Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will review the criteria used to determine whether cancer survivors are fit for work under the Work Capability Assessment for Universal Credit.

It is important to ensure that those affected by cancer receive the most appropriate support, and we have worked closely with representative organisations to improve the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) process for those affected by cancer.

In 2013, the categories of cancer treatments under which a claimant can be treated as having limited capability for work-related activity (LCWRA) were expanded to include individuals awaiting, receiving, or recovering from treatment by way of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, irrespective of route. Although there is no automatic award, in these cases, there is a presumption that the claimant will be treated as having LCWRA, subject to suitable evidence being provided by a professional, such as a GP, oncologist, or clinical nurse specialist.