Money and cancer FAQs

A cancer diagnosis can have many financial implications. Here you can find frequently asked questions about claiming benefits, getting help with living costs and managing your finances if you're impacted by cancer.

General FAQs about money

Booklets and resources

FAQs about bills and living costs

  • Can I get help with my energy bills if I have cancer? 
  • I’m worried to put the heating on. What else can I do to keep warm?

    Our advice can help you reduce the cost of heating your home when you have cancer. You may also be able to get a grant to pay for changes to make your home warmer and more energy efficient. Talk to a Macmillan energy adviser about ways to reduce your energy costs and save money.

  • Does your mortgage get paid off if you have cancer?

    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.
  • My monthly mortgage payments are going up. What help is available?

    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).
    Speak to a Macmillan financial guide for more information about your options.
  • Can you get a council tax reduction if you have cancer?

    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.

  • Am I eligible to use a food bank?

    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.

  • How do I find my nearest food bank and when it is open?

    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.

  • Can I get travel insurance?

    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.

  • Is there financial support to help with home adaptations like stairlifts and wet room showers?

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



    Macmillan's financial guides can help you understand your options and suggest other sources of support..

     

  • I have to take a coronavirus (COVID) test before every appointment. Am I entitled to free lateral flow tests?

    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:

Booklets and resources

FAQs about financial support from Macmillan

  • Can Macmillan help with finances?  

    Macmillan has information on managing money when living with cancer. It covers:

    • dealing with lenders and energy companies
    • debt
    • benefits
    • bills and housing costs
    • pensions and insurance.

    Macmillan also offers grants to help with the extra costs that cancer can cause. If you are not sure where to start, talk to a Macmillan financial guide on 0808 808 00 00.
  • How much money is a Macmillan Grant?

    A Macmillan Grant is a payment of £200 to help with the extra costs that living with cancer can bring. Occasionally we may review and update the terms of the grant, including the amount of money we are able to offer. This is so that we can continue to reach the people affected by cancer across the UK who need help the most.

  • Who is eligible for a Macmillan Grant?

    You can apply for a Macmillan Grant if you are 18 or over and have a current cancer diagnosis.
    All of the following must also apply:

    • You have no more than £1,000 in savings for a household.
    • You have a weekly income of no more than £323 per week for a household of 1 person or no more than £442 per week for a household of 2 or more people.
    • You have not already had a Macmillan Grant in the last 2 years.

    We do not count Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Attendance Allowance (AA) when we work out your weekly income.

  • How do you apply for a Macmillan Grant?

    You can apply for a Macmillan Grant by phone, or through your healthcare team.

    Apply by phone

    You can call our Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00 and talk to the Welfare Rights team about Macmillan Grants. You can speak with the Welfare Rights team:

    • Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm
    • Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 5pm.
    Apply through your healthcare team

    You apply through a medical professional, a health or social care professional or a benefits adviser. This may be a social worker, a district nurse or a Macmillan nurse, if you have one. They fill in a grant application form with you online and send it to the Grants team at Macmillan.

  • How many times can you apply for a Macmillan Grant?

    Macmillan Grants are not a replacement for other financial help. To apply, you must not have had a Macmillan Grant in the past 2 years.
    As part of the application process, we will decide whether there is other support that would be more suitable. This might be from Macmillan, or somewhere else.

  • How long does it take for a Macmillan Grant to come through?

    Once you submit a completed application, we aim to process it within 5 days. After being processed, we pay grants twice a week, on a Monday and Wednesday.

    For grants paid into bank accounts, the funds should become available from Wednesday for those paid on Monday, or from Friday for those paid on Wednesday. The same timescales apply for receipt of codes where Post Office Payout is the payment method, with the code being cashable from the moment it’s received.

FAQs about benefits available to people living with cancer

  • What benefits are cancer patients entitled to in the UK? 

    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 welfare rights advisers on 0808 808 00 00

    The more information you have ready when you call, the more we will be able to help. Ready our advice about preparing for a benefits advice call.

     

  • Can you claim PIP for cancer?

    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
  • Do cancer patients pay for prescriptions in the UK?

    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.

  • What is an exemption certificate for cancer patients?

    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.

  • Do cancer patients get free dental treatment in the UK?

    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.

  • Do cancer patients get free glasses in the UK?

    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.

  • Can you get a Blue Badge if you have cancer?

    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 need help applying, contact our Welfare Rights team on 0808 808 00 00.

  • Can I get any travel costs for hospital appointments refunded?

    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.

     

Booklets and resources