Financial supports for those affected by cancer

[Geesgirl]

Posting here for traffic.

Friends husband has been diagnosed with cancer.

She works part time 3 children.

Are there any financial supports, can she get signed off.

No family help.

Do they have any life, critical illness or income protection insurance at all?

She could talk to Macmillan. I believe they have advisers that can help with finances.

The best people to ask would be MacMillan, they will know any benefits or grants you could apply for and help with emotional support too.

Macmillan benefits calculator
https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help/financial-and-work/benefits-calculator

Maggies financial info
https://www.maggies.org/cancer-support/managing-practically/money-benefits-and-cancer/

He can probably apply for PIP temporarily too.

Also, cancer research has a page of info
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/practically/money

My friend asked her bank for a mortgage break as chemo was wiping her out as she wanted a week off work... She had some sort of insurance and her entire mortgage was paid off! She had batted cancer twice previously and had no idea she had such a policy on her mortgage! Worth checking..

I am going through this also atm with a family member. There are definitely benefits and financial support available. As others have said, speak to cancer charities who are extremely knowledgable about what's available, and advise for free. We have consulted both Maggie's and Macmillan and they have been super helpful, but maybe ask your friend's cancer consultant if they have any particular charities they work with at their hospital.

Macmillan and Tenovus both have advisors. We came across the Tenovus one when in hospital, they helped fill in all the forms and even did the appeal for us when the claim was rejected.

The only thing available when I went through it was a grant to cover part of the cost of a wig.

I'm a single mum with a child and a mortgage to keep, so I worked through. I had the day of surgery off, the afternoon of each chemo treatment and two hours off for each radiotherapy session. I was lucky I could work from home for the afternoons.

It was tough, I was very tired, but I was doing my best not to be made redundant. There are some safeguards available if you have a cancer diagnosis but they aren't foolproof. Talk to Macmillan.

Macmillan also give a grant, my friend claimed it I think it was £300 which was very helpful for all the taxis she had to take (not walkable distance but not on a bus route)

She can get signed off with stress, if her GP is helpful.

She should check if their life insurance will pay out for critical illness.

He can apply for PIP if he has care needs which are expected to last for more than 6 months - this is a long process so won't help any time soon but if he was awarded it'd be backdated. Contrary to popular belief, PIP is very hard to get, even with a cancer diagnosis - I personally know two people who had to appeal the decision and one of them had had a limb amputated due to cancer.

Macmillan offer grants but you are only eligible if you have very little savings, I think it might be under £1000.

If he is on a low income he can apply for travel costs for appointments, Google HC1. It won't pay travel costs for her to visit only for the patient to attend appointments. Also he needs to get his consultant to give him a form which is called I think FP92A, or something similar - it gives him free prescriptions for 5 years.

Having cancer is expensive and there isn't specific financial help for patients or families.