Living with cancer
Financial help
The diagnosis of cancer may result in extra costs due to travelling, special diet, or childcare at a time when finances are restricted, due to an inability to work. If you are employed you may be entitled to occupational sickness benefits. Whether you are employed or not, you may be entitled to state benefits. If you are supporting someone else who has cancer there is a seperate section for Financial help for carers
Some specialist charities also provide patient grants. You may want to make contact to see if they can offer you any financial help. You will also find information about gifts, treats and experiences offered by other organisations in our gifts, treats and experiences section.
Maggies Centres have Benefits advisors offering free advice specifically for people affected by cancer. Check individual Centre timetables for drop in benefits advice or drop into the Centres anytime to book an appointment with a benefits advisor.
Prescription charges vary depending on where you live in the UK.
Prescriptions are now free for anyone living in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. People with cancer in England have been able to apply for an exemption certificate (FP92A) allowing them to access to free prescriptions since 1 April 2009. You can get get a form from your GP or from your hospital team. You can find out more the certificate and how to apply for one by scrolling down this page and following the links on prescription charges.
This gives someone with cancer exemption from English prescription charges - £8.40 a time - but not their carers or family. Nor does it help with other health costs that apply across the UK. However, you may qualify for help with those other costs - or others for help with English prescriptions - on grounds of low income.
Macmillan Cancer Support
National organisation
Macmillan Cancer Support is a large cancer charity which has merged with Cancerbackup. Both Macmillan and Cancerbackup are dedicated to supporting people affected by cancer. Macmillan develops and provides a wide range of medical, practical, emotional and financial services, including the distribution of information. Cancerbackup is the specialist cancer information charity, and provides over 6,000 pages of up-to-date cancer information, practical advice and support for patients with any type of cancer, their families and carers.
NHS Choices
National organisation
NHS Choices website has been developed to help you make choices about your health, from lifestyle decisions about things like smoking, drinking and exercise, through to the practical aspects of finding and using NHS services when you need them.
Maggie's Centres
National organisation
Located in the grounds of major NHS cancer hospitals,as well as online, Maggie's Centres are places that can give the extra emotional, practical and social support that people with cancer need.
Maggie's Centres
National organisation
Located in the grounds of major NHS cancer hospitals,as well as online, Maggie's Centres are places that can give the extra emotional, practical and social support that people with cancer need.
Cancer Research UK (CRUK)
National organisation
Cancer Research UK,(CRUK) is a UK charity dedicated to cancer research. Their website has a wealth of information about cancer and research into all types of cancer.
GOV.UK
National organisation
Easy access to the public services you use and the information you need, delivered by the UK government.
Adviceguide
National organisation
The Adviceguide website is the main public information service of Citizens Advice, providing people with round-the-clock access to CAB information on their rights - including benefits, housing and employment, and on debt, consumer and legal issues.
Cancer Relief UK
National organisation
Cancer Relief UK was set up in 2008 to assist cancer sufferers in the UK who experience financial hardship during their illness. Their aim is to assist people who have enough to cope with,without worrying about finances too.They do this by providing grants,and set up appeals for emergency treatment or for a well deserved break.
Ellie's Friends
National organisation
Ellie’s Friends enables people living with cancer to find free and discounted services and products. They also provide information about other cancer charities offering services.
The Willow Foundation
The Willow Foundation arrange and pay for special days for 16-40 year olds with life threatening illnesses. They offer special days to create lasting memories. Carers and family members can also be covered.
Link last reviewed: Friday 6 January 2017
Produced by: The Willow Foundation
The Willow Foundation
National organisation
A national charity that provides special days for seriously ill 16-40 year olds
Personal independence payment (PIP) descriptors
The Personal independence payment (PIP) ssessment is made up of descriptors grouped into activities where you can make a case for scoring points. This table from The big book of benefits summarises the descriptors
Link last reviewed: Thursday 18 May 2017
Produced by: Big book of benefits
Big book of benefits
National organisation
Big Book of Benefits offers books and training courses to help you find your way through the benefits maze, especially in these changing days of welfare reform. Whether you’re a claimant, support worker or welfare rights adviser, we hope that our accessible, friendly – and even fun – training and publications can help you get to grips with the changing face of social security.
Debt Advice Foundation
National organisation
Debt Advice Foundation is a registered national debt advice and education charity offering free, confidential support and advice to anyone worried about loans, credit and debt.
Money Advice Service
National organisation
The Money Advice Service is a not for profit government organisation created solely to help people with their finances.
Turn2us
National organisation
Turn2us is a national charity that helps people in financial hardship gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services. They do this through their website, helpline, and also by providing training workshops to their partners so they can provide face-to-face advice using the website's online tools.
Prescriptions
Find out more about exemption certificates and charges for prescriptions for anyone with cancer.
Link last reviewed: Tuesday 27 June 2017
Produced by: Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan Cancer Support
National organisation
Macmillan Cancer Support is a large cancer charity which has merged with Cancerbackup. Both Macmillan and Cancerbackup are dedicated to supporting people affected by cancer. Macmillan develops and provides a wide range of medical, practical, emotional and financial services, including the distribution of information. Cancerbackup is the specialist cancer information charity, and provides over 6,000 pages of up-to-date cancer information, practical advice and support for patients with any type of cancer, their families and carers.
Macmillan Cancer Support
National organisation
Macmillan Cancer Support is a large cancer charity which has merged with Cancerbackup. Both Macmillan and Cancerbackup are dedicated to supporting people affected by cancer. Macmillan develops and provides a wide range of medical, practical, emotional and financial services, including the distribution of information. Cancerbackup is the specialist cancer information charity, and provides over 6,000 pages of up-to-date cancer information, practical advice and support for patients with any type of cancer, their families and carers.
NHS Choices
National organisation
NHS Choices website has been developed to help you make choices about your health, from lifestyle decisions about things like smoking, drinking and exercise, through to the practical aspects of finding and using NHS services when you need them.
Maggie's Centres
National organisation
Located in the grounds of major NHS cancer hospitals,as well as online, Maggie's Centres are places that can give the extra emotional, practical and social support that people with cancer need.
Maggie's Centres
National organisation
Located in the grounds of major NHS cancer hospitals,as well as online, Maggie's Centres are places that can give the extra emotional, practical and social support that people with cancer need.
