A County Durham widow was forced to declare herself bankrupt a month after her husband died of pancreatic cancer aged 64.
Audrey Buckham told Mirror her story after a Marie Curie survey revealed that thousands of terminally ill people and their families are living in poverty. Some are terrified to heat their homes, while carers have found patients lying in distress curled under blankets for hours in damp homes.
The study found that 89% of staff have patients with cash woes, with 83% saying those in care could not afford energy bills. And 56% were very concerned for those with a terminal illness.
Audrey's debts took their toll when husband Eddie fell victim to the disease. The process of declaring bankruptcy left NHS administrator Audrey in tears and "feeling like a criminal", forced to cover costs by drawing from her pension early.
Gran Audrey said: "We couldn’t survive. One credit card company wrote off the debt but the other wouldn’t. It was horrendous.
"You’re worried about your loved one and at the same time you’re worrying about money – it’s not right. When we were assessed for Universal Credit they had to take my earnings into account as well, so Eddie only got £39 a month.
"Going from two full-time wages to being on benefits is horrific. You assume the system will be there to support you when crisis hits. This couldn’t be further from the truth."
Gillian Payne, a healthcare assistance for Marie Curie, said lack of financial support is "making people's illnesses worse." She said: "It is reducing both the length and quality of life.
"I have arrived at homes to find patients have been sitting in soiled clothing for hours because they can’t heat their homes and don’t want to get out from under their blankets.
"Others are living in damp homes because the cost of heating is too high. This isn’t the end of life anyone would imagine for themselves or their loved ones."
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