Terminally ill are still being failed after yet another delay
TERMINALLY ill people have been let down again after another delay in the fight for fairer access to benefits, campaigners said yesterday.
Charities have been calling for a change in the law to ensure anyone with a terminal diagnosis can have their claim for financial support fast-tracked.
But more than 18 months after the Department for Work and Pensions announced a review of the system, it has still not been published.
Labour MP Jessica Morden’s bill calling for changes was due for a second reading in Parliament today, but has now been postponed due to the pandemic.
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Ms Morden said: “That’s the right thing to do. But dying people have already endured a long and frustrating wait for action and don’t have time to wait until the pandemic is over to get the fair access to support they need.”
Currently terminally ill people can only get fast access to benefits if a doctor states they have less than six months to live.
But charities Marie Curie and the Motor Neurone Disease Association said many people with unpredictable conditions cannot meet this requirement.
Estimating that 10 people die every day while waiting for a benefits decision, they are calling on the Government to scrap the six-month rule.
The Daily Express joined the fight with its Compassion The Dying crusade.
Former work and pensions secretary Amber Rudd announced a review of the system in July 2019 after reading the Express’s heart-wrenching stories of those affected. But despite ministers promising last year that a change
For would be brought forward shortly, the review’s findings have still not been published.
It is understood it has been completed but is currently awaiting approval from the Treasury.
Ms Rudd said yesterday: “We have to do better at supporting people whose lives are coming to an end. Every day left is precious to each person and their family. Those days need to be free of negotiations with DWP. I urge speed and action now.”
Mark Jackson, policy manager at Marie Curie, said: “This is not one of those things we can stick a pin in and wait for Covid to be over. Every day we wait, more people are going to get a terminal diagnosis and have to struggle with the benefits system.
“That means more people dying without seeing the change they’ve campaigned for.”
Susie Rabin, from the MND Association, said: “We’re really disappointed. Over 3,000 people [with motor neurone disease] have died since the review was announced.”
A DWP spokesperson said: “Terminal illness is devastating, and our priority is dealing with people’s claims quickly and compassionately.
“Throughout the pandemic we have continued to ensure fasttrack access to benefits for those nearing the end of their lives.”