Young Lives vs Cancer warns that proposed changes to PIP eligibility would be an enormous blow to young people with cancer

The charity is calling for a U-turn from the Government to make sure young people, who currently rely on PIP, will not be left struggling to cover the costs of cancer 

As Labour MPs talk with no.10 today (Thursday 26 June) ahead of the UK Government’s second reading of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill on Tuesday 1 July, Young Lives vs Cancer is is calling for a U-turn to protect young people with cancer who rely on PIP to cover costs during treatment. The charity is also calling for MPs to vote against the Bill’s second reading.  

Young Lives vs Cancer says the Government needs to consider the impact the proposed changes to PIP (Personal Independence Payment) would have on young people with cancer, already struggling to cover the extra costs £700 a month they face during treatment. If the Bill passes the second reading, the charity says it will continue campaigning to amend the legislation to protect young cancer patients who rely on financial support of PIP. 

The Cost of Waiting report published in March by Young Lives vs Cancer, the leading UK charity for children and young people with cancer and their families, shows 3 in 5 young people with cancer who have savings use these to cover costs during treatment and the current system is not providing the support they need. And yet, many others do not have savings to cover these costs and are already struggling financially before diagnosis. Once young people receive a cancer diagnosis, they then face an extra £700 a month in costs following a cancer diagnosis, and these costs have increased by 15% since 2017.   

Rachel Kirby-Rider, Chief Executive at Young Lives vs Cancer, says: “When a young person is diagnosed with cancer, they immediately face extra costs of £700 a month to cover their food, clothes and travel. Receiving PIP is not a luxury or a bonus for young cancer patients – it is an essential support to help cope with the spiralling, unavoidable costs that come as soon as a young person hears ‘it’s cancer’. 

“The changes to PIP eligibility would be an enormous blow to young people with cancer. We need the MPs to consider the impact these changes would have on young people who are currently relying on PIP to cover the extra costs that come with cancer. Young Lives vs Cancer will continue to campaign to make sure the next generation of young cancer patients get the financial support they deserve.” 

The UK Government’s Green Paper: ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working’ outlines the planned changes to the application scoring process for PIP, a vital source of financial support for cancer patients aged 16 and over. The changes include adding an extra requirement for patients to score four points on one category in the Daily Living component, in addition to the existing scoring requirements. This change, the charity says, will leave many cancer patients (16+) no longer eligible for PIP, which provides up to £187.45 per week, despite being impacted by such a serious medical condition/disability, and will require more support to navigate the complex application process for PIP. 

Young people will be hit hardest by the changes announced in the Green Paper, with additional proposals to restrict access to the Health Element of Universal Credit to only those 22+, and proposed changes to the lower age limit for PIP to move from 16 to 18. 

Jasmine, 27 from Birmingham, knows how vital the support of PIP is when facing cancer as a young person. She was already claiming PIP after having a heart transplant and then in 2023, she was diagnosed with lymphoma. Jasmine went on to have chemotherapy treatment and spent a lot of time in hospital as an inpatient. The cost to get from hospital to home had a huge impact on Jasmine and her mum too, who would travel between home and hospital to visit her. 

“When I was at home to travel to the hospital, I would need to take a taxi as I was unable to drive at the time. These costs could add up especially with the high level of appointments.” 

Being able to claim for PIP helped to alleviate some of this impact. Jasmine is concerned what the changes could mean for herself, as she continues to claim PIP now and for young people facing a cancer diagnosis in the future. 

“I currently receive PIP myself and have experience with updating and changing circumstances during my treatment. With the changes taking place this does concern me and equally I also know how important this support is and hope that other young people would still be able to gain this support in the future.” 

Young Lives vs Cancer is calling for a U-turn to ensure young people like Jasmine, as well as young people who will be diagnosed with cancer in the future, get the support they need. Young Lives vs Cancer coordinated 14 charities supporting people with cancer to write to Liz Kendall calling for a U-turn on the changes, and are yet to receive a response from Ministers. While they wait, the charity is urging supporters to write to their MP to ask for them to consider the impact changing PIP eligibility could have on young people with cancer, who rely on PIP for financial support, and vote against the Bill’s second reading.