Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the merits of changing disability living allowance and personal independence payments to enable young cancer patients to get payments backdated from the day of diagnosis.

Other than for those who are terminally ill, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are assessed on the basis of the needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability rather than a diagnosis. Primary legislation sets out that a claimant cannot be entitled to DLA or PIP for any period prior to the date of claim.