New poll shows public backs faster access to benefits for young people with cancer and their families, who face a seven-month wait for support

83% of adults in the UK who believe young people with cancer and their families should be eligible for benefits, say they should receive benefits within a month of diagnosis or sooner, yet charity research says they are currently waiting seven months, on average

A new YouGov survey commissioned by Young Lives vs Cancer, the leading UK charity for children and young people with cancer and their families, looking into public opinion of young people with cancer and their families accessing disability benefits has been published today (Monday 9 November). The poll shows 76% of the public believe young people and families should be entitled to disability benefits and, of those who said they should be eligible, 83% say they should receive their benefits within a month or sooner.

Yet Young Lives vs Cancer, who have been calling for improvements to the welfare and benefits system to become more accessible for young cancer patients and their families, found those they support are waiting an average of seven months after diagnosis before receiving any payment. 

The charity’s research also shows that from the moment of diagnosis, young people with cancer and families incur extra costs of living with cancer which come to £700 a month on average. This includes extra costs such as travel to hospital, food, clothing and heating bills. These extra costs come at a time when young people themselves or a child’s parent/carer cannot work and often lose their income. 1 in 2 have had to borrow money, and 3 in 5 young people have had to use their savings to cover these additional costs.

A separate YouGov poll also found that 50% of parents with a child under 18, from the general public, would not be able to afford the additional £700 a month in costs, and 57% could not find this amount if one parent had to stop working, which is the case for many families facing cancer.

When Debbie’s son Jenson was diagnosed with a brain tumour at 7 years old just before last Christmas, she and her husband, Nick, faced additional costs straight away, such as paying for travel to hospital and accommodation. Along with Jenson’s sister, Freya, they were transferred from their local hospital in Devon to Bristol and didn’t go home for months. 

At first, they had to pay for accommodation to be nearby, which at its peak cost £900 a week. Debbie was paid for a few months but eventually had to leave her job, which left them with only one income.

Debbie said: ” “The impact caused a lot of stress and worry on us at a time, where we just wanted to be with our little boy. We spent every day and night worrying how we were going to be able to afford to keep our home at the same time as affording to pay for somewhere to stay in walking distance to the Hospital, as only one parent is allowed to stay on the ward.”

Their Young Lives vs Cancer specialist social worker later found a space for them at the charity’s Home from Home in Bristol, CLIC House, where the family have stayed on and off ever since. Access to this free place to stay helped to alleviate some of their monthly costs and kept the family together.

Rachel Kirby-Rider, Chief Executive at Young Lives vs Cancer, says: “Every day this winter, 12 children and young people will be diagnosed with cancer. Just as their worlds get turned upside down, they will have to find an extra £700 every month to cover additional costs of living with cancer, such as food, clothes and extra heating costs to keep their child warm during treatment.

“For young people and their families, the financial support of disability benefits is a vital lifeline to help meet the additional costs of living with cancer. Right now, young people and families are waiting months before receiving the financial support they are entitled to. Instead of focusing on their treatment, young people and families are having to jump through hoops to get access to vital financial support and worrying about costs while they wait.

“At this crucial time, post-Budget and as we await the upcoming Milburn and Timms reviews, we are looking to the government to deliver a benefits system that works for children and young people with cancer and their families.”

Notes to Editor

For more information, interviews or images, please contact Young Lives vs Cancer’s media team via MediaRelations@younglivesvscancer.org.uk or 08448 481189

Survey Findings
Survey data supplied by YouGov

Do you think children and young people living with cancer should be eligible for disability benefits? 

Response	Percentage
Should be eligible	76%
Should not be eligible	8%
Don’t know	16%

Following a cancer diagnosis, how quickly should children and young people with cancer, or their families, start receiving disability benefits they are eligible for?
Among those who believe children and young people with cancer should be eligible for disability benefits. 

Response	Percentage
Within a few days	39%
Within a week	18%
Within a month	26%
Within three months	7%
Within six months	1%
Within 12 months	0%
Longer than 12 months	0%
Don’t know	9%

 

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2,408 adults in the UK. Fieldwork was undertaken between 1st – 2nd November 2026.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all adults in the UK (aged 18+).

If your household faced an unexpected increase in living costs of £700 per month, to what extent would you be able to afford these additional costs? 

Response	Percentage
Yes, comfortably	6%
Yes, but it would require some adjustments to our spending	16%
Yes, but it would be very difficult	25%
No, we would not be able to afford it at all	50%
Don’t know	1%
Prefer not to say	1%
Total able to afford (NET)	48%

 

If a parent had to stop working unexpectedly to care for a family member with a medium-to-long-term illness, to what extent would your household be able to afford an additional £700 per month in living costs on top of this loss of income? 

Response	Percentage
Yes, comfortably	3%
Yes, but it would require some adjustments to our spending	9%
Yes, but it would be very difficult	17%
No, we would not be able to afford it at all	57%
Don’t know	1%
Not applicable	12%
Prefer not to say	1%
Total able to afford (NET)	29%

 

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 4339 adults, of which 1019 are parents of children aged 18 or under. Fieldwork was undertaken between 2nd – 4th November 2026.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).