Thousands of cancer patients will lose up to £191 a year because of the government’s plans to allow benefits to rise more slowly than living costs – despite ministerial assurances that this cut would not affect disabled people.
Charities and experts have warned that the 20,000 cancer patients who receive employment and support allowance (ESA) would lose between £138 and £191 a year by 2015 under the proposals. In total over the next three years, cancer patients would lose an estimated £6m in ESA payments, says Macmillan Cancer Support.
The figures come as peers prepare to scrutinise the welfare benefits uprating bill, which caps a range of working-age benefits at 1% until 2015. The current inflation rate is 2.7%.
Ciarán Devane, chief executive of Macmillan, said: “We’re deeply concerned about the impact the welfare benefits uprating bill will have on cancer patients – especially as the government has pledged to protect them from this legislation.
