Welfare rights advice
How our welfare rights advisors can help you
Living with cancer can affect your money, whether you are working, unemployed or retired. You may earn less if you stop working or reduce your hours. You may spend more on everyday costs, like heating or travelling to hospital.
If you are affected by cancer there are a range of benefits you may be entitled to which could help you with your everyday living costs.
Our specialist advisors can help you to find out what benefits you might be entitled to, such as:
- Universal Credit
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
We can also help you find out about other types of support available, such as:
In this video: Mo shares his experience of the financial impact of cancer. He talks about the challenges he faced and how Macmillan supported him to find benefits he was entitled to.
How to talk to an adviser
Macmillan Support Line
The welfare rights service is available to anyone who calls the Macmillan Support Line.
You can call the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00.
Opening times
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Emotional and practical information
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Clinical information
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Financial guidance
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Welfare rights
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Energy advice
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Work support team
Other ways to get in touch
Please note that conversations with our Support Line advisers are confidential, but may be recorded for quality and training purposes.
Outside the UK
If you're calling from outside of the UK you can contact us on +44 207 091 2230. We are unable to advise on healthcare systems overseas.
Deaf or hard of hearing
Are you deaf or hard of hearing? To make a text relay call, dial 18001 followed by 0808 808 00 00, or download the Relay UK app (Google Play/App Store).
Interpreter service
Keeping people safe
It is important that the people who speak to us, and our colleagues on the Macmillan Support Line, feel safe. We have information about unacceptable behaviour when using the Macmillan Support Line.
Preparing for your call with an adviser
We recommend having any information about your household income or medical conditions with you before speaking with an adviser. Find out more about preparing for your call with an adviser.
Online tools and information
We also have information and tools online:
- Our benefits information provides information on getting support with travel, childcare and paying bills.
- Our Online Community is a safe space where you can chat anonymously with experts and people in a similar situation to yours. You can talk about anything cancer related, including benefits.
- Find out what benefits you might be eligible for by completing our benefits calculator.
- If you are worried about money. Answer a few questions to get advice about money and cancer to help you find the support you need.
Our commitment to service
Our customer charter [PDF] is our commitment to you and lets you know what you can expect from us.
We also provide a complaints procedure so you can highlight ways we can improve our service.
How we can help
If you have cancer, you may be able to get a Macmillan Grant to help with the extra costs of cancer. Find out who can apply and how to access our grants.
Our cancer information meets the PIF TICK quality mark.
This means it is easy to use, up-to-date and based on the latest evidence. Learn more about how we produce our information.