Sunday 15 December 2024
Pictured: Anna Thompson who is living with cancer this winter
Our CEO, Dame Laura Lee, has called on the government to ensure pensioners with cancer are protected this Christmas and reinstate their winter fuel allowance.
This comes as an Opinium poll for Maggie’s found that more than two thirds (71%) of people think pensioners diagnosed with cancer should be exempt from winter fuel allowance cuts.
Dame Laura Lee, Chief Executive of Maggie’s, said:
Maggie’s benefits advisors have been busier than ever this year helping people with cancer and the cost-of-living crisis.
Extremely worrying for some pensioners with cancer will be the loss of their winter fuel allowance payment – particularly hard hitting for those who just miss out on pension credit.
Maggie’s is calling on the UK and Scottish governments to protect the frail and elderly with cancer this Christmas and reinstate their winter fuel allowance so they can put their heating on and don’t have to endure living in a cold home.
Our research shows the public overwhelmingly back this.
The Opinium poll for Maggie’s spoke to 2000 people – 77 % of which said they had either had cancer, had a loved one with cancer or knew someone with cancer.
Anna Thompson, 76, from Musselburgh (pictured), was diagnosed nine years ago with carcinoid tumours in her lungs.
This has now become neuroendocrine cancer with tumours throughout her body.
She says having the winter fuel allowance withdrawn really is a worry. She misses getting the payment by about £1.30. She says:
I’m going to have to cut back on my heating. Essentially, I will have to put it off.
Heating is a necessity when people are ill – they feel the cold. It’s unfair they should be penalised for this when they already have to deal with cancer.
People with cancer need all the support they can get, and the government should be made aware of this.
Margaret Manning, from south London, was first diagnosed with breast cancer 18 years ago.
It has returned and while recovering from treatment she feels the cold.
Her husband Peter also has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). She thinks it is “disgusting” that the winter fuel allowance has been taken away from many pensioners. She says:
This is a terrible worry and I know if we don’t have the heating on, Peter will end up in hospital. And without having the winter fuel allowance I won’t be able to put our heating on for longer than an hour at a time. I’m going to have to cut back and keep the heating off which makes me worried for us both.
Maggie’s has released these new stats to keep the conversation going around the cost of a cancer diagnosis:
Maggie’s West London Benefits Advisor Zoe Winters said:
When you get a cancer diagnosis you may need to pay extra for things like travel and new clothes, you also can have increased utility bills so it can be a stressful time.
We are here to help people access benefits and grants – anyone worried about how they will make ends meet should check what they are entitled to.
This is extremely important for pensioners who may be eligible for Pension Credit which will entitle them to the additional support from the Winter Fuel Payment.
Finding out which benefits might apply to you, and claiming them can feel like navigating through a maze – but we're here to help.
You can get individual advice about your situation from one of our experienced Benefits Advisors at your nearest Maggie's centre.
A Maggie’s Benefits Advisor can help you to:
We're here for every kind of cancer, and every kind of story.
We offer free expert psychological and practical support tailored to you, whatever your age and situation.
There are support groups on offer, as well as workshops, courses and one-to-one support with a cancer support specialist, benefits advisor or psychologist.
We can support you from our centres wherever you are in the UK.
You don't need a referral or an appointment.
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