Plans to cut Universal Credit must be cancelled, says mum from Essex with stage 4 cancer.
Judith Neptial is one of 60,000 people living with cancer who are forced to rely on Universal Credit.
Last updated 4th Oct 2021
A terminally ill woman from Essex, who relies on Universal Credit, says plans to remove the £20-per-week uplift must be cancelled.
Judith Neptial, 50, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in 2018 and was given one year to live.
She says the uplift, introduced to help people through the pandemic, has been a lifeline in helping to pay for bills and trips to the hospital.
Judith said: "Every month I look at my finances and I think about how I'm going to pay for things. I think about how I’m going to pay for food, electricity. I also think about whether I'm going to be alive the next month.
"Sometimes it feels like you’re being punished for being diagnosed with a life threatening illness."
"If you’re in a fight for your life, it has a huge impact on your mental health. You cant do anything about the fact you don’t know if you’re going to be here tomorrow.
"I don’t think people who are sick should have to worry about the implications of turning the heating on and how you pay for that.
"It wasn’t just about the financial implications of the money, it was also about the mental stability."
Around 60,000 people with cancer are forced to rely on Universal Credit as they are unable to work.
According to research by Macmillan, (39%) of people with cancer said they have been severely financially affected by their diagnosis, and of these, 40% said they feel stressed or anxious about money.
Judith added: "Can we not at least speak to the people that are actually affected by this, should we not have a say?
"Because if you spoke to enough people that are truly affected by these cuts, I don’t know how you could actually do it, from one human being to another."
The Government say vulnerable households will be able to access a new £500 million fund to help them with essentials over the coming months.
A spokesperson from the Government said:
“We’ve always been clear that the uplift to Universal Credit was temporary. It was designed to help claimants through the economic shock and financial disruption of the toughest stages of the pandemic, and it has done so."
Lynda Thomas, chief executive officer at Macmillan Cancer Support, said:
“The financial impact of a cancer diagnosis can be crushing. Many people find themselves too ill to work, see costs for additional heating or travel to appointments suddenly skyrocket, all while undergoing treatment.
“It is imperative that the Prime Minister takes action to cancel the cuts now, and protects tens of thousands of people living with cancer from feeling alone with nowhere to turn.”
Judith also runs a group called 'From Me To You' that helps people with cancer from the black community to find support and medical advice.
She said: "It was a way to help others so that nobody else has to experience what I experienced.
"What I didn't know there were lots of trials and other things related to nutrition. It doesn't work for everyone but it did work for me.
"There are some organisations that can help, but there are a lot of people that don't access those and don't know, and just accept it.
"The more we speak together and the more we talk about our experiences, the more that we can help each other."
For those needing support with cancer, Macmillan’s support line is 0808 808 0000. Help including financial, emotional and practical support is also available by visiting macmillan.org.uk.