“You give me hope and strength to live my life again. So there are no words but for me to say thank you.”
Cancer affects 1 in 2 of us in our lifetime and the impacts can be far reaching. It doesn’t just impact a person’s health, it impacts every aspect of life from finances to relationships. At least 30,000 people in their 40s and 50s with cancer have had to borrow money from their parents, with at least 16,000 in their 40s and 50s with cancer having to borrow money from their children.*
That is why, for World Cancer Day 2025 (4th February), we would like to take a moment to highlight the amazing work of our Macmillan Welfare Rights team. This has been a partnership between Citizens Advice in West Sussex and Macmillan, since 2007.
The Macmillan Welfare Rights team are a passionate and dedicated team, giving specialist Benefits advice, maximising income for cancer patients in West Sussex. Support may involve:
- Checking entitlements and making applications for benefits and other help
- Applying for help with health costs (such as travelling to appointments or dental costs)
- Applying for grants for example towards heating costs
- Applying for travel concessions such as disabled parking badges
- Challenging incorrect benefit decisions
In 2024, the team helped 1,188 people with 5,480 problems. On average, each person’s income increased by £8372 a year, with £482 in debts written off, reducing their worries in what is already a stressful time.
“I don’t need to worry about having the heating on. I can afford occasional taxis as I’ve stopped driving. I have a little help in the house & with cutting the grass. It makes a big difference.”
With the increased cost of living and that 4 in 5 cancer patients are worse off per month on average by £570,* we understand why support and advice makes a difference to people’s lives.
“We are working with people that can’t work, they have to rely on the benefit system.”
Elizabeth – Macmillan Benefits Advisor for Citizens Advice in West Sussex
On behalf of the whole Citizens Advice West Sussex team, and everyone you have supported throughout the years, we would like to say a huge thank you to the Macmillan Welfare Rights team.
You can find out more about our Macmillan Welfare Rights service here: https://www.advicewestsussex.org.uk/organisation/macmillan/
Sources
* ‘No small change: Time to act on the financial impact of cancer‘, Macmillan Cancer Support, 2017
‘Cured- but at what cost? The long-term consequences of cancer and its treatment‘ Macmillan, 2013
