Nottinghamshire mother urges end to cancer benefits wait for children

A mother from Nottinghamshire is urging the government to scrap the three-month waiting period for children with cancer to claim disability benefits, citing severe financial strain after her daughter's diagnosis. Rachael's daughter Mabel was diagnosed with rare kidney cancer in 2023, and the family faced extra costs like £100 weekly petrol for hospital trips. Charity Young Lives vs Cancer reports families need an average £700 monthly from diagnosis, with payments not backdated after the wait. A parliamentary debate on September 2, led by Labour MP Michelle Welsh, highlighted the issue. Minister Lillian Greenwood said there are no current plans to remove the qualifying period, though support work continues.