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Many people can give you advice on your financial situation and some charities and organisations offer grants.
An introduction to the financial support available to people affected by cancer. The information in this video was correct as of 1 December 2010.
You can watch this video with a British Sign Language translation|.
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Macmillan's cancer support specialists| can offer advice to people with cancer, their family, and carers who need help to access benefits and other forms of financial support. They can look at your individual situation and find the best solutions for you. They can also help you fill in claim forms, which isn’t always an easy task to do on your own.
Some other cancer support organisations, hospitals and self-help groups also have benefits advisers. They can advise you on whether you may be eligible for any benefits or grants.
A social worker at the hospital may also be able to give you advice on sources of financial help. Your local Social Security office| can give you information about benefits which you may be entitled to. Your local Citizens' Advice Bureau| can also give you financial and legal advice; its number will be in your local phone book.
It may be helpful to contact a financial adviser. Financial advisers can assess your individual situation and recommend the best course of action. You can find a local financial adviser by referral from family or friends, looking in your phone book, or by contacting the Personal Finance Society| or Unbiased|.
The people mentioned in the case studies in this section got financial help after speaking to an experienced welfare rights adviser.
Welfare rights advisers can look at your individual situation and find the best solutions for you. They can also help you fill in claim forms, which isn’t always an easy task to do on your own.
To speak to an experienced welfare rights adviser for free, you can call the Macmillan Support Line.|
If you would prefer to talk to someone face-to-face, come to one of our local benefits services|, which we run in partnership with local organisations across the UK.
The more information you can give to your welfare rights adviser, the more they will be able to help you. Whether you're meeting face-to-face or talking over the phone, try to have the following items with you:
For health-related benefits, please also have ready:
We give one-off grants| to people with cancer. Contact our cancer support specialists for information on how to claim.
There are other grants available from a variety of sources, including occupational funds, utility companies (gas, electricity and water companies) and charities. For more information, contact a local welfare rights adviser or our cancer support specialists.
CLIC Sargent| gives grants to help with immediate financial needs. Any family with a child or young person aged 24 or under who is receiving treatment for cancer or palliative care can apply. Applications need to be made through a CLIC Sargent social worker or healthcare professional. For more information, call 0300 330 0803.
Turn2us| helps people find specific charities that may be able to offer financial assistance. You can apply through their website or call 0808 802 2000.
The Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need 2013/2014 gives details of all the trusts and organisations that provide financial support to people in the UK. It’s available from bookshops or local libraries.
You can see Karen describing her experience of the financial impact of a breast cancer diagnosis.
The government used to run a scheme called the Social Fund, which was made up of non-repayable grants and some repayable loans. This was for things like household expenses or expenses arising from an emergency.
This scheme has now ended, and local councils are responsible for providing this type of support. Contact a welfare rights adviser for more information.
If you're self-employed, you can still apply for benefits. For example, if you’ve been paying national insurance, you may qualify for Employment and Support Allowance.
You may also qualify for other benefits depending on your personal circumstances, income, savings, care and mobility needs. Please contact a welfare rights adviser for advice.
We have a section about self-employment and cancer|, which you may find helpful.
Please complete our survey to tell us how helpful you've found this information, and whether there's anything else we could do to improve it.
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.
To speak to a financial guide, call free (Monday to Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am-4.30pm).
We want everyone affected by cancer to receive the right level of treatment and support. Make your voice heard to help us.