Benefits and financial support

Benefits are payments from the government to people who need financial help. When you are affected by cancer, you may be able to get benefits to:

• help with extra costs
• support you if you need to stop working.

The benefits system can be hard to understand. We have information to help you get the support you need.

• how your condition affects you
• that you have problems looking after yourself.

This may help you complete a claim form for benefits that support people with a disability or illness. 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 (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 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 (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DLA for adults has now been replaced by PIP in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and ADP in Scotland.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 (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.

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.

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.

There is financial assistance available to help with the care and education of children and young people:

• Help from the government towards childcare costs might include a certain amount of free childcare, or some money to help pay for childcare.
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children is a benefit that may help with the extra costs of looking after a child with a disability.
• In Scotland, DLA for children is now the Child Disability Payment.

You may be able to get help with costs for school meals, school clothing and travel. The help you are entitled to will depend on your individual situation and where in the UK you live.

You may be able to get financial help with health costs when you have cancer. This can include help with prescriptions, wigs and fabric supports, dental treatment and eye treatment.

If you need special equipment or aids to help you live at home, you may be able to get what you need for free. Your doctor or nurse may arrange for this to be provided, or they can refer you to a social worker.

If you pay for your own nursing home charges, you may be entitled to financial help. You should speak to your healthcare professional about this..

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. These include:

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA), if aged 16 to State Pension age.
• Attendance Allowance (AA), if at or above State Pension age.

If you are terminally ill, you can apply for some benefits using a fast-track process called special rules. The rules are different depending on where you live in the UK and which benefit you are applying for. You can apply for special rules if your doctor or cancer nurse completes a form saying you have a terminal illness.

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.