Even the dying forced to wait

Universal credit delay of 5 weeks for cancer patients Benefit could leave the disabled up to £300 short

THOUSANDS of cancer patients, including those terminally ill, face hardship due to universal credit payment delays, a charity warns.

A separate report found disabled people may be up to £300 worse off a month, while a watchdog blamed UC for “unacceptable hardship”.

It came as our petition to halt and replace the benefit passed 41,400 signatures.

Macmillan Cancer Support said UC rules mean patients face a five-week wait before receiving money. They also have to apply online

WARNING Lynda Thomas of MCS or travel to Job Centres. The charity said 26,000 patients face hardship. Lynda Thomas, its chief, said: “It is unacceptable to force patients to risk infection at Job Centres, log on from hospital and wait more than a month for vital support, even at the end of their lives. “The system is failing people with cancer.” Meanwhile, Citizens Advice found a significant drop in financial help for single disabled people. It said those in work need to prove they are unfit to work to get the money meant for them. CA’s Gillian Guy added: “Even when disabled people do get support meant for them, whether in work or not, they can be hundreds of pounds worse off a month than the previous system.” The Public Accounts Committee said the Department for Work and Pensions is ignoring issues. It said: “UC is causing unacceptable hardship. “[DWP’s] apparent determination to turn a deaf ear to the concerns of claimants, frontline organisations and Parliament is of real concern.”