Benefits and financial support

Cancer and financial help

A cancer diagnosis can change your financial situation. It may mean you need to stop working, or work less. It can also mean spending more money on things like hospital parking. But depending on your situation, you may be able to get benefits or other financial support.

Understanding benefits

Benefits are payments from the government to people who need financial help. You can find out more on this page about the benefits you might be able to claim if you have cancer.

Each benefit has rules about who can claim. Sometimes the rules are complicated, and some benefits overlap in ways that affect what you get. We have information to help you get the support you need:

Call us free on 0808 808 00 00 to talk to a Macmillan money adviser, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Use our online Benefits Calculator to get estimates of which benefits you may be entitled to.

If you prefer a booklet, get a copy of Help with the cost of cancer. You can use our Finding the right benefits and help leaflet to quickly find the sections that might be right for you.

Related pages

Booklets and resources

Benefits if you are unable to work or on a low income

Sick pay and work support

If you work for an employer and take time off sick, you may be able to get sick pay. If you do not get sick pay or your payments are going to end soon, your employer should give you a form called SSP1. The form can help you apply for other benefits.

Your employer can also support you in other ways during a cancer diagnosis and treatment. There are laws in place to stop discrimination and schemes to help both you and your employer during this time. Find out more in our information about work and cancer.

Employment and Support Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is for people under the State Pension age who have an illness or disability that affects how much they can work. You can apply for ESA if you are:

employed
self-employed
unemployed
a student.

There are different types of ESA, so it is a good idea to speak to a welfare rights adviser to see if you can make a claim.

Related pages

Money advice

Universal Credit

Universal Credit (UC) is a benefit for people under State Pension age who are either of the following:

out of work, for example because of an illness or caring responsibilities
on a low income.

You may be able to get UC if:

you are on a low income or out of work
you are aged 18 or over (or 16 or over in certain cases)
you are not in full-time education or training (unless exceptions apply, such as you get Personal Independence Payment and cannot work because of ill-health)
you and your partner have £16,000 or less in savings between you
you live in the UK.

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) is for people under State Pension age or who are unemployed, but able to work. It gives you a weekly income while you look for work.

Income tax

You may be able to get a tax refund if you stop work or your income decreases. You should also check you are paying the correct amount of tax if your situation changes. Your employer may be able to organise this.

You can apply for a tax refund online at GOV.UK or contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on 0300 200 3300.

Disability benefits

Keeping a diary

For some of these benefits, you need to show:

how your condition affects you
how often you are affected
that you have problems looking after yourself.

You can use a diary to record how your condition affects you day to day. You can send your diary as supporting evidence along with your claim form. Other evidence could include reports or care plans from your GP, doctor, nurse or other healthcare professionals.

Personal Independence Payment

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for people aged 16 to State Pension age who live in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is for people who have problems with daily living or moving around. You must have had these problems for 3 months and expect them to last for at least 9 months, unless you are terminally ill.

Adult Disability Payment

Adult Disability Payment is a benefit for people over 16 years old and under State Pension age. It is for anyone living in Scotland with a disability or long-term health condition that affects your daily life.

Disability Living Allowance for Adults

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults was a benefit for people aged under 65 who had problems:

walking
moving around outdoors safely
looking after themselves.

DLA for adults has now been replaced by PIP in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and ADP in Scotland. If you live in England, Scotland or Wales and claimed before June 2013, you may still be getting DLA for adults.

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance (AA) is a benefit for people who are at or above State Pension age. It is for people who have problems looking after themselves (personal care needs) because of an illness or disability.

Help with toilet needs

The National Key Scheme (NKS) offers people with a disability, including cancer, access to public disabled toilets across the UK. You can buy a RADAR (Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation) from Disability Rights UK or call 0203 687 0790.

In Northern Ireland, you can also buy these keys at any local council office.

