Managing household bills

The cost of living is on the rise. If you are finding money a worry, find out more about the support available to help you manage your household bills.

Getting help with energy bills

You may find you're spending more on everyday essentials like heating costs. We have information and advice to give you the support you need.

Juan and his wife are reading cancer information.

Help with energy costs

The Energy Price Guarantee currently limits what some households pay for gas and electricity and it's applied automatically to bills and rates. Find out who will continue to receive the Energy Price Guarantee on the GOV UK website. 

If you are experiencing difficulties paying your energy bills, whether they are gas, electricity or water bills, you can speak to our energy advisers. They can give you simple advice about Macmillan Grants and other available charity schemes you might be entitled to.

Call the free Macmillan Support Line on 0800 808 00 00. Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

You might also be able to get help by joining the Priority Services Register. This is a free support service designed to give priority help to people who need it most. Find out more about getting this extra support from your energy supplier.

Useful contacts for energy advice

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Help with other household bills and costs

You may be able to get help with certain costs if you are having difficulty paying your bills.

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Food

Households have seen an increase in the price of everyday food items. Read our blog on eating well, cancer and cost of living.

 

Learn how you can save money with the BBC's tips on budget meal planning. You can also find out what help is available from the food banks in your area.

Steven is reading a cancer information leaflet. A laptop is open on his lap.

Healthcare

You may be able to get assistance with health costs when you have cancer. This can include help with prescriptions, wigs and fabric supports, dental and eye treatment.

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Childcare

If you have cancer, you may need extra help with children’s costs. Find out more about benefits and help with childcare and education costs.

More information about money

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5 things you can do if you are worried about paying your bills

The number one.

Check if you can get extra help or money

The Money Saving Expert cost of living survival kit has lots of tips and advice.

You can also use our benefits calculator to find out which benefits you may be entitled to if you have cancer. 

If you are terminally ill, you can apply for some benefits using a fast-track process called special rules. 
The number two.

Ask your local council about financial support

Get in touch with your council to see if you can get help with council tax, support for rent or essential items, such as food or clothes. You can find out how to contact your local council on the GOV.UK website.
The number three.

Speak to your water and energy supplier

If you are having difficulties paying your water, gas and electric bills contact your suppliers.  

They should work with you to review and agree a payment plan. This may include payment breaks or access to hardship funds. 

If you are worried that your energy might be cut off, we have support available. Read our blog for advice about your energy bills.

The number four.

If you have a mortgage, ask your provider for help

As interest rates change you might be finding it hard to keep on top of your monthly payments. Get in touch with your bank or building society to see how they can support you.  

You might be able to reduce your payments by extending the term of your mortgage or they might let you make interest-only payments for a while.

The government is working with banks and building societies to do more to help households struggling to afford rising mortgage costs.

The number five.

It is important to prioritise managing any debts

If you need help with debt, it is important to get specialist advice. Organisations that can help include:

Do you need help with the costs of cancer?

Get help with money
Cancer and its treatments can bring extra costs and worry. Whatever your circumstances, there is support available. Answer a few questions to get the advice you need.
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About our information

This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been approved by Macmillan’s Welfare Rights team. 

Our cancer information has been awarded the PIF TICK. Created by the Patient Information Forum, this quality mark shows we meet PIF’s 10 criteria for trustworthy health information. Learn more about how we produce our information.

How we can help

Macmillan Support Line
The Macmillan Support Line is a free and confidential phone service for people living and affected by cancer. If you need to talk, we'll listen. 

 

Call us on 0808 808 00 00
8am to 8pm. It's free to call from landlines and mobiles within the UK.
Email us
Get in touch via this form
Chat online
Every day 8am - 8pm.
Help in your area
What's going on near you? Find out about support groups, where to get information and how to get involved with Macmillan where you live.
Help with the cost of living and cancer
We know that cancer can be tough on your finances. You may also be worried about rises to energy bills and other costs of living. There is support available.