Cancer patient work capability assessments plan altered
Fewer cancer patients will have to look for work while receiving treatment, under revised proposals from the Department for Work and Pensions.
The change is part of the coalition government's response to a review of work capability assessments.
It said people "awaiting, receiving or recovering" from chemotherapy or radiotherapy could now be treated as having a "limited capacity" for work.
They would continue to receive sickness benefits, without having to seek work.
The time limits on employment and support allowance payments for people undergoing treatment for cancer were too short, and patients were wrongly being classed as fit to work before they had recovered, according to cancer charities.
The work capability assessments were reviewed by Prof Malcolm Harrington.