding to the Report Stage and Third Reading of the Welfare Reform Bill, Ciarán Devane, Chief Executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, says:
'We are pleased that the government has indicated that it is prepared to listen to the disability sector on the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Any extension to the time cancer patients have to wait before they are able to receive the PIP will be devastating for many cancer patients, who already struggle financially. 'As the Prime Minister highlighted in PMQs yesterday, Macmillan has worked closely with the government on a number of issues around its welfare reforms, particularly on the Professor Harrington Review, and will continue to do so. 'However, we still have concerns about plans to time-limit the contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) to twelve months. We will continue to urge the government to amend this proposal so that cancer patients and their families are given the support they need. We look forward to working with Secretary of State and his team going forward.'
'We are pleased that the government has indicated that it is prepared to listen to the disability sector on the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Any extension to the time cancer patients have to wait before they are able to receive the PIP will be devastating for many cancer patients, who already struggle financially.
'As the Prime Minister highlighted in PMQs yesterday, Macmillan has worked closely with the government on a number of issues around its welfare reforms, particularly on the Professor Harrington Review, and will continue to do so.
'However, we still have concerns about plans to time-limit the contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) to twelve months. We will continue to urge the government to amend this proposal so that cancer patients and their families are given the support they need. We look forward to working with Secretary of State and his team going forward.'
Sarah Ross, Senior Media & PR Officer of Macmillan Cancer Support 020 7840 4722 (out of hours 07801 307068)
*The Welfare Reform Bill’s Report Stage took place in Parliament on Wednesday 15th June.
After applying for ESA some people living with cancer will be placed in the ESA Work-Related Activity Group (WRAG). This means they are required to do work-related activities in order to receive their benefit. The Government is proposing that people who claim ESA based on their National Insurance contributions (contributions-based) and are placed in the WRAG should only be able to claim this benefit for 12 months before it is means-tested. After one year a claimant whose partner works more than just 24hours or earns only £149 per week would lose all of their ESA.
People living with cancer who are placed in the ESA Support Group don’t have to carry out work-related activities to get their benefit. People in the Support Group will not be affected by this change.
Macmillan’s healthcare professionals are clear that many people living with cancer will need longer than 12 months before they are ready to return to work. The Government’s own statistics show that 94% of people with cancer who are placed in the WRAG need ESA for longer than 12-months.
Macmillan believes that people with cancer who have worked and paid into the system before becoming ill should be supported, without risk of their ESA being cut after a year.
Macmillan estimates that 7,000 cancer patients will be affected by this change. This figure is based on estimates of the number of cancer patients on contributory benefits who are in the Work-Related Activity Group of ESA or currently claiming Incapacity Benefit but will be placed in the Work-Related Activity Group following the reassessment of all Incapacity Benefit claimants.
In response to a recent parliamentary question the Government estimated that 94% of all contributory ESA claimants in the Work-Related Activity Group will require ESA for longer than one year.[1]
The Government is proposing that DLA should be replaced with a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment (PIP). As part of the new benefit the Government wants to double the period that someone is required to demonstrate need before they make a claim for benefit from 3 months to 6 months. However, cancer treatment results in a sudden onset of daily living and/or mobility needs. The need for help with daily living and getting around can start immediately and escalate rapidly. Making cancer patients wait for 6 months before they can even apply for vital support is simply unfair.
Macmillan believes that people who experience a sudden onset of debilitation which is likely to be long-term should be entitled to apply for PIP as soon as their support needs arise.