Macmillan is investing more than £108,000 in welfare benefits services in the county.

Thanks to its supporters, the charity is investing the sum for the next three years to specifically help people with cancer in Powys.

The funding will support a full-time post in the service known as the Money Advice Team, which provides professional advice and invaluable support to residents including people living with cancer in the county.

The Macmillan-funded service at Powys County Council helped 319 people living with cancer to claim back more than £1.4m in benefits that they were entitled to in 2021 alone.

A cancer diagnosis can lead to a variety of additional costs for people including being unable to work, needing to use more energy when at home as well as having to buy new clothes due to weight changes from treatment.

The Money Advice Team in Powys has also been working hand in hand with the Improving the Cancer Journey in Powys (ICJ) programme getting referrals from the Bracken Trust, PAVOs Community Connector service, Credu and the Specialist Palliative Care nurses.

This means they can offer support to patients diagnosed with cancer at whatever stage in the journey they are at.

Alastair Cornish, who is living with a rare cancer and attended a recent ICJ drop-in information event held in Brecon in late June, said: “Thanks to the ICJ programme and the Money Advice team I’ve been able to get a blue badge and have also submitted a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application form following some sound advice given by one of the team.

“The support she gave has helped to reduce my anxiety levels considerably, which means I am in a much better place today than I was.

“I’m very grateful for the support given as I will imminently be retiring on ill health grounds from my job whilst I continue with my ongoing cancer treatment, I am less fearful now about the cost of living crisis and how it will impact me personally and my family.”

Councillor Matthew Dorrance, Deputy Lead and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys, said: “Many cancer patients in our county will be worrying about the cost of living crisis.

“They often incur ongoing extra daily living costs following a cancer diagnosis whether this is travelling for treatment or managing personal care needs.

“This commitment to continue to fund a post for the next three years is both very welcome and very timely.

“It will help to ensure all cancer patients get support from our dedicated team to access any grants and welfare benefits that they are entitled to and which make life a bit easier.

“I hope that anyone living with cancer in Powys gets in touch with the team or better still, takes up the offer from the ICJ programme to have a more in-depth conversation – called a holistic needs assessment - about all their needs including their financial ones.”

Richard Pugh, Head of Partnerships for Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “People living with cancer need to be able to come to terms with their diagnosis and to focus on their cancer treatment and financial worries should be the last thing on anyone’s mind.

“But the financial impact from things such as being unable to work, needing to use more energy for feeling the cold more and needing certain foods is all the harder due to the cost of living crisis.

“That is why, thanks to generous donations, Macmillan has prioritised funding our welfare benefits services for people living in Powys working in partnership with Powys County Council and the Improving the Cancer Journey in Powys programme.

“This vital service helps identify what’s available and to ease the financial worries that take them away from getting the best out of their treatment and recovery.”

For information, support or just someone to talk to, call 0808 808 00 00 or visit macmillan.org.uk.

Information about how to access support from the ICJ in Powys programme which includes a referral to the Money Advice Team is available at https://www.powysrpb.org/icjpowys or people can go direct to the Money Advice Team at: https://en.powys.gov.uk/moneyadvice