Supporting people affected by cancer

Cancer can often radically alter the financial circumstances of those affected by it. People may become unable to work and suffer a loss of income, while at the same time being faced with many extra expenses: travel to and from treatment; expensive special dietary requirements, even increased heating bills from a reduced ability to tolerate the cold. Relatives may also need to give up work in order to care for someone with cancer. Together these can put an enormous financial strain on people affected by cancer, who may find themselves struggling to negotiate the benefits system when at their most vulnerable.

This is why Macmillan Cancer Support and Citizens Advice have formed a partnership in which local Citizens Advice are funded by Macmillan to provide advice on welfare benefits to people affected by cancer. There are 78 Citizens Advice local offices across England that have a welfare benefits advice project funded by Macmillan Cancer Support. Caseworkers advise clients about all benefits they are entitled to and provide help claiming them. They also ensure that they are aware of any available grants which could assist them, and can provide advice on other issues, for example debt, if necessary. Between January 2007 and April 2011 statistics have shown that over 38,000 clients had been assisted and had received income gain of over £77 million, with £1.1m of debt written off.

Booklet giving more information on the partnership:

• Working together to help with the cost of cancer [ 500 kb]