22-04-2025
Mum with terminal cancer calls for simplified system after 'wasting 14 months' applying for benefits
A mum with terminal bowel cancer who "wasted months of precious time" with her family applying for benefits is calling for the system to be simplified.
Bells, 56, spent 14 months going through appeals for Personal Independent Payments (PIP) as she was unable to work during her cancer treatment.
The mum-of-two claims during her 90-minute interview a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) medical assessor "did not know where her bowel was" before rejecting her application.
She said: "I expected help because I have paid into the system all of my life. I've never lied. I've never cheated. I've never done anything wrong.
"She asked me what my illness was and I said bowel cancer. She said 'which part of the body is that?' and I thought 'oh God.' They asked how far I can walk in the length of a double decker bus - it was ridiculous."
Bells said with an uncertain future she wanted to spend precious time with family and friends, but was forced to waste months trying to navigate the complicated benefit paperwork
"It took me three gos to go through the door. I chatted to the benefits girls at Maggie's and you get a huge form in the post", she said.
With the help of cancer charity Maggie's and her local MP, Aphra Brandreth, Bells, from Chester, is calling for a special cancer benefit to simplify the process.
The Conservative MP for Chester South and Eddisbury said: "I want to see the right people getting help. There is limited money - we know that - but it doesn't mean the system should be completely unfair."
Bells said she was made to feel like she was cheating the system, and says simpler, bespoke benefits would make a world of difference to families like hers.
She added: "The irony is if they gave us the support quicker - we would be back in the economy quicker. We would be off their books faster."
A Department for Work and Pensions said: 'We support millions of people through our welfare system every year and it is a priority people receive the benefits they are entitled to as quickly as possible.
'We have hired more staff to respond to an increased volume of claims and have special rules in place so that people nearing the end of their life are guaranteed a fast-tracked PIP award.
"On the rare occasion this does not happen, we will investigate to understand what went wrong.'
