Cwestiwn ysgrifenedig WQ96332
- Gofynnwyd gan
- Rhys ab OwenAnnibynnol
- I'w ateb gan
- Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
- Cyflwynwyd
- Dyddiad ateb
- Atebwyd
- Amser i'w ateb
- 13 diwrnod
Cwestiwn
Mae'r cwestiwn a'r ateb yn Saesneg gan nad oes fersiwn Gymraeg ar gael.
How will the Government respond to Young Lives vs Cancer's 'The Cost of Waiting' research, stating that children and young people with cancer wait an average of 7 months to receive a decision on their disability benefit applications following diagnosis, and around one third finish treatment before receiving a decision?
Ateb
Atebwyd gan Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Welfare benefits, including Disability Living Allowance for Children, are a matter for the UK Government’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
While NHS Wales services are not routinely involved in providing information to DWP, they do undertake holistic needs assessment for people newly diagnosed with cancer, including children and young people. This includes consideration of the financial impact of dealing with a diagnosis and making a referral to organisations, such as the Welsh Government’s Single Advice Fund providers, who will advise and support people through the disability benefit application processes.
My officials will be meeting with Young Lives vs Cancer to discuss the findings in its research in further detail and will raise concerns with DWP if its disability benefit administration processes are having a detrimental effect on young people living with cancer. They will also consider how we can encourage more effective joint working between services to ensure young people living with cancer and their families access financial and other support in a timely manner.
A four-nation Inter-Ministerial Group on Work and Pensions is being set up, which will give me the opportunity to make representation to DWP Ministers on social security issues, such as the assessment of applications for disability benefits and the wider implications for people if they face a prolonged wait for a decision on their application.