Chapter 27: Living with and beyond cancer
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Related theory
Government welfare policy
The degree of change arising from the government's welfare reform programme is likely to have an impact on people living with cancer in the UK (Macmillan Cancer Support [154]). The welfare system can be confusing and nurses should keep abreast of any changes to help patients navigate the system.
Immigration control. Some patients who are treated for cancer within the UK may not qualify for benefits as they are not considered to be UK nationals. This may be because they:
- may need permission to enter or remain in the UK but do not yet have it (e.g. they are an asylum seeker waiting for a decision on their application)
- may have permission to enter or remain in the UK on the condition that they do not have ‘recourse to public funds’ (e.g. foreign workers, students and family members of UK nationals).
This will usually be written in their passports and it means they are unable to claim certain benefits such as PIP (see Figure 27.3).
Figure 27.3 Biometric residence permit. Source: UK Border Agency.
