Father in victory over aid for sick students

Ian Leech's daughter Melissa had to put her degree on hold after she was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 20.

But she could not claim employment support allowance (ESA) because she was expected to live off her student loan, which was deemed income, her father said.

Under the law, a student could only apply for ESA if they became so ill they had to abandon their course.

Melissa, who was studying at Aston University in Birmingham, died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2008.

But her father, from Burton upon Trent in Staffordshire, continued to fight for a change to the law to help other students suffering from serious illnesses.

And following his two-and-a-half-year campaign, the Government has now introduced a rule change.

From November 10, students who become too ill to continue with their course will only have to suspend – and not abandon – it before their student loan stops being taken into account when the funding they are entitled to is calculated, the Government said.

Mr Leech said: "It was five months before Melissa finally received any sort of benefit.

"People told her to give up her course or use her student loan.

"But why should students have to use a loan which is meant to fund education to support them while they recover from a life-threatening illness?"

The family would have been in danger of financial ruin if they had not received help from cancer charities, he added.

"Mel was treated in Nottingham, 35 miles from home, which meant our petrol bills soared to 100 a week," he said.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman said: "Mr Leech drew (the issue) to our attention. We review our procedures and we have made that amendment to it."

Dara de Burca, director of services at children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent said: "This

change to benefit law will make a real difference to the lives of students with cancer and other illnesses and Mr Leech should be really proud of what he has achieved on behalf of his daughter Mel.

"Money may seem unimportant when a child is diagnosed with cancer, but the extra costs that arise can be significant."