Sarifa's Petition
My name is Sarifa. I live in London with my husband and son, who I care for. As a disabled person, I was already claiming Personal Independence Payments (PIP) when I was diagnosed with cancer in 2010.
PIP is a benefit that helps people like me with some of the extra costs they have due to a health condition or disability.
My experience of PIP delays has led me to advocate for other people with cancer, as I know how difficult life can be without access to this vital benefit.
Now I'm supporting Macmillan's call for the UK Government to reduce distressing waiting times for PIP. Will you join me to ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to reduce the waiting time to 12 weeks?
The process of claiming PIP can be very difficult. I support a group of women with cancer who are trying to access it. Some of them are now talking about whether they're going to be eating or whether they're going to be putting the heating on while they wait to receive PIP. It is having a massive impact on their mental and emotional wellbeing. I've had women coming to me in tears because they don't know how they're going to manage during the long wait.
At one point, my own PIP payments were stopped. It was really detrimental to my health because of the financial implications. That's how I understand what life can be like for the many people who are waiting an average of 18 weeks for their PIP payments.
I had to restrict things like spending on nutritious food because I couldn't afford it. I had to restrict seeing my family and friends as I couldn't afford the cabs I need due to my serious mobility needs.
I fought to get my payments back, and now that I am receiving what I am entitled to, it means I can see my loved ones and look after my health again. We need the UK Government to pay PIP now, so others like me don't have to put their lives on hold, suffer, or get into debt.
People urgently need the support they are entitled to. Will you join me and Macmillan campaigners by signing my petition to call on the UK Government to reduce distressing waiting times for PIP to 12 weeks?
Thank you for reading my petition.
Sarifa
Macmillan campaigner