First Dates contestant, 31, with terminal brain cancer who left viewers in tears says his benefits were axed ‘out of the blue’ Julian Fiano has been left to survive on little money while he is having chemotherapy after his tumour grew

A man with terminal brain cancer says his disability benefits were axed without warning almost 11 weeks ago.

Julian Fiano opened up about his deadly diagnosis on popular Channel 4 show First Dates in a bid to find love in December just before his second operation.

He was diagnosed with a glioblastoma for which there is no cure three years ago when he was just 28. Doctors told him he had nine to 12 months to live.

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After his first surgery in 2016, he made a recovery and, having survived longer than expected, was able to work part-time in Sainsbury’s last year. But he discovered the tumour had grown just before Christmas and he was forced to quit his job and sign on to Employment Support Allowance (ESA).

They shouldn’t be able to do this to people who are terminally ill. The woman on the phone had no compassion Julian Fiano

The now 31-year-old, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy, claims his benefits stopped on June 3 and when he called the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) he was told his payments had been suspended because he had failed to fill in a form sent out because of “checks”.

He says losing the £170 a fortnight income has left him “struggling to get by”.

“My money stopped out of the blue, with no warning letter,” he told i. “They had my old address so I gave them my new one but I’m still waiting nearly 11 weeks later for this form I’m meant to fill in to arrive.

“They shouldn’t be able to do this to people who are terminally ill. I asked for it to be fast-tracked but was told it wouldn’t be. The woman on the phone had no compassion.”

The DWP said they are investigating his case as suspected fraud – a claim Julian he denies.

Tennis-ball sized tumour

In 2016, Julian, who lives in Deptford, south east London, began suffering numbness in his left leg which he initially put it down to bad circulation. But when he started to get raging migraines he knew something was seriously wrong.

“I was just coming home and sleeping to try to escape the headaches,” he said. “Then I went to my GP because the pain in my head was so severe. The numbness in my left leg had travelled up to my left arm and it wasn’t functioning properly. The doctor immediately sent me to a stroke hospital but they said it wasn’t a stroke and sent me to another hospital.

“I woke up there to them telling me they had found a tennis ball-sized tumour in my brain.”

He had surgery which was deemed a success, but after a biopsy was taken, Julian was warned the type of cancer he had – a grade 4 – was aggressive and would come back. Glioblastom, the most common type of malignant brain tumour in adults, are difficult to treat because they intertwine with normal brain tissue and they make their own blood supply, which helps them grow.

“They removed most of it but I was told they couldn’t take it all without paralysing me. I thought that’s no way to live and I would rather live out the rest of my time with my body working.”

Julian, who had been a youth sports coach before he took ill, had six months of gruelling chemotherapy and six weeks of radiotherapy.

Benefits for terminally ill people to be reviewed The government announced in July it will review its benefits system for the terminally ill following a damning parliamentary report. Currently, when a person’s death is expected within six months they qualify for fast-tracked access to benefits paid at a higher rate. But this system was described as “outdated, arbitrary and not based on clinical reality” by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Terminal Illness. Charities told the APPG that the struggle to access benefits was making sick people’s lives a “total misery”. Campaigners argue the six-month rule, introduced into law 30 years ago, means terminally ill people who are expected to live longer than half a year are missing out on having their benefits claims fast-tracked and simplified.

Severe side-effects

I have crushing fatigue that leaves me with no energy to do simple things. My whole body aches Julian Fiano

Julian decided to work part-time because he wanted to try to avoid “the dark depression taking over”. But when a routine scan in December found the mass had grown he was unable to carry on.

“I knew I’d need several months off recovering after my second operation and to have chemo again and I was a casual worker who wouldn’t get sick pay.”

Julian, who is about to finish his last cycle of treatment, said the therapy has left him suffering severe side-effects.

“I have crushing fatigue that leaves me with no energy to do simple things. My whole body aches and it’s affected my bowel movements and had an impact on my memory.”

He is still receiving Personal independent Payment (PIP) of £80 a week.

“It’s impossible to survive on. With my ESA stopped, my housing benefit has stopped. When you’re sick and going through chemo the last thing you should be worrying about is how to pay your bills and debts running up. I’m worried about being homeless. It’s really stressful and that could be making my illness worse.

“I can barely afford food never mind take my girlfriend out for a meal if I had a good day. It’s embarrassing. It’s taken away my dignity.”

Julian’s friend has set up a GoFundMe appeal in a bid to help. To donate, click here.

A DWP Spokesperson said: “Mr Fiano’s benefits were reviewed after we were made aware of multiple incomes, including overlapping benefits, and while the status of his employment was unclear.

“We are committed to ensuring that people with health conditions get the support they need and have now spoken with him to assist him in claiming the right support.”

Julian said: “I’m confused by what the DWP has now said. I just claimed what I was advised to claim.”