Financial support and benefits when you have breast cancer

Money concerns can be particularly stressful at a time when you feel less able to cope.

Many people with breast cancer do not seek advice on finances because they do not know what they’re entitled to, are too embarrassed to ask for help, or find the system complicated. But there’s support available to help you understand it all.

You can read about the main benefits you may be entitled to on this page, as well as other ways you can access financial support.

You may also find it useful to speak to your employer or human resources (HR) department, to find out what sick pay you’re entitled to. And your treatment team may be able to refer you to a welfare adviser at your local hospital.

Here are some other organisations that can help:

• Your local Citizens Advice can explain what you, your family and carers may be entitled to and help you fill out benefits claim forms
• Macmillan Cancer Support has information about benefits and financial support. You can also call their money advisers for more support
• Maggie’s offers advice and support through benefits advisors at its centres
• Turn2Us provides practical help to people who are struggling financially and has an A to Z of benefits on its website
• Royal British Legion  and SSAFA, the armed forces charity may be able to offer you support if you’ve been in the armed forces

If you’re employed and become sick, you may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for up to 28 weeks. This will depend on how much you were earning before becoming ill.

As part of your contract, your employer may also be required to pay occupational sick pay for a number of weeks or months. Check your contract or talk to your HR department to find out about this.

If you’re self-employed, you’re not entitled to SSP. But you may be eligible for other benefits like Employment and Support Allowance or Personal Independence Payment. See below for more information about these.

You may be able to claim benefits if you have breast cancer. This will depend on your age, income and savings, and how much National Insurance you’ve paid.

It’s important to apply for benefits as soon as you feel able (even if you’re not sure that you’re eligible). This is because some benefits cannot be backdated or can only be backdated for a short period.

You may be able to claim some benefits even if you already get other benefits or income support.

You can use an independent, free and anonymous benefits calculator to check what you could be entitled to.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, you may be able to claim the following benefits depending on your circumstances:

1. New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and/or Universal Credit
2. Housing Benefit and/or Universal Credit
3. Pension Credit or Universal Credit
4. Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
5. Attendance Allowance (AA) 

Scotland

In Scotland, you may be able to claim the following benefits if you’re diagnosed with breast cancer:

1. New Style Employment and Support Allowance and/or Universal Credit
2. Housing Benefit or Universal Credit
3. Pension Credit or Universal Credit
4. Scottish Child Payment
5. Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
6. Pension Age Disability Payment

The benefits explained

New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) can help with living costs if you cannot work and support you to get back into work if you can.

It’s for people who are under State Pension age, have a disability or condition that affects how much they can work and who do not get Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).

You need to have paid enough National Insurance contributions in the last 2 to 3 years to be eligible.

New style ESA can be claimed on its own or at the same time as Universal Credit.

Housing Benefit

Housing benefit can help with the cost of housing. It has been replaced by Universal Credit for most people making a claim.

There are a few situations where you can still claim housing benefit, mainly if you’re over State Pension age or you’re in supported, sheltered or temporary housing.

Housing Benefit is means-tested, which means it takes into account your income and savings.

Pension Credit

Pension Credit can help with living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income.

Universal Credit

Universal Credit can help with your living costs, including rent. It’s usually paid monthly, or twice a month for some people in Scotland.

Universal Credit is replacing or has replaced the following benefits:

• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• ESA

Personal Independence Payment (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have a long-term condition or disability and struggle with daily tasks or mobility.

You may be able to claim PIP if you have breast cancer and are under State Pension age.

If you’re over State Pension age you can apply for Attendance Allowance instead (see below).

PIP is tax free and does not take into account your income and savings. PIP can be paid on top of almost all other benefits.

PIP has 2 parts:

• Daily living part, if you need help with everyday tasks like preparing food, getting dressed or managing medicines and treatments
• Mobility part, if you need help planning and going on journeys and getting around

Adult Disability Payment (Scotland only)

Adult Disability Payment (ADP) is a benefit for people with disabilities who live in Scotland.

It’s tax free and does not take into account your income and savings. This benefit can be paid on top of almost all other benefits.

