A charity has warned that the long waits for financial assistance from the government are having a negative impact on the physical and mental health of tens of thousands of cancer sufferers in England and Wales.
According to Macmillan Cancer Support, many people with long-term physical and mental health illnesses or disabilities who have trouble getting around or performing certain daily duties are waiting up to five months to get their personal independence payment (PIP).
The "awful" scenario, according to health officials, had gotten worse as thousands of cancer patients grew more desperate for assistance.
According to research conducted for the charity, among cancer patients who receive PIP, more than one-fourth (29%) have noticed a decline in their physical or emotional health as they wait to receive it. For those who wait more than 11 weeks to get their first payment, this jumps to over 50% (46%) of the total population.
Others are already in debt, while some have been forced to borrow money or utilize savings to pay their expenses.
People who work, have money, or receive the majority of other benefits can still apply for PIP. It can be worth between £64.50 and £92.40 per week for mobility and up to £92.40 per week for assistance with activities of daily living.
A cancer sufferer may lose up to £156.90 per week for each week if their claim is delayed. Over the current average wait of 18 weeks, this results in a loss of over £3,000 in revenue.
In response to reports that PIP delays are causing patients to incur debt, forgo meals, and postpone medical visits owing to transport expenses, Macmillan is launched the "Pay PIP Now" campaign. It requests that ministers reduce the current average PIP wait times from 18 weeks to 12.
According to research, the majority of cancer patients experience financial hardship as a result of their diagnosis, including lost wages due to treatment-related absences from work, higher heating costs to stay warm, and appointment-related expenses.
More than 150,000 calls from individuals in need have been answered by Macmillan's help line so far this year, the organisation said, including more than 34,000 questions about benefits.
It said that this is a rise in calls of over 4,500 (15%) during the same period in 2017.
The head of Macmillan's campaigns and public relations, Ciarán Norris, declared: "The UK government must act immediately to cut PIP waiting periods in England and Wales.
"It's intolerable that those who are battling cancer must wait for months on end before receiving the assistance with money they much require.
We are currently in a dire situation that requires audacious action to match the magnitude of the problem people are dealing with. It is not appropriate to normalize lengthy waiting periods for a benefit that makes the lives of many individuals living with cancer easier.
To get PIP waiting periods down to 12 weeks, we're urging the government to act more quickly and aggressively. With specific timelines and delivery objectives, we want to see an urgent plan to address waiting times.
A representative for the Department of Work and Pensions said: "We understand how challenging and life-altering a cancer diagnosis can be. For this reason, we're committed to give people the support they're entitled to as fast as possible, and we will backdate awards to ensure no one loses out.
We provide assistance to millions of people every year, and we keep enhancing our PIP service by adding more staff and allowing for phone and video inspections. As a result, the length of the process has decreased from last year by eight weeks.
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