We may be a good 12 years into the 21st Century, but in this day and age cancer patients are still struggling to heat their homes.
When Pauline Harden, 54, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2008, she had to quit her full- time job, having worked since she was a 16-year-old.
Since then Mrs Harden (pictured left), who had worked her entire life and lives by herself, has had to scrape by on Income Support and Disability Living Allowance totalling £250 a week, as well as Cold Weather payments of £25 a week.
Her power company has given her a monthly bill maximum of £48, but her finances still cause her no end of worry.
Her limited incomings have to fund not only her normal costs, but also transport to and from hospital, as well as parking there, not to mention supplements to improve her health and new clothing due to weight loss.
Now with the onset of extreme cold this month and sharply rising utility costs, Mrs Harden, who is weak from undergoing chemotherapy for the past 20 weeks, is barely even to keep the central heating on in her home.
The benefits system is under the spotlight nationally, with the Welfare Reform Bill currently undergoing debate in Westminster.
Mrs Harden said: “It’s not just about paying for bills, it’s the worry that goes with it.
“It’s an understanding of what you go through. Macmillan have been absolutely fantastic with me from day one.
“They filled out forms for me, they’ve given me two grants totalling £500 in the four years since I was diagnosed. I couldn’t have done it without them.
“But the rate of benefits for us cancer sufferers is set at poverty level. Even with the Cold Weather payments, it’s certainly still not enough in temperatures such as this.
“And to think that I’ve worked since I was 16.
“If I was to send a message to the Government, it would be to have a benefits system for the people who really need it. It’s about improving quality of life.” Macmillan has given more than £67,000 in financial grants to 215 cancer patients in Bedfordshire.
One in four were helped with their energy bills.
The charity’s general manager, Carol Fenton, (pictured) said: “To feel too scared to put the heating on because of soaring energy bills is an unacceptable reality for thousands of vulnerable cancer patients who feel the cold more and spend long periods of time at home.
“It is shocking that people who are diagnosed with this devastating disease are still relying on charity help to heat their freezing homes.”
There are a range of benefits available for people with cancer, the main ones being Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
A Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman said: “We improved the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) for ESA so that the vast majority of cancer patients would go directly into the support group.
“We are currently consulting on further improvements to the WCA and are working closely with Macmillan to ensure we get the support we offer cancer patients right.
“Depending on their circumstances, people may also be eligible for things like Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Tax Credits.
“People who are terminally ill are fast-tracked to the ESA Support Group and given the highest rate of the care component under DLA.”
Also, as part of the Warm Home Discount scheme, participating electricity suppliers are providing financial support to people on low income and vulnerable customers.
Consumers who may be eligible could include those on low income with a disability, long-term illness or those with young children, but the actual criteria used will vary as it depends on which electricity supplier you are with.
To find out about the help available to cancer patients, or to make a donation to support Macmillan’s work, call freephone 0808 808 0000 or visit www.macmillan.org.uk
