Grandmother, 50, with terminal cancer left with £6 a week for food after her benefits were cut four months after her diagnosis Denise Bates, whose cancer has spread to her colon, spleen and liver, has gone 10 weeks now with little money

Denise Bates thought she’d pulled through her battle with ovarian cancer four years ago.

But at Christmas time last year the 50-year-old became ill and was given the devastating news the disease was back.

The mother-of-five and grandmother-of-seven fell into a depression and took an attempted overdose on Boxing Day in anticipation of her scan results. Weeks later doctors told her there was nothing they could do.

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Since then, Denise and her family have been trying to hold it together and make the best of the time she has left. She has told her consultant she doesn’t want to know how long that will likely be.

But 10 weeks ago she was dealt another blow. After a face-to-face assessment the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ruled that her disability benefit be stripped – leaving her struggling to pay her bills and next to nothing for food.

It’s a disgrace, she’s in a very fragile state. It’s deeply unfair for my mam to be worrying about money during her final days Terri Bates

Her daughter Terri, 28, told i: “It’s a disgrace, she’s in a very fragile state. It’s deeply unfair for my mam to be worrying about money during her final days.

“The day the assessor came out she was in her pyjamas and feeling really down. She’s on morphine for her pain and in a wheelchair.

“Her palliative care nurse has provided a note to say she is terminal. What more do they want to see to allow her the benefits?”

Payment stopped ‘without warning’

When Denise, from Hazlewood near Newcastle, first became ill in 2015, she had an operation to remove her ovaries. Chemotherapy left her with an enlarged heart and she was forced to quit her job as a cleaner and carer.

In January she was told the cancer had spread to her colon, spleen and liver. She is now receiving palliative chemotherapy on a weekly basis which aims to ease symptoms but will not cure the disease.

Denise was receiving £310 a month in Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which is extra money to help people with everyday life if they have an illness or disability.

But in May, without any warning claims Terri, the income stopped.

At the assessment in February, Terri – who has moved in with her mother to care for her – says she cannot fathom why she hasn’t scored enough qualifying points.

“They asked my mam if anyone cooked for her, and she told them I did,” she said. “She’s on anti-depressants and needs tablets to sleep. She’s so depressed I have to encourage her to have a bath. She told them all that.

“Then in May she was meant to get her money on the Wednesday and it didn’t come through. On the Saturday she received a letter to say she’d been assessed as fit to work and she could either appeal the decision or apply for Universal Credit.

“A benefits advisor from Maggies’ Centre helped her appeal the decision but that was six weeks ago and we’ve heard nothing since.”

Very little left for food

It creates a whole load of stress and we have absolutely no money to spend on creating memories together while we can Terri Bates

Denise is still receiving her Carer’s Allowance and Income Support of £344 a month as she was looking after her son who has learning disabilities.

But with £80 deducted for an advance DWP loan, and after paying the council £60 in bedroom tax plus other bills – £30 for council tax, £120 for gas and electric and £30 for her phone – it leaves her with just £24 a month.

“Plus there are other bills, credit cards for example, which she just can’t pay, and it leaves zero money for food. It falls to me to help her out.

“It creates a whole load of stress and we have absolutely no money to spend on creating memories together while we can.”

A friend of the family has set up a GoFundMe appeal in a bid to help Denise with living expenses.

Terri – who is not able to work herself as she is carer for her son, said her mother’s health has deteriorated rapidly over the past month, and fears she may not get the money reinstated in time.

“Just last month, she was walking, although she was in a lot of pain. Now she just can’t do it and she’s in a wheelchair. Two days ago she had a fall.

“She is suffering enough and we want her to enjoy every minute with her children and grandchildren as much as she can without worrying about money.”

Read more: Dying dad with only six months to live told to reapply for his benefits by the DWP

Confusion over decision

PIP – which replaced Disability Living Allowance – can be paid regardless of a person’s income, and can be claimed even if they are working or studying.

The DWP told i that it has no record of Denise ever having a work capability assessment so she has not been found ‘fit for work’ and she would not have been told to apply for Universal Credit.

But Terri insists the letter to her mother was worded this way.

A DWP spokesperson said: “We are urgently looking again at Ms Bates’ PIP claim. Our priority is that people with health conditions get the support they are entitled to, and that people nearing the end of their life get benefits quickly and easily.

“That’s why last week the Secretary of State announced we are undertaking an evaluation of how the benefits system supports people with the most severe, progressive or life-limiting conditions.”

To donate to the appeal for Denise, visit here.