Financial Support

What support is available?

A cancer diagnosis can change your financial situation. It may mean you need to stop working, or work less. It can also mean spending more money on things like hospital parking. But depending on your situation, you may be able to get benefits or other financial support.

Why is cancer so expensive?

There are several factors which can make it a struggle financially when undergoing cancer treatment. Here are a few of the main reasons which can stretch your budget:

Time off work – if you or a loved one is undergoing treatment there is a high chance that you will need to take some time off work. This can mean a reduction in your income.
Transport costs – regular trips to hospitals can add up: parking costs, petrol, public transport tickets can stretch your budget.
Fuel Poverty – this means patients paying increased costs for heating in their homes. Patients will often feel the cold more than they normally would when undergoing treatment. Increased use of heating can increase the bills.
Medical costs – the majority of treatment will not require payment but there can be costs for additional medicines or treatments.

These are some of the factors which can put a strain on your finances and that in turn can make you stressed and anxious. There are lots of organisations which are able to offer support.

There is financial support available from the government here in the UK, and there are also organisations which can offer grants, free financial advise and budgeting help too.

We will give an overview of the help out there and links to their resources.

Benefits if you are unable to work

Support from your work

If you work for an employer and take time off sick, you may be able to get sick pay. Your employer should try to support you at work. They should make reasonable adjustments to help you do your job during and after cancer treatment.

You may need help at work even after your employer has made reasonable adjustments. If you do, you can contact a government programme called Access to Work. It provides advice and practical support if you have a long-term health condition that affects the way you do your job.

You will be offered support based on your needs. This may include a grant to help cover the costs of practical support in the workplace. Visit Access to Work, or nidirect if you live in Northern Ireland.

If you are self-employed, you will not get sick pay. But you can still apply for other benefits if you cannot work or your income decreases.

Employment and Support Allowance

Universal Credit

Universal Credit (UC) is a benefit for people under State Pension age who are either of the following:

out of work, for example because of an illness or caring responsibilities
on a low income.

You may be able to get UC if:

you are on a low income or out of work
you are aged 18 or over (or 16 or over in certain cases)
you are not in full-time education or training (unless exceptions apply, such as you get Personal Independence Payment and cannot work because of ill-health)
you and your partner have £16,000 or less in savings between you
you live in the UK.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Income tax refund

Non government advice and support

Mouth cancer foundation referral advice

The Mesothelioma Center

A web resource that provides information and support to people affected by asbestos exposure and various types of cancer including laryngeal cancer. Although this is an American charity they are keen to educate and aid UK patients with Mesothelioma.

The United Kingdom has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma in the world. The U.K. used brown asbestos and our government permitted the use of chrysotile asbestos years after other countries outlawed it.

Asbestos use in the U.K. began in the late 1800s to insulate ships, steam engines and power plants. By the 1970s, Britain used it in construction throughout the country. U.K. researchers were publishing studies on the dangers of asbestos as early as the 1930s. But it wasn’t until 1999 that the U.K. banned all types of asbestos.
Please take a look at the pages below for more information:
Asbestosis Symptoms: https://www.asbestos.com/asbestosis/symptoms/
Mesothelioma in the UK: https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/uk/

HPV Throat Cancer Guide

HPV Oral Cancer Facts

Macmillan

Facing a cancer diagnosis is stressful enough without money worries adding to the anxiety. If you are facing cancer make sure you take advantage of the resources that are out there to make sure you are getting everything that you are entitled to from the Government and other organisations.

We are continuously reviewing and updating our Help and Support section, if you received support from a group that you would like added to this page contact us here.

Head & Neck Cancer

Patients and Carers

Get in touch

Call 0203 475 3471

Email info@oraclehnc.org.uk

Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1142037), and in Scotland (SC052790).

Registered as a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales (7125497). Registered address: 80 Coombe Road, New Malden KT3 4QS.