5:50pm Friday 19th March 2010
By Siobhan Ryan, Health Reporter
More than £4.2 million in disability benefits is going unclaimed by people diagnosed with terminal cancer in Sussex.
A report launched by Macmillan Cancer Support says almost 60% of patients in the county are dying without receiving either Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Attendance Allowance (AA), both of which they are entitled to.
The charity believes the low take-up is due to people not knowing they are eligible, the perceived stigma of claiming state benefits and the long and confusing claiming process.
Macmillan is working in partnership with the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) at the Macmillan Cab Welfare Rights Outreach Service based in Lancing and covering the Adur, Worthing and Littlehampton areas.
The service has enabled people with cancer to claim more than £3.7m over two years in a variety of different benefits.
Macmillan has launched an easy-to-use online programme called Benefits Made Clear.
The interactive guide, the first provided by a charity, can be found at www.macmillan.org.uk/benefitsmadeclear.
More advice is also available from the charity’s helpline on 0808 80 80 000.
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