Many people who visit the Ipswich Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre haven’t considered that they might be entitled to any kind of financial support. Please find below a selection of support that may be available for you. A good starting point is the Macmillan Money & More East of England Service. Do be aware that many of the types of support availability have assessments to demonstrate that you meet eligibility criteria.

 

Macmillan Money & More

This service (formerly known as the Macmillan Benefits Advice Service before mid-2026) helps people affected by cancer who may need support understanding benefits, financial support or the next steps to take. The service can help with:

  • understanding what financial support may be available

  • benefits advice linked to illness or changes in circumstances

  • help with forms and evidence where appropriate

  • signposting to the right team or organisation

You can contact the team via an online form on the website or by phone:

Website: www.macmillanmoneyeast.org.uk, Tel: 0300 123 4052

Alternatively, contact us at the Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre and we can make a referral on your behalf:

Tel: 01473 715748 or e-mail: cancer.support@esneft.nhs.uk

 
 

 

Personal Independence Payment ( or PIP, aged 16 to pensions age)

Attendance Allowance (over pension age)

These benefits are to help with the extra costs of living with a long term health condition or disability. Check out the eligibility for applying; neither of these two benefits are means tested and you can still claim if you are working or not. They do not affect your savings, and both are tax free. There are different levels of payment depending on how your condition affects you.

 

Claiming benefits if you are terminally ill

If you are terminally ill (that is, not expected to live more than 12 months), clinicians should initiate a process which will engage Macmillan Money & More to make claims for financial support that are dealt with sensitively, efficiently and promptly.

 

Managing the finances of a parent with a cancer diagnosis

If you are the child of a person with a cancer diagnosis and may require access to their finances, the standard method is to apply for a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for property and financial affairs. However it is likely to take 8-10 weeks for the LPA to be registered (approved). In cases where access to finances of a parent is required more urgently, then there are other options that may help:

  • An Ordinary Power of Attorney can be drawn up more immediately by a solicitor but only if the parent has full mental capacity.

  • A Third Party Bank Mandate can be arranged at a bank. Do check if you can complete the mandate process remotely if the parent is frail and cannot attend any meetings in person. For more information follow this link.

  • Benefits. You can apply for the right to deal with the benefits of someone who cannot manage their own affairs because they’re mentally incapable or severely disabled. An appointee is a formal arrangement with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). For more information follow this link.

Additional sources of guidance include:

 

Needing to take sick leave from work?

If you are employed by someone and need to take time off sick, you may be able to claim Statutory Sick Pay. If you are self employed you will not get Sick Pay but might be able to apply for other benefits if your income and savings are low.

UK Government: Universal credit

UK Government: Employment and Support Allowance

UK Government: Statutory Sick Pay

 

Carers Allowance

If you are looking after someone who has a lot of care needs you may be entitled to claim. You need to be over 16 and caring for someone at least 35 hrs a week. The person you care for must be in receipt of certain benefits. To be a carer you don’t have to be related or living with the person and you can be still doing some paid work but under a certain limit

UK Government: Carers Allowance

 

Bereavement Benefit

Is paid to someone whose wife, husband or civil partner has died and needs to be claimed for within 3 months after the death.

UK Government: Bereavement Support Payment

 

Cost of Housing

You might be entitled if you are on a low income, are responsible for paying rent and have under a set amount of savings.

Macmillan: Help with rent payments

You might be able to get support with mortgage interest payment or help with service charges if you are in receipt of certain benefits.

Macmillan: Bills and housing costs

 

Grants for housing repairs or adaptations

You may be able to help with a grant if you need to repair, improve or adapt your home for health reasons. Do also refer to our webpage Equipping your Home.

UK Government: Disabled Facilities Grants

 

Shelter

Shelter is a national organisation providing information and advice relating to housing. Services provided include:

In addition, the website contains lots of useful information relating to issues such as homelessness, private renting, getting on the housing register, tenancy and much more.

Shelter: What we do

 

Homelessness

If you are living in Suffolk and you are worried about being made homeless or need further advice you can call. If you are the person with cancer then please make them aware of your health needs.

Customer First 0808 8004005 - There is an emergency Duty Team out of hours

Suffolk County Council: Homelessness and Housing Support in Suffolk

 

Age UK: General Financial Advice and Information

The national charity provides a wealth of information on many areas of general financial support for those over 60.

Age UK: Money and legal section of national website

Age UK: How to boost your income in retirement

 

 
 

Equity Release

Equity release is a way of releasing cash from your home without you having to move – but it does come with certain risks and is a really big decision to make. You need to take legal advice before making the decision as to whether it would be possible a way of providing you with some additional cash.

Age UK have some information that might help you to think more about whether this would be something for you to look into further.

Age UK: Information about Equity Release

 

Turn 2 US: A national charity helping people when times are tough

They provide financial support to help people get back on track.

Search for a grant: You just add you gender, age, area you live and click on the health category. Tick the condition(s) that apply to you, scroll down and press “apply”. Any grants that might be able to help then appear. If you meet the correct criteria, you can complete an application to apply

You can check your benefit entitlement on the website

Turn 2 Us

 

Free prescriptions for people with cancer

You will need to apply via an exemption form ; this can be supplied to you by your GP or the Oncology department. It will require an official signature, The certificate lasts for five years and can be renewed if you are still eligible.

If you are over 60 or in receipt of certain benefits you may not need to apply as you might already receive free prescriptions.

Cancer Research: Information on Free Prescriptions