Young people with cancer ‘waiting 7 months for disability benefits’

Many families of young people with cancer are falling into debt because they’re waiting months for financial support, a charity has warned.

According to Young Lives vs Cancer, families are waiting seven months on average from the time of diagnosis to get disability benefits, such as disability living allowance (DLA) and personal independence payment (PIP).

But the charity has found that young people with cancer and their families face extra monthly costs of £700 on average from the time they are diagnosed, to cover expenses such as food, hospital bills and travel to hospital.

Families borrowing money to cover costs

The lengthy wait for financial support is forcing many people to get into debt to make ends meet.

Figures showed that following diagnosis, half of young people and families have had to borrow money, either from friends, families or by taking out loans.

Meanwhile, three in five young people and their families have had to dip into savings to cover their costs.

Under the current system, people with cancer must wait three months from being diagnosed to be eligible for disability benefits.

Young Lives vs Cancer has now called on the government to make sure families of young cancer patients can get financial help more quickly.

Rachel Kirby-Rider, chief executive of the charity, said: “Every day, 12 children and young people face a cancer diagnosis. 

“The last thing a young person or family should be thinking about when they receive this life-changing news is how they are going to afford the immediate and overwhelming extra costs that come when facing cancer.”

Ms Kirby-Rider added that the disability benefits system “desperately needs to change” to make sure people get “the financial support they need when they need it”. 

Government acknowledges waiting times are too long

Responding to the findings, the Department for Work and Pensions said it recognises that “waits are too high”.

“We have increased the number of staff to respond to the increase in claim volumes,” a spokesperson said.

“We are committed to ensuring people can access financial support for children in a timely manner.”