Press Association
Saturday 11th February 2012
A charity has criticised the "confusing and complex" benefits system as new figures revealed £8 million goes unclaimed by cancer patients every year.
Figures from cancer charity Macmillan showed 32% of Scots with terminal cancer hadn't claimed either the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Attendance Allowance (AA).
The money is supposed to help cancer patients meet the extra costs incurred by the disease.
The charity said the low take-up was down to people not knowing they were eligible for the money, a "long and confusing" claiming process and the perceived stigma of collecting benefits.
It also called for all cancer patients to be given access to finical information at the time the disease is diagnosed and as their condition progresses.
Allan Cowie, the general manager of Macmillan for Scotland said: "The benefits system is confusing and complex and for someone who is unwell can seem impossible to navigate.
"Money worries are a huge source of stress to people, impacting on their lives and their health.
"The last thing people should be worrying about towards the end of their lives is money."
Figures for the whole of the UK showed that approximately £90.8 million of benefits went unclaimed in the past year.
But the new findings show a marked increase in the uptake of benefits by cancer patients.