The Macmillan toilet card

Cancer treatment can affect the way the bowel or bladder works. Macmillan can send you a free toilet card and key ring. These explain why you may need to access a toilet urgently while out in public. We have a general version, and one for people who are experiencing late side effects after pelvic radiotherapy. Visit Macmillan Orders to order these free resources.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

You can claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit if you were employed in a job, or on an employment training scheme or course, that caused you to have one of the following:

a disease
an accident.

Cancers that can be caused by working in certain jobs include lung cancer and mesothelioma (a type of cancer caused by the material asbestos).

You cannot get this benefit if you were self-employed.

To find out more about Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit if you live in England, Scotland or Wales, visit GOV.UK. If you live in Northern Ireland, visit nidirect.gov.uk.

How to claim

If you live in England, Scotland or Wales
You can download an application form at GOV.UK. You can also call the Barnsley Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Centre on 0800 121 8379, or use textphone 0800 169 0314 and ask them to send you a form.

If you live in Northern Ireland
You can download an application form at nidirect.gov.uk. You can also ask your local Social Security or Jobs and Benefits office for a form.

Benefits for people of pension age

State Pension

State Pension is a regular payment you can get from the government when you reach a certain age.

The age you can get State Pension depends on when you were born. The State Pension age for men and women is increasing in stages.

Pension Credit

Pension Credit is a benefit for people who have reached a certain age and have a low income. To get Pension Credit, you and your partner, if you have one, must both have reached State Pension age. Your partner means:

your husband, wife or civil partner – if you live with them
someone else you live with as a couple – without being married or in a civil partnership.

Related pages

Help with children’s costs

Child Benefit is the main benefit if you are responsible for a child. If you do not already get this, you can:

find out more at GOV.UK
talk to our money advisers on 0808 808 00 00, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

The following benefits may also help:

Child Disability Payment - for people in Scotland who have a child with a disability.
Disability Living Allowance: Children - for people in England, Wales or Northern Ireland who have a child with a disability.
Scottish Child Payment - for people in Scotland who look after a child.
Universal Credit: Child or Childcare - extra payments for people that have children and get Universal Credit.

You may also be able to get help with costs for school meals, clothing and travel .

Related pages

Childcare

Help with bills and housing costs

You may be able to get help to pay the following housing costs:

Rent - if you get Universal Credit, you may be able to get an extra amount of money called a housing element or payment as part of your Universal Credit. Or you can claim Housing Benefit if you are State Pension age or you live in supported, sheltered or temporary housing.
Housing costs such as mortgage interest payments, energy bills, council tax or rates.

Universal Credit and Housing Benefit

Universal Credit (UC) has replaced Housing Benefit in most cases. You may need to apply for UC instead of Housing Benefit if you are making a new claim or there is a change in your circumstances.

Housing Benefit may help with your rent payments if you are unemployed, have a low income or are claiming benefits.

Help with council tax or rates mortgage interest and bills

There are benefits, loans and grants available to help with the costs of housing.

Local council tax reduction schemes can help towards the cost of your council tax if you are on a low income. Council tax reduction schemes are different across the UK.

If you own your home, you may be able to apply for a loan from the government to help towards interest payments on:

your mortgage
loans that you have taken out for certain repairs and improvements to your home.

If you need to repair, improve or adapt your home for health reasons, you may be able to get financial help from your local council or the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Related pages

Bills and housing costs

Help with health costs

You may be able to get financial help with health costs when you have cancer. This can include help to pay for:

prescriptions
wigs and fabric supports
dental treatment
eye treatment
special equipment or aids to help you live at home
care home or care at home charges.

Related pages

Support with health costs if you have cancer

Help with transport and parking

Travelling for medical appointments can be expensive if you are having regular treatment and tests. Find out more about help with transport and parking costs. This includes information about the following:

Blue Badge Scheme – access to closer parking and some free parking for people with certain medical conditions, or who get certain benefits.
Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme – travel costs refunds for people who have to go to hospital for planned tests or treatments, if you are on a low income, or if you or your partner gets certain benefits.
Hospital parking.
Patient Transport Services – help to get to and from hospital.
General travel schemes and services.
Road (vehicle) tax exemption.

