Charities voice fears about impact of welfare reforms on cancer patients

A group of 30 charities has written to the government to express their concerns about the impact of planned welfare reforms on cancer sufferers.

The open letter to work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith was published in the Guardian and warns that people with cancer could be left without the financial support they need.

Writing to coincide with the second reading of the welfare reform bill, the charities said they welcomed proposals to simplify the "confusing and bureaucratic" welfare system.

However, they said: "We are extremely concerned that changes to disability benefits will mean that a significant number of people with cancer will be left without vital financial support at a time when they need it the most."

In particular, campaigners warned that people with cancer could have to wait six months before claiming the new personal independence payment.

They also called for changes to the rules surrounding employment and support allowance, which currently mean that a patient's choice of treatment can affect how their eligibility is determined.

In response, a spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions said the existing welfare system was "not working", adding that it is committed to offering help to those in need.