Scottish Child Payment (Scotland only)

Scottish Child Payment helps towards the cost of supporting a family. It’s paid every 4 weeks and you can claim it for each child under the age of 16 that you look after.

You can apply for it if you or your partner are getting certain benefits and are the main person or people looking after a child under 16.

Attendance Allowance (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)

Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people over State Pension age who have difficulty looking after themselves because of an illness or disability. You do not have to be receiving care to qualify for this benefit.

Attendance Allowance is tax free and does not take into account your income and savings. It can be paid on top of almost all other benefits.

Council Tax Reduction

If you’re on a low income or getting certain benefits and live in England, Wales or Scotland, you may be able to apply for Council Tax Reduction.

In Northern Ireland you may be able to apply for rate relief.

Special Rules for metastatic (secondary) breast cancer

If you're diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, you may be able to claim some benefits under Special Rules. These Special Rules mean that you may be able to access benefits faster, at a higher rate and without a medical assessment.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland

People who are entitled to PIP, AA, ESA or Universal Credit may be able to claim them under Special Rules.

A doctor must complete an SR1 form and say there’s a possibility that the person may not live for longer than 12 months.

Although it can be difficult to say how long someone will live for, people with metastatic breast cancer are often encouraged to claim under Special Rules to help their financial situation.

If you live longer than 12 months following the claim, you can carry on claiming under Special Rules.

Scotland

In Scotland, people diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer can apply for Adult Disability Payment (ADP) using Special Rules. This is based on their doctor’s judgement and medical evidence, not on their life expectancy.

A doctor or nurse fills out a Benefits Assessment for Special Rules in Scotland (BASRiS) form to say that they have a terminal illness. This provides evidence that they’re eligible to apply.

Benefits for carers

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, you can apply for Carer’s Allowance if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits.

If you work, there are limits to how much you can work and earn when getting Carer’s Allowance. If you get Universal Credit or Pension Credit, you could get extra money for being a carer.

In Scotland, you can apply for Carer Support Payment.

Some insurance policies and employment benefit schemes may cover you for critical illness. Critical illness cover pays out a tax-free lump sum to help with the costs of a critical illness.

Breast cancer is usually classed as a critical illness. If you’re unsure, check with your insurance provider or HR department.

If you need any help understanding your insurance or critical illness cover, you can contact your insurance provider or speak to a money adviser at Macmillan Cancer Support.

You may be able to get a Blue Badge if your mobility is affected.

The Blue Badge scheme can help you park closer to your destination, whether you’re the driver or passenger.

You may be given a Blue Badge temporarily if you have primary breast cancer.

If you have metastatic breast cancer, you may be able to get a Blue Badge for a longer time because of ongoing symptoms such as fatigue or pain. You’ll need to renew your Blue Badge every 3 years.

In England, Scotland and Wales, you can apply for a Blue Badge online or through your local authority.

There’s a separate website for the Blue Badge in Northern Ireland.

Your local Citizens Advice may be able to help you apply for the Blue Badge.

There are some areas in central London where the Blue Badge scheme does not apply. These areas have alternative badge schemes for people with restricted mobility.

People in England being treated for cancer are entitled to free prescriptions.

To show you’re eligible for free prescriptions you need to apply for an exemption certificate (FP92A) from your GP or treatment team.

The certificate means that you will not have to pay any charges for prescriptions for 5 years. You can renew your application after 5 years if you’re still having treatment for:

• Cancer, including hormone therapies, bisphosphonates (bone-strengthening drugs) and lymphoedema garments
• The effects of cancer, including pain relief, and effects directly related to cancer that did not exist before the cancer diagnosis (such as a mental health diagnosis)
• The side effects of cancer treatment, including all side effects of chemotherapy or late side effects caused by radiotherapy

If you have to pay a prescription charge while you’re still waiting for your exemption certificate, ask the pharmacy for an NHS receipt (FP57) when you pay. You will then be able to get a refund later.

People aged 60 and over do not have to pay NHS prescription charges in England and do not need to apply for the certificate.

In Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, prescriptions are free of charge.

Entitlement to NHS wigs varies across the UK. You may be entitled to a free wig or help towards the cost of your wig.

Find out more about help with the cost of your wig and financial assistance for post-surgery bras and mastectomy bras.