Related pages

Transport and parking

Benefits at end of life

If you have found out that your cancer cannot be cured or you are looking after someone with advanced cancer, you may be entitled to benefits or other financial support.

Most people who need care towards the end of their lives qualify for disability benefits.

If you are under State Pension age:

Personal Independence Payment – for people living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland who have problems with everyday tasks, getting around or both due to long-term health conditions or disability.
Adult Disability Payment – for people living in Scotland who have problems with everyday tasks, getting around or both due to long-term health conditions or disability.

If you are State Pension age or over:

Attendance Allowance – for people living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland who have personal care needs because of an illness or disability.
Pension Age Disability Payment – for people living in Scotland who have personal care needs because of an illness or disability.

If you look after someone with cancer

Carer’s benefits

Carer’s Allowance and Carer Support Payment are the main benefits for carers. But being a carer may also mean you can get other help or payments as part of another type of benefit. If you are getting Universal Credit, you might be able to get the carer element, even if you do not qualify for Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment. And you may be able to apply for Carer’s Credit.

Related pages

Benefits for carers

Bereavement benefits

Bereavement benefits can be paid to someone whose husband, wife or civil partner has died.

If you are making a new claim and your partner died on or after 6 April 2017, you need to apply for Bereavement Support Payment.

To get Bereavement Support Payment, you must have been under State Pension age when your partner died.

Glossary

Benefits glossary

When you are dealing with benefits, you may come across lots of new words and not know what they mean. Some of these words are explained here.

If you need more information or support, you can call the Macmillan Support Line free on 0808 808 00 00.

Benefits

Payments from the government to people who need financial help.
Benefit cap

A limit on the total amount of money you can get from a benefit.
Blue Badge

A badge that allows people with mobility problems to park nearer to where they need to go.
Grant

A payment from the government or a charity to help with extra costs such as clothing or heating bills.
Income

All the money you have coming in, for example your wages, benefits or a grant.
Ill-health early retirement

This is where you are allowed to retire and claim your pension early because of your health. If you have, or have had, cancer this may apply to you.
Lump sum

A single, one-off payment, for example from your pension or an insurance scheme.
Mandatory reconsideration

A way to challenge a benefits decision if you disagree with the outcome. This is usually a first step before you can appeal a benefits decision.
Means-tested benefit

A benefit where the amount of money you get depends on your income or savings..
National Insurance

A payment you have to make while working. If you cannot work, you may be able to get National Insurance credits.
Reasonable adjustments

If you are ill, these are changes to your job or workplace that allow you to continue working or return to work.
Special rules

Rules that allow people to get certain benefits more quickly if they are terminally ill.
State Pension

A regular payment you get from the government when you reach a certain age.
Tribunal

A place where benefits appeals are heard and decided.
Workplace pension

A pension arranged through your employer.

Get this information in another language or format

We have information about claiming benefits when you have cancer in other languages.

Or you can call us to talk in your language:

call free on 0808 808 00 00
tell us, in English, the language you need.

About our information

References

Below is a sample of the sources used in our financial help and benefits information. If you would like more information about the sources we use, please contact us at cancerinformationteam@macmillan.org.uk

GOV.UK www.gov.uk (accessed January 2022).

Benefits and pension rates 2021 to 2022. www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-and-pension-rates-2021-to-2022/benefit-and-pension-rates-2021-to-2022 (accessed January 2022).

nidirect.gov.uk www.nidirect.gov.uk (accessed January 2022).

This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by Macmillan professionals and people living with cancer. 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.

Our Pay PIP Now campaign

We campaigned for the UK government to cut long waiting times for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Over the course of the campaign, average waiting times fell from 20 weeks to 13 weeks.

Read about our campaign