Penalising charity
Sir: Alexandra Artley wrote a most in- teresting article, 'Living with the Damocles Syndrome' (7 May). She has really hit the nail on the head with regard to the difficul- ties parents face looking after children with all forms of cancer. Now they have an additional financial hazard; if they receive over £250 in the course of a year from charitable sources, they will be penalised by having some benefits deducted.
Recently one of the DHSS area officers wrote with the following request for a family which is being re-housed and does not possess a stick of furniture. We happily obliged by sending a grant of £688.99 which breaks down as follows:- Electric cooker £169.99 Carpeting £404.00 Curtains £115.00 £688.99 The parents concerned are young and not in the position to repay a financial loan to the DHSS, and with a newly diagnosed child suffering from leukaemia this is only the beginning of their troubles through the coming year.
I would appreciate help from your read- ers to start a campaign to change the rulings of the new Social Fund and allow grants from charitable sources to be over- looked when it comes to calculating state benefits.
Sylvia Darley
General Adminstrator, The Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children, 14 Abingdon Road, London W8
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