A carer who has been forced to give up work after being struck with cancer is still waiting for her benefits to come through – almost nine months after being diagnosed.

Single mum Angela Harris, 42, from Strood, has struggled to make ends meet and says she and her two sons now face a bleak Christmas.

A representative from government assessor Atos Healthcare is due to visit her next week.

But she has been told she cannot expect to receive the personal independence payment for about another five weeks.

Ms Harris said Atos staff had told her the delay was due to a particularly heavy workload.

But she said: “They have passed me from pillar to post and even lied to me about sending emails.

“They have also not kept promised appointments. I am constantly on the phone to them to find out what is going on but just told different things all the time.

“When I filled out the forms after being diagnosed in March, I was at my lowest ebb because I had not started my treatment.

“My job is to care for vulnerable people, so at a time when I need care and support this really is a kick in the teeth.”

At one point while she was waiting for her employment service allowance to be processed, Ms Harris was living on just £22 a week.

After months of gruelling radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment, she has since been given the all-clear from cancer but is awaiting an operation to reverse a colostomy.

“My job is to care for vulnerable people, so at a time when I need care and support this really is a kick in the teeth" - Angela Harris

After next week’s assessment she will then have to wait for the final outcome from the Department for Work and Pensions. Atos Healthcare has apologised for the delays.

Laura Thomas, policy manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “Recent research from Macmillan shows that cancer patients are waiting a staggering six months or more just to find out whether they were even eligible for PIP [personal independence payment].

“It is unacceptable that people struggle to heat their homes, are saddled with debt or are left anxious or depressed because they are waiting so long for their much-needed benefits.

“We have raised these issues with the Department for Work and Pensions and are keen to continue to work with them to help improve the benefits claiming process for cancer patients.”