Cancer family ‘financially broken’ by wait for benefits

Households of kids and younger folks with most cancers are struggling financially for a number of months ready for advantages to assist cowl further prices attributable to the sickness, based on a charity.

Younger Lives vs Most cancers says households want “quick” assist with further dwelling prices, which quantity to £700 a month on common – and is looking for faster entry to the funds.

One household has mentioned they had been left “financially damaged” by the additional dwelling prices after their 16-year-old son Oliver’s leg needed to be amputated as a result of he had a uncommon sort of most cancers.

The federal government says it’s dedicated to giving folks entry to advantages in a “well timed method”, however acknowledges that “waits are too excessive”.

Kerry Bolton, from Solihull, mentioned she needed to wait 5 months earlier than a call was made on her advantages software after her son Oliver was recognized with most cancers, aged 16.

“The hospital is an hour away from us and I do not drive. It was costing us £48 a day for us to journey in taxis there and again.”

Oliver later underwent a leg amputation, that means his household had to purchase new garments to suit him.

Additionally they confronted increased electrical energy payments to cost his prosthetic leg, Ms Bolton mentioned.

“Ollie’s leg wants electrical energy…if I haven’t got electrical energy, he cannot stroll.”

Ms Bolton mentioned she additionally had to make use of extra vitality to warmth her house to maintain Oliver heat, due to his immunosuppression therapy.

Throughout a toddler’s most cancers therapy, households might have to journey to distant appointments, purchase particular meals, use extra electrical energy and heating, pay for childcare for siblings, and keep in motels.

Below UK regulation, most cancers sufferers could also be entitled to advantages to assist with prices.

Nonetheless, sufferers should not eligible for monetary help till they’ve been unwell for 3 months.

They then face an additional wait of 4 months on common for his or her software to be assessed, based on Younger Lives vs Most cancers, which has interviewed tons of of sufferers and put out a brand new report.

The charity is looking for households to qualify for advantages instantly following a prognosis.

Danielle Roberts, from North Wales, informed the BBC that she skilled monetary “pressure” as quickly as her nine-year-old daughter Jasmine was recognized with most cancers final yr, however she didn’t obtain any advantages for eight months.

“We had been simply thrown into this world the place…our kid’s obtained most cancers and we do not know if she’s going to outlive, together with coping with the monetary affect.

“You’ve got nonetheless obtained all these payments to pay on prime of going again and ahead to hospital, which was an hour and quarter-hour away, further meals, lodging”.

Ms Roberts mentioned having to take lengthy durations off work added to the monetary pressure.

“My revenue was dramatically decreased as a result of it is arduous to work when your baby is in hospital… and you do not wish to work, you must be capable of spend time along with your baby after they’re poorly.”

“What we’re seeing is heartbreaking,” Younger Individuals vs Most cancers’s chief govt Rachel Kirby-Rider informed the BBC.

“Individuals haven’t got that disposable revenue, they do not have that cash in financial savings.

“Having to attend seven months for incapacity advantages is driving a number of households into debt and impacting households at a time they only wish to consider getting their baby properly.”

The charity can be involved concerning the software course of, because the 50-page kinds had been “tough, lengthy and complicated”, asking households for detailed descriptions about their kid’s wants.

The method must be made “easy and environment friendly”, it says, by utilizing medical proof alone to make purposes.

Ms Roberts mentioned she struggled to seek out the “head area” to finish the appliance type when her daughter Jasmine was unwell.

“They requested so many questions and you have to ship added proof… you do not wish to have to consider that basically in addition to ‘is my baby going to be OK?’.

“It is one thing that should not must be performed while you’re going by way of that traumatic time.”

A Division for Work and Pensions spokesperson mentioned: “We’re dedicated to making sure folks can entry monetary help by way of Private Independence Cost and Incapacity Dwelling Allowance for youngsters in a well timed method.

“However we recognise waits are too excessive, and we now have elevated the variety of employees to answer the rise in declare volumes.”