Financial assistance

Free prescriptions

People in England who are being treated for cancer are entitled to receive all their prescriptions free of charge. To show you are eligible, you will need to apply for a prescription exemption certificate from your GP. The certificate will mean that you do not pay any charges for prescriptions for the next five years. A renewal application can be made after five years if you are still undergoing treatment for cancer.

In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, prescription charges have been completely abolished.

Means-tested benefits

You may be entitled to means-tested benefits if your income is less than the minimum amount of money the government says you need for your day-to-day living. You can often receive means-tested benefits together with other benefits.

Means-tested benefits include Income Support, Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related ESA, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. Some of these benefits can help with mortgage payments, hospital travel, wigs and NHS dental and eye treatment.

Find out more about benefits and breast cancer.

Social Services Department

You may also be entitled to other help from your local social services (for example, the Social Work Department in Scotland) if you are disabled because of your cancer. This might include help with travel costs, special equipment, nursery or playgroup provision for children, holidays, meals on wheels, home help, laundry and a blue badge (parking concessions for driver or passenger).

The amount and type of help available will vary from area to area and your individual needs will have to be assessed. Your GP, district nurse, Macmillan nurse, social worker or welfare adviser should be able to talk to you about your entitlements.

Going into hospital

You should tell Jobcentre Plus, the Pension Service or the Disability and Carers Service if you or somebody you claim benefits for goes into hospital. Most benefits are not reduced. However, AA and DLA will usually be stopped after four weeks (unless you are paying for your hospital treatment and accommodation without help from public funds). You should also inform your local council if you claim Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit.

For more information visit the Directgov website.