McKevitt welcomes ESA support for cancer patients | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

McKevitt welcomes ESA support for cancer patients

SDLP South Down MLA Karen McKevitt has welcomed the changes to Employment Support Allowance which will help support cancer patients.

Speaking to Newry Times, McKevitt stated, “I welcome the announcement from the Department for Work and Pensions regarding changes to the Employment Support Allowance which will assist those cancer patients who are awaiting, receiving or recovering from chemotherapy or radiotherapy being awarded the benefit.

“The changes mean that the number of categories of cancer treatments under which a claimant may be treated as having limited capability for work related activity (The Employment and Support Allowance (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013) will expand.

“It is high time that cancer patients receive an assurance of financial assistance from the state rather than feeling forced to continue working while going through treatment which can be harsh on the body.

She added, “The changes to ESA 50/50A questionnaire means a cancer patient going through treatment can be easily identified and awarded ESA which is to be welcome. I encourage all cancer patients previously turned down for ESA to reapply and my office will be only too happy to help them complete any paperwork.”

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=27719

Posted by on Jan 29 2013. Filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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