A terminally ill mother who cannot eat, talk, dress or use the toilet independently has been denied Personal Independence Payment (Pip) despite being given around three years to live. Rachael Field, 56, from Rhondda Cynon Taf, who has tongue cancer and has had her tongue and voice box removed, was awarded zero points across all assessed categories after applying for the benefit in May.
Rachael Field, a former factory worker from Rhondda Cynon Taf, has been diagnosed with tongue cancer four times in six years and has been given approximately three years or less to live. She uses a feeding tube, has had her tongue and voice box removed, and had her windpipe reconstructed using chest tissue. She also has mobility issues and can only walk a few steps with help.
Field applied for Personal Independence Payment (Pip), a benefit for people with long-term illnesses and disabilities who need help with extra costs related to living, work and care, in May. Under the current system, claimants are scored on a zero to 12 scale by a health professional on everyday tasks such as washing, getting dressed and preparing food. Field was denied the benefit as she was awarded zero points across all assessed categories.
Field said she needs help to wash, dress and use the bathroom, and cannot eat or drink, with everything going through her feeding tube. Her family said repeated rescheduling of the assessment process caused delays, and despite lodging an appeal several months ago, they are still awaiting an outcome. Field said the treatment she received from her medical test "has been outstanding" but has an issue with "the system Pip uses to assess people". She said: "People need the help while they are alive."
Her daughter, Kyra Hawkins-Field, 20, said it is "ridiculous" that her mum has not been able to claim Pip and does not want her "stressing about money" while she only has "a couple of years left". She criticised the benefits assessment process, saying it was too reliant on a checklist and did not reflect people's real-life struggles. "They've basically turned around and said, 'we think you're fine'," she said.
Hawkins-Field has set up a GoFundMe appeal with the aim of raising £1,000 to help her mum enjoy what time she has left with her family, including trips around the UK, while she still can. She said her dad Eddie has become the family's "superhero", working full-time and then visiting his wife in hospital every day.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said it had been unable to complete the claim as it needed further evidence from Field. A DWP spokesperson said: "We're sorry for any distress Ms Field and her family are feeling at this difficult time. We have been unable to complete the claim as we need further evidence from Ms Field. We have attempted to contact her in order to resolve the situation and will continue to do so." Field's family said they were in discussion with the DWP.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The case raises questions about how the Pip assessment process handles terminally ill applicants with severe functional limitations
- It highlights potential gaps between medical reality and the scoring system used to determine eligibility for disability benefits
- The outcome could affect public confidence in the benefits system and may prompt calls for reform
Background
Personal Independence Payment (Pip) is a benefit in the United Kingdom for people with long-term illnesses or disabilities who need help with extra costs. Eligibility is determined through an assessment where claimants are scored on a zero to 12 scale by a health professional on everyday tasks such as washing, getting dressed and preparing food. The benefit is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This case involves a terminally ill applicant who was awarded zero points despite severe physical impairments.
Key Perspectives
Rachael Field: said the treatment from her medical test "has been outstanding" but has an issue with "the system Pip uses to assess people" and said "people need the help while they are alive".
Kyra Hawkins-Field (daughter): criticised the benefits assessment process as too reliant on a checklist that does not reflect real-life struggles, saying her mum has been effectively told "we think you're fine".
Department for Work and Pensions: said it was "sorry for any distress" and has been "unable to complete the claim as we need further evidence from Ms Field", adding it had attempted to contact her and would continue to do so.
What to Watch
- The outcome of Field's appeal against the Pip decision
- Whether the DWP recontacts Field to obtain the further evidence it says it needs
- Potential parliamentary or public attention on the assessment process for terminally ill claimants
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- Partly supportedField is unable to walk.BBC Wales: “I can only walk a few steps with help.”
- Partly supportedField has tongue cancer and has been given three years to live.BBC Wales: “Rachael Field from Rhondda Cynon Taf has cancer of the tongue and been given around three years or less to live”
- SupportedField was awarded zero points across all assessed categories.BBC Wales: “Field applied for Pip in May, but it was denied as she was awarded zero points across all assessed categories.”
- SupportedField cannot eat, talk, dress or use the toilet independently.BBC Wales: “A terminally ill mum who has been given three years to live has been denied disability benefit despite being unable to eat, talk, dress or use the toilet independently.”
- SupportedField has had her tongue and voice box removed and uses a feeding tube.BBC Wales: “She uses a feeding tube, has had her tongue and voice box removed, and had her windpipe reconstructed using chest tissue.”
- SupportedField said, “People need the help while they are alive.”BBC Wales: “She said: "People need the help while they are alive."”
- SupportedField said the treatment she received from her medical test “has been outstanding” but criticised the system Pip uses to assess people.BBC Wales: “Field said the treatment she received from her medical test "has been outstanding" but has an issue with "the system Pip uses to assess people".”
- SupportedField’s family said repeated rescheduling of the assessment caused delays and that they were still awaiting the outcome of an appeal lodged several months ago.BBC Wales: “Field's family said repeated rescheduling of the assessment process caused delays, and that despite lodging an appeal several months ago, they are still awaiting an outcome.”
- SupportedHawkins-Field said the assessment process relied too much on a checklist and did not reflect people’s real-life struggles.BBC Wales: “She criticised the benefits assessment process and said it was too reliant on a checklist, and did not reflect people's real-life struggles.”
- SupportedHawkins-Field said, “They've basically turned around and said, 'we think you're fine',”BBC Wales: “"They've basically turned around and said, 'we think you're fine'," she said.”
- SupportedThe GoFundMe appeal aims to raise £1,000 for trips around the UK with Field’s family.BBC Wales: “Hawkins-Field launched a GoFundMe appeal with the aim of raising £1,000 to help her mum enjoy what time she has left with her family, including some trips around the UK, while she still can.”
- SupportedThe DWP said it could not complete Field’s claim because it needed further evidence and had tried to contact her.BBC Wales: “We have been unable to complete the claim as we need further evidence from Ms Field. We have attempted to contact her in order to resolve the situation and will continue to do so.”