CANCER patients face the possibility of losing their homes if proposed cuts to a disability benefit go ahead, according to research.

About £30 a week is to be trimmed from the Work Related Activity element of the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), which affects those who are ill or disabled but may be capable of work at some time in the future.

The cuts brought in by the UK ministers would come into affect through changes enacted from the proposed Welfare Reform and Work Bill.

Leading cancer charity Macmillan has commissioned a survey of 1,000 people living with cancer across Great Britain.

It found that one in ten of those polled would be unable, or would struggle, to pay their rent or mortgage if they lost £30 a week.

And the risk of being made homeless is even higher for those currently in receipt of ESA, which included 78 people in the survey.

Some 36 per cent of this group said they would be unable or would struggle to pay their rent or mortgage if the benefit was cut.

Latest UK Government figures show at least 3,200 people with cancer currently receive the Work Related Activity element of ESA, a benefit of £102.15 a week.

Macmillan said this is a benefit that many people with cancer will be in receipt of at some point during their lives, so cuts to this will also have a wider impact.

Existing Macmillan research shows that living with cancer can be extremely expensive and many people already face financial strain after their diagnosis.

Most will incur extra costs, such as transport and heating, as a result of treatment at the same time as being unable to continue working.

Janice Preston, head of Macmillan in Scotland, said: “We know cancer has a huge financial impact and this research shows that any cuts to benefits could have devastating results.

“We hope the Westminster Government will rethink their proposals to make cuts to Employment and Support Allowance.

“Anyone with cancer who has been affected by financial problems should get in touch with our benefits advice services so we can make sure they are getting all the support they are entitled to.”

Meanwhile, Dr Fran Woodard, Executive Director of Policy and Impact at Macmillan Cancer Support said: "The devastating impact that changes to Employment and Support Allowance will have on the lives of people with cancer is clear.

"It’s truly distressing to think that people with cancer could be forced out of their homes or fear a knock on the door from bailiffs at a time when they should be focused on recovering.

"Macmillan, along with a number of other health charities, has been calling on the Government to remove their proposed cuts to Employment and Support Allowance from the Welfare Reform and Work Bill since they were announced in July. They have so far refused to listen to us.

"As the Bill moves to its final stages, the Government can no longer ignore the reality of what they’re doing. They desperately need to rethink these proposals."

A UK Government spokesman said the vast majority of people with cancer will continue to receive additional top up payments. A spokesman added: "Nobody claiming ESA is required to get a job."

"People currently claiming Employment and Support Allowance will not see their benefit change as a result of this reform.

"The Government has made over £1bn available to prevent and tackle homelessness, and support vulnerable households since 2010."