Govt targets cancer patients for ESA means-testing

Government ministers will aim to overturn the exclusion of means-testing of cancer patients receiving Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) as the coalition’s government’s Welfare Reform Bill moves back to the House of Commons.

The treatment of cancer patients attempting to claim ESA has been raised regularly by consumer and disability rights groups since the benefit's introduction.

The measure was one of seven defeats suffered by the government in the House of Lords which it will seek to reverse today.

These also included extending the time limit from one to two years before means-testing is implemented for all ESA claimants.

Ministers have pledged to overturn the amendments made by the upper house despite the strength of feeling illustrated by Peers during the process.

The seventh victory for campaigners against the reforms came last night when Peers voted to limit proposed cuts to the lower rate of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children.

In all, Ministers will attempt to reverse amendments that:

• Excluded child benefit from the £26,000 cap on total benefits to households,

• Do not charge single parents to access child maintenance if they take reasonable steps to reach a settlement,

• Exempted cancer patients from means-testing of Employment Support Allowance,

• Extended eligibility for ESA prior to means-testing from one to two years,

• Allowed young disabled people to continue claiming National Insurance contribution-based ESA,

• Exempted social tenants with one spare room from "under-occupancy" penalties.