Macmillan to support cancer patients through cost of living crisis

The cancer support service is investing more than £460,000 in benefits advice services.

Thanks to its supporters, the cancer charity’s investment will see the existing service, which covers the whole of north Wales, continue for three years.

The service will provide professional advice and invaluable support to people living with cancer in north Wales as the cost of living crisis continues to deepen.

During 2021 alone, the Macmillan-funded team, which is employed by Wrexham Council, helped 967 people with cancer to claim more than £4m in benefits they were entitled to because of their illness.

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The investment forms part of a wider programme, in which the charity has allocated nearly £2.5m for similar services across Wales to make sure people with cancer can access the financial advice and support they desperately need.

Lesley Clark, a north Wales Macmillan Welfare Benefits Adviser, said: “We are seeing more and more people with cancer who are desperately trying to cope with the cost of living crisis at the same time as they are trying to come to terms with their diagnosis.

“Every day we talk to people who are trying to manage the huge emotional and physical strain of cancer and cancer treatment, while feeling the pressure of how to pay their bills and square away their finances at the same time. 

“I would encourage anyone with cancer to get in touch at the earliest possible stage – we really can help to take away just a little bit of the anxiety we know people are feeling.”

Lesley Clark (Image: Macmillan)

Richard Pugh, head of partnerships for Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “People living with cancer need to be able to come to terms with their diagnosis and to focus on their cancer treatment and recovery. Financial worries should be the last thing on anyone’s mind.

“But the financial impact from things such as being unable to work, needing to use more energy due to feeling the cold more and needing certain foods is all the harder due to the cost of living crisis.

“The reality is that winter is coming, energy bills and inflation are soaring and many people with cancer are struggling to make ends meet.

“That is why, thanks to the generous donations of our supporters, Macmillan has prioritised funding our welfare benefits services for people living in north Wales and we are hugely proud of our continued partnership with Wrexham County Borough Council to deliver this."