Cost of living - financial support for people with cancer

In this blog, Lucy (Content Performance Editor) outlines some of the ways that Macmillan can help you with the cost of living during your cancer treatment.

We understand that the cost of living increase has had a huge impact on people’s lives. With energy bills rising, you may be wondering what support we have to offer.

Financial support from Macmillan:

• Financial guides are here to support you with any of your money worries
• Welfare rights advisers, who can help you with accessing benefits you are entitled to
• Energy advisers are here to help with energy schemes you can make use of

We also provide Macmillan Grants. These are one-off payments that help people on low incomes cope with the cost of living with cancer. Due to the cost of living increase, Macmillan have added 3.5 million pounds to the grants fund.

To find out more information on why the cost of living has increased, see our information page on cost of living.

Emotional support 

We understand that this is a difficult time for everyone, but the added cost of having a cancer diagnosis may be making you feel more anxious.

Our Macmillan Support Line is here to help you get the support you need. Whether you need help with your finances, or general support about your cancer diagnosis or treatment. If you are not sure who you need to speak to please call on 0808 808 00 00 to get through to one of our advisers. They are available to speak to 7 days a week, 8am to 8pm. You can also talk to one of our specialists using our online web chat.

Financial help in another language

• Macmillan Support Line – our support line offers an interpretation service. If you need to speak to one of our advisers in another language, please call 0808 808 00 00 and request your language first in English.
• Macmillan web chat – you can also send us a web chat message saying you would like to speak to someone via an interpreter. Start the chat by stating the language you need.
• Financial information available in 16 languages (Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Dari, Farsi, Gujarati, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Welsh):
  • Claiming benefits when you have cancer
  • Help with costs when you have cancer
• If you need more information in your language, please contact cancerinformationteam@macmillan.org.uk and we may be able to arrange a translation for you

Information booklets on finances and work

• Benefits and financial support
• Benefits for people affected by cancer
• Borrowing money
• Children's costs
• Dealing with debts
• Disability Living Allowance for adults
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Grants and loans
• Help with rent payments
• Insurance and cancer
• Jobseeker's Allowance
• Keeping your business going during treatment
• Managing money at the end of life
• Managing money when you have cancer
• Money, finance and insurance
• Pensions and cancer
• Self-employment and cancer
• Work and cancer

Government financial help

The Household support fund is UK Government funding that is given to local councils to support people who need it the most. Please see the gov website for more information on how the government can support you.