Amend DLA policy for young People cancer patients
The Issue
When my daughter was diagnosed with cancer at the tender age of 15, our world turned upside down. Overnight, her needs skyrocketed, and the ensuing costs were overwhelming. With no immediate support, we had to burn through our savings and turn to charities just to make ends meet. We faced increased travel expenses for medical appointments, a spike in food costs due to specific dietary needs, clothing adjustments as her body changed with the treatments, and a significant reduction in household income due to the inability to work.
This scenario is not unique. Families across the nation experience similar hardships when a loved one, especially a child, is diagnosed with cancer. Yet, despite these drastic life changes and the immediate financial impact, the current policy for disability living allowance (DLA) mandates a waiting period of three months post-diagnosis before one can even apply. Following this, there's often a grueling five-month wait for a decision.
This delay means that families in critical need of financial aid are left to fend for themselves for months. It's an unjust burden that places families in financially precarious situations during one of the most challenging periods of their lives.
It's crucial that we recognize the immediate financial strain a cancer diagnosis imposes and amend the DLA policy to reflect this reality. By allowing DLA payments from the moment of a cancer diagnosis, we can ensure families receive the timely support they desperately need.
Statistics indicate that about one in every 330 children in the UK will develop cancer before the age of 20, with families incurring average additional expenses of £600 a month as a result of the disease. These families should not have to shoulder these costs alone in the initial months of diagnosis without assistance.
Join our call to action to amend the current DLA policy and prevent unnecessary hardship for families already coping with the emotional and physical toll of cancer. Sign this petition to urge policymakers to act quickly and compassionately, ensuring financial support is accessible from day one of a cancer diagnosis.
3
The Issue
When my daughter was diagnosed with cancer at the tender age of 15, our world turned upside down. Overnight, her needs skyrocketed, and the ensuing costs were overwhelming. With no immediate support, we had to burn through our savings and turn to charities just to make ends meet. We faced increased travel expenses for medical appointments, a spike in food costs due to specific dietary needs, clothing adjustments as her body changed with the treatments, and a significant reduction in household income due to the inability to work.
This scenario is not unique. Families across the nation experience similar hardships when a loved one, especially a child, is diagnosed with cancer. Yet, despite these drastic life changes and the immediate financial impact, the current policy for disability living allowance (DLA) mandates a waiting period of three months post-diagnosis before one can even apply. Following this, there's often a grueling five-month wait for a decision.
This delay means that families in critical need of financial aid are left to fend for themselves for months. It's an unjust burden that places families in financially precarious situations during one of the most challenging periods of their lives.
It's crucial that we recognize the immediate financial strain a cancer diagnosis imposes and amend the DLA policy to reflect this reality. By allowing DLA payments from the moment of a cancer diagnosis, we can ensure families receive the timely support they desperately need.
Statistics indicate that about one in every 330 children in the UK will develop cancer before the age of 20, with families incurring average additional expenses of £600 a month as a result of the disease. These families should not have to shoulder these costs alone in the initial months of diagnosis without assistance.
Join our call to action to amend the current DLA policy and prevent unnecessary hardship for families already coping with the emotional and physical toll of cancer. Sign this petition to urge policymakers to act quickly and compassionately, ensuring financial support is accessible from day one of a cancer diagnosis.
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on 26 May 2025