Money and cancer FAQs

Help is available for people with cancer who are struggling to pay their electricity, gas and water bills. We also have tips on ways to reduce your bills by saving energy at home.    

Depending on the type of insurance you have, your policy may:

• cover your mortgage payments while you are not able to work
• pay off your mortgage when you are diagnosed with a life-threatening condition.

If you do not have insurance to cover payments on your mortgage, there are other things you can do to reduce the cost of your mortgage. This might include:

• taking a payment holiday
• paying off your mortgage over a longer period of time
• borrowing money from the government to cover the interest payments (Support for Mortgage Interest).

If you are on a low income, council tax reduction schemes can help towards the cost of your council tax. These are different depending on where you live in the UK. 
Local councils may also offer extra funds to help people pay their council tax. These are sometimes called discretionary funds.

You will usually need to be referred by a local organisation to get help from a food bank. Organisations that can refer people include:

• schools
• your GP
• housing associations 
• local advice agencies such as Citizens Advice.

The Citizens Advice website has information about how you can ask Citizens Advice to refer you to a food bank.

If you are struggling to afford key essentials such as food, our blog on healthy eating, cancer and the cost of living has some practical things you can try, as well as more information about where you can get support.

Food banks are community organisations. What is available will depend on where you are in the UK. Your local authority or council website might be able to help you find your nearest food bank.
One of the largest food bank organisations is the Trussell Trust. They have more than 1,300 food bank centres in the UK. You can search for your nearest food bank by town, city or postcode on the Trussell Trust website.

If you have cancer, or have had cancer in the past, it might affect how much you pay for travel insurance, and what the policy covers.
We have more information about finding travel insurance when you have cancer. Members of the Macmillan Online Community regularly share their travel insurance recommendations too.

If you need to make changes to your home as a result of cancer, you may be able to get a:

• grant or loan from your local council or the Housing Executive (Northern Ireland)
• Macmillan Grant.

The NHS now only provides free coronavirus tests for people who:

• work in healthcare or in a hospice
• have a health condition which means they are most at risk of becoming seriously ill if they develop coronavirus.

This includes people with some types of cancer, or who have had certain cancer treatments.

The ordering process is different in each country of the UK. Use the following links to order your free lateral flow tests:

• England
• Northern Ireland
• Scotland
• Wales

The benefits you can claim from the government depend on several things, including:

• your income
• how much money you have saved
• where you live
• whether you are able to work.

Using Macmillan's 10-minute benefit calculator can give you an estimate of how much you could get. Or speak to one of our money advisers on 0808 808 00 00. 

 

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a disability benefit for people of working age who have significant, permanent or long-lasting problems with daily living or moving around. This can include problems caused by cancer or its treatment.
You cannot claim PIP just for having a cancer diagnosis. But you may be able to apply if you have difficulties with daily living tasks such as:

• washing and dressing
• cooking and eating

These might be caused by problems with:

• physical movement
• memory and concentration
• mental health issues such as anxiety and depression

Prescriptions are free for everyone in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. 
In England, people being treated for cancer can apply for a medical exemption certificate, which gives them free prescriptions.

You can apply for a medical exemption certificate if you are having treatment for:

• cancer
• the effects of cancer
• the effects of cancer treatment.

This means your prescriptions are free. To apply for a certificate, contact your GP.

What you pay for dental examinations and treatment depends on::

• where you live in the UK
• your age
• what benefits you get.

We have more information about understanding and reducing the cost of dental treatment.

The cost of eye tests and treatment depends on several things, including: 

• where you live in the UK
• your age
• your income
• any eye conditions you have, or are at high risk of
• what benefits you get

We have more information to help you understand the cost of eye care and glasses in the UK.

If you have problems with moving around, you may be able to get a Blue Badge. This allows you to park your car closer to where you need to go. 

You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you have specific medical conditions or get certain benefits. 

Even if you do not automatically qualify, you may still be able to get a Blue Badge. This might be if you have long-term problems with walking or severe problems using both arms.

We have more information about applying for a Blue Badge

If you get certain benefits, or have a low income, you may be able to claim a refund for travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).

You will usually have to pay for travel yourself and then get your refund at the hospital. In some cases, you may be able to get a payment before your appointment. 

We have more information about reducing the costs of travel to your appointments, and hospital car parking charges.