Brain tumour patients to bear brunt of Welfare Bill decision

Brain Tumour UK has expressed disappointment about the Government’s decision to overturn a raft of House of Lords amendments to the Welfare Reform Bill, which had sought to protect vital patient benefits.

The Government plans to use the financial privilege rule to push through the original reforms, despite opposition from the public, the Lords and the cancer community.

The result is that brain tumour patients will only be allowed to claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) for 12 months, even though many are still too sick to work after this period. Affected patients will see their income drop by up to £94 a week from April.

Jenny Baker, Brain Tumour UK Chief Executive, said: "The Government’s decision is very disappointing. It is essential that people affected by brain tumours are better off as a result of welfare reforms. It is not progressive to deprive seriously ill people of benefits because they do not recover quickly enough.”

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