Customers impacted by cancer can be referred to Macmillan’s support line enabling them to access a range of specialist help.

All life, pensions and investments policyholders will be able to access emotional and financial support as well as guidance.

Scottish Widows and Macmillan have also worked together to speed up the critical illness claims process for customers with cancer. In some cases, this has reduced the time it takes to process a claim from over 60 to approximately 17 days.

Research from Macmillan shows that more than a third of people with cancer (39%) are severely financially impacted by their diagnosis.

Separate research from Scottish Widows found that around a quarter (26%) of those with cancer or living with someone who had been diagnosed would have found help accessing government benefits and other forms of financial support helpful.

One in six (16%) would have found access to specialist advice and support about the financial impact of cancer beneficial.

Over the last four years, Macmillan has helped 1,000 Scottish Widows customers access extra financial support.

Scottish Widows colleagues will also benefit from this joint venture as Macmillan will provide training to line managers to help with conversations with colleagues impacted by cancer.

Scottish Widows protection director Rose St Louis said: “If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, the focus should be on your health and getting the treatment that you need. However, the reality of life means that people also often have to worry about money, and the time taken to access the medical care that they need.

“Our partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support aims to address these issues in a very real way, to help policyholders prioritise their health. The training we’re giving to line managers also means that colleagues are provided with the help and support they need during what can be a very difficult time.”

Macmillan Support Line financial guide Julia Featherstone added: “We receive calls every day from people who are extremely concerned about how they’re going to cope financially after their cancer diagnosis. Not being able to earn in the same way, or rising costs on things like heating bills, can put a huge amount of additional stress on people at a time when they should be able to focus on their health and treatment.

“Our financial guidance team understand that cancer impacts each person differently and we’re here to provide specialist, tailored guidance to suit everyone’s personal set of circumstances – meaning people can get back to concentrating on their health and living as well as possible with cancer.”