Q&A

What is universal credit?

Merges Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, Incomebased Jobseeker’s Allowance, Incomerelated Employment and Support Allowance and Working Tax Credit and is being rolled out gradually. The issue for cancer patients?

People with life-threatening illnesses are being forced to wait five weeks for vital cash they need immediately. Also, they have to do a complicated online application, which many struggle with. And for disabled people?

The Work Allowance aims to boost job incentives. But claimants need a Work Capability Assessment, which awards benefits to those unable to work.

So workers could be around £300 a month worse off. Even those who do get the allowance could be down £200.

Also, the Severe Disability Premium has been removed, which can leave people who do not have a carer and are unable to work £180 worse off.