Our response to DWP evaluation of benefits for terminally ill people

It is imperative that terminally ill people get faster and fairer access to financial support as a matter of course and without facing unnecessary and upsetting delays due to red tape.

Jonathan Ellis, Director of Advocacy and Change

Today (Thursday 11 July), Amber Rudd, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, confirmed that she has asked the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to set up a fresh evaluation of the way the benefits system supports terminally ill people.

Commenting in response, Jonathan Ellis, Director of Advocacy and Change at national hospice and palliative care charity Hospice UK, said:

“The benefits system is simply not working for terminally ill people and those facing end of life and instead subjecting many people and their families to untold financial hardship and emotional distress, so we welcome this new evaluation aimed at taking a fresh and candid look at how support is provided and what needs to change.

“We applaud the Secretary of State’s leadership in championing this issue and taking this important step to ensure that terminally ill people receive better support in future. We hope this evaluation will take a wide-ranging view of the concerns raised by terminally ill people and look at their different experiences of using the benefits system.

“It is imperative that terminally ill people get faster and fairer access to financial support as a matter of course and without facing unnecessary and upsetting delays due to red tape. We look forward to working with the DWP as it undertakes this important and timely evaluation.”

Notes to editors

• Hospice UK is the national charity for hospice and palliative care.
• For further information about hospice care visit our website www.hospiceuk.org or follow us on Twitter @hospiceuk
• Get all the latest news from the hospice and palliative care sector, as well as patient stories, on ehospice UK at: www.ehospice.com/uk