Commenting on the ongoing debate surrounding to the Welfare
Reform Bill, Owen Sharp, Chief Executive at The Prostate Cancer
Charity, reiterated the call from 29 leading cancer charities,
including the Charity and Macmillan, that the Employment Support
Allowance should not be capped at 12 months before being means
tested. He explains: "The changes to disability benefits will mean
that a significant number of people with cancer will be left
without vital financial support at a time when they need it the
most.
"Under these changes, people who claim Employment Support
Allowance (ESA) will be hit especially hard - only being able to
receive this support for one year without being means tested. For
many cancer patients it takes longer than a year to return to work.
In fact, the Department of Work and Pensions' own statistics show
that 75 per cent of cancer patients who will be affected by this
policy, will still need ESA after one year. Understandably, this is
due to the length of time people with cancer experience the
debilitating effects of cancer or its treatment and the multiple
barriers they face in getting back to work. The current proposals
in the Welfare Reform Bill will discriminate against cancer
patients and should be amended."