A cancer patient, who has battled the disease for a decade, has expressed deep disappointment after their claim for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) was dismissed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Despite enduring ongoing treatment and the profound impact cancer has had on every aspect of their life, they say their struggles were not properly acknowledged.
In a candid Reddit post titled “Absolute disgrace,” the claimant detailed their experience. They shared how, although they have occasionally achieved periods of stability, these moments always coincide with ongoing treatment. The constant presence of advanced cancer has cast a shadow over their life for the past ten years, leaving them with physical, emotional, and mental hardships.
For six years, they underwent treatments that brought them to a state of no evidence of disease; however, these treatments, along with multiple surgeries, caused significant daily challenges and side effects. Recently, a recurrence meant starting a new, potentially two-year course of treatment.
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Despite these circumstances, the claimant was only awarded the standard daily living component of PIP. More than the financial aspect, they felt unseen and misunderstood.
“I feel my struggles haven’t been remotely validated,” they wrote. “The assessor concluded I don’t have anxiety because I lack a formal diagnosis. This ignores the anxiety caused by living with cancer’s uncertainty and trauma. They also dismissed fatigue simply because I didn’t sound tired on the phone, and disregarded my decade-long medical history.”
The claimant criticized the assessment’s narrow focus, especially since their treatment was not chemotherapy and thus assumed not to cause fatigue. They described the process as “short-sighted,” “uninformed,” and “reductive,” feeling that their cancer and its impact were invalidated.
“I’m going to file a formal complaint,” they stated.
The post received support and sympathy from others who understood the challenges of living with cancer. Several Reddit users highlighted the common misconception around treatments like immunotherapy, emphasizing that fatigue and other side effects are very real, long-term issues frequently overlooked by assessors.
One commenter expressed outrage at the system’s treatment of vulnerable individuals seeking rightful support, calling for change and better understanding of disabled people’s needs. Others explained that assessments should be based on the claimant’s needs, not just formal diagnoses, and encouraged the claimant to appeal.
Some pointed to possible desensitization among assessors, calling for reflection and improvement, while acknowledging that such experiences, sadly, are not unusual.
This account sheds light on the difficulties faced by cancer patients navigating benefit systems and advocates for a more compassionate and informed approach to assessing eligibility for vital support.