Cancer patients at risk of losing their homes due to Government cuts, charity warns

Macmillan Cancer Support says cuts to ESA could leave 10% of people with cancer struggling to pay for their home

The charity Macmillan Cancer Support has said that from 2017 those who are judged as too ill to work, but who may be capable of work at some time in the future, will lose £30 a week (Rex Features)

Cancer patients could be at risk of losing their homes if the Government’s cuts to the employment and support allowance (ESA) go ahead, a charity has warned.

From 2017, people judged as too ill to work, but who may be capable of work at some time in the future, will lose £30 a week, the charity Macmillan Cancer Support said.

The charity canvassed almost 1,000 people with cancer and found that 10 per cent would be unable – or would struggle – to pay their rent or mortgage if they lost that amount a week.

Government figures show that at least 3,200 people with cancer currently receive the “work-related activity” element of the ESA. Those on the benefits receive £102.15 a week if they are too ill to work but may be able to work at some point in the future.

Macmillan said that many people with cancer will receive the benefit at some point during their lives.

A government spokesman said: “The vast majority of people with cancer will continue to receive additional top-up payments and nobody claiming ESA is required to get a job.”

Press Association