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Macmillan Support Line

Who can I speak to?

Call us free on 0808 808 00 00 (Monday - Friday, 9am - 8pm).

The Macmillan Support Line, staffed by trained experts, offers people with cancer and their loved ones practical, clinical, financial and emotional support. We have 5 teams here to help.

Cancer information and support (9am - 8pm)

This team answers each call, provides emotional and practical support, or can just listen if you need to talk. They will help find the best support for you, which could be arranging for you to speak to one of our specialist teams listed below, finding relevant resources online or support in your local area.

Cancer information nurse specialists (9am - 8pm)

This team of experienced cancer nurses uses their clinical skills to provide and talk through specialist information on symptoms and diagnosis, treatment, living with cancer, palliative care and end of life.

Financial guidance (9am - 5pm)

Our financial specialists are here to help you manage your finances, providing guidance in areas such as mortgages, insurance, pensions, future planning and more.

Welfare rights (9am - 8pm)

Providing information on the benefits and grants you may be eligible to claim, our welfare team can advise on NHS health costs if you are on a low income or claim certain benefits. They can also find out if you're eligible to apply for a Macmillan grant to help with the financial impact of cancer.

Energy advice (9am - 5pm)

Here for you no matter who supplies your gas and electricity, our energy specialists can help to source funding if you are struggling with your bills.

When it gets busy we may not have someone available from our specialist teams but we'll get someone to call you back.

If you prefer, you can email us and we will reply within two working days.

Other languages and formats

We speak your language

We have an interpretation service in over 200 languages. Just state, in English, the language you wish to use when you call us.

Are you deaf or hard of hearing?

If you are a textphone user, you can call the Macmillan Support Line using the Next Generation Text Service (NGT) by dialling 18001 0808 808 00 00.

If you have a computer, tablet or smartphone you can download the NGT Lite app for free. The NGT app works by connecting you to a relay assistant who reads to the other person the words you've typed, and types to you their reply.

For more information about the Next Generation Text Service, how to download the app and how to use it, please visit the Next Generation Text Service website.

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Calling from overseas?

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.

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Out of hours help

The Macmillan Support Line is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays, but there are other ways you can get the support you need.

Online Community

Our Online Community is always open and full of people ready to listen and offer support.

Join today at macmillan.org.uk/community.

Other support lines

If you need to talk to someone when our phone service is closed, you could contact any of these 24-hour services:

  • NHS 111 on 111 for England 
  • NHS Direct Wales on 0845 4647 for Wales
  • NHS 24 on 111 in Scotland 
  • Samaritans on 116 123

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Money worries?

Money can be a real worry when you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer.

When you call our support line our benefit advisers can:

  • Find out which benefits you may be entitled to
  • Help you complete forms
  • Apply for grants
  • Put you in touch with one of our local benefits services 

We also have financial guides who can help you identify the options you have with your insurance, pensions and mortgage, and help you understand how to make future financial decisions. Our free and confidential online financial support tool is here too, to help guide your everyday finances. 


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Sean, Macmillan Cancer Support welfare rights service manager

Sean talks about the support the support line benefit advisors can give.

About our cancer information videos

Sean, Macmillan Cancer Support welfare rights service manager

Sean talks about the support the support line benefit advisors can give.

About our cancer information videos

Dealing with your emotions

A cancer experience can trigger a range of emotions such as shock, anger and for some people, depression. Our support line experts can help you manage these feelings. You can also read more about dealing with your emotions.


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Patsy shares with us her cancer journey.

About our cancer information videos

Patsy shares with us her cancer journey.

About our cancer information videos

Prefer to write it down?

Complete this form if you are not comfortable speaking to our experts on the phone and would rather have your questions answered in writing. One of our cancer support specialists will attempt to reply within two working days.

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Confidentiality

Macmillan treats your contact with us as confidential unless there is a risk of serious harm or abuse to you or someone else, in which case, we may have to pass this information onto a third party such as the emergency services.

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Macmillan Connected

Unfortunately Macmillan Connected has now closed and we are no longer accepting requests.

Macmillan's Online Community

Macmillan’s Online Community is a network of people affected by cancer which anyone can join to get support from others any time. It’s anonymous, and free to join.