Cost of living

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I was diagnosed with a grade 4 terminal glioblastoma in April last year (2021). I also turned 66 in February this year and have since retired. I only have a state pension and a Stakeholder pension of £1100 per annum. I also receive Personal Independence and I live with my partner who is still working. I do not receive any means tested benefits. Neither does my partner.

My question is "what if any, extra help is there to enable me to manage through the cost of living crisis particularly energy bills?

Laura L-Macmillan over 2 years ago

Hi Snaffy,

Thanks for getting in touch with us. I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis, and I hope you’re keeping as well as you can.

I can appreciate your concerns with the increasing cost of living, it’s a worrying time for most people currently, but more so if you’ve been diagnosed with a serious health condition such as cancer.

There are a few different ways that Macmillan can help and support you with your finances. As part of our Money and Work Team, we have a dedicated group of Welfare Rights Advisers. They can discuss state benefits and can help to access other financial support, such as one-off grants. They’re not available on Ask An Expert but they can be contacted on freephone 0808 808 0000 and they’re available weekdays 8am – 8pm and weekends 9am – 5pm. If you’d prefer you can also contact them via webchat here by selecting “Chat to us” and then the “Welfare Benefits & Grants” option.

They will ask for some financial details such as household income, amount of any savings, cost of rent/mortgage, council tax and utilities just to see if any other help is available.

We also have our Energy Advice team, who can provide information on the support available to people living with cancer in relation to their energy costs, they can also be contacted on 0808 808 0000 and they’re available Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.

Just to clarify, the Financial Guidance Service can provide information and guidance on all aspects of personal finances to help someone make informed decisions in the following areas;

Pensions and retirement options

Questions about insurance policies

Mortgages and money management

Arranging wills and trusts to protect your family

General financial planning questions

If there is anything from the above list that you think the family member would like to discuss, please reply to this message, or speak to us directly on the same number. To reach the Financial Guidance team just select options 1 then 2 then 1 again. Our team are available Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm.

I hope this helps just now and hope to hear from you soon.

Laura

Service Knowledge & Content Specialist

The Financial Guidance Service will not recommend that you buy, sell or cancel a specific financial product from any company. As a guidance service, we do not provide financial advice and we are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The aim of the Financial Guidance Service is to provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions about your personal finances. For financial advice, including recommendations to buy, sell or cancel specific financial products, you should speak to a financial adviser who is suitably qualified and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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Cost of living