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Find out about benefits and financial support that you may be eligible for.

Knowing which benefits you can claim, and how, can feel complicated – but we're here to help. Our benefits advisors can help you understand and apply for the right support for you.

Benefits if you've been affected by cancer

Cancer and cancer treatment can affect your financial situation in many ways.

• You may have additional costs to cover, such as transport to appointments, hospital parking, childcare or higher heating bills.
• Your income might also be reduced, for example, if you are too unwell to work or are working less. This could be due to the cancer itself, the effects of treatment, the psychological impact of your diagnosis, or because you are caring for someone with cancer.

Benefits are payments from the government available to people in certain circumstances who need financial help.

If you have been affected by a cancer diagnosis, you may qualify for some of these benefits, or for other financial support.

What benefits can I claim?

What benefits you can apply for depends on your age, your financial circumstance, and how your health condition affects you.

Some benefits are means tested and are assessed based on your household income and savings. Examples are:

• Universal Credit (UC)
• Pension Credit
• older benefits such as Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, and Job Seekers Allowance

Non-means tested benefits can be granted regardless of your household income and savings. They are assessed based on other factors, such as if you have a disability, long-term illness or a health condition, and how it impacts your personal care and mobility. Examples are:

England, Wales & Northern Ireland

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Attendance Allowance
• older benefits such as Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Scotland

• Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
• Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP)
• Child Disability Payment (CDP)
• Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance

Other non-means tested financial support available includes Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Benefits and support if you're of working age

Universal Credit (UC)

Universal Credit is a benefit paid monthly to help with living costs.

If you are below state pension age and you’re on a low income, out of work, or you cannot work, you may be eligible to apply. For example, if:

• you are working less because of your cancer diagnosis, and your income has reduced
• you are too unwell to work, whether you were employed, self-employed, or looking for work when you became ill
• you are a full-time carer for someone who is receiving a disability benefit

Universal Credit replaces some old benefits that have been phased out and are ending soon, known as legacy benefits. These include: Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Housing Benefit.

If you were on any of these legacy benefits, you should have been or may still be contacted by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) about migrating to Universal Credit.

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

Statutory Sick Pay is the minimum payment an employee is entitled to for periods where they are unable to work due to illness.

If you are employed and have been ill for more than 3 days in a row, you may be eligible. For example, if:

• you have cancer and are too ill to work
• you are undergoing treatment for cancer
• you have side effects from cancer or treatment that mean you cannot work

You can find the  here.

Many companies have their own sick policy that pays above and beyond Statutory Sick Pay, such as a number of sick days at full pay. Check your employment contract or speak to your HR team to find out.

If your only household income is Statutory Sick Pay, you may also be entitled to Universal Credit. This will depend on your household income and savings.

Statutory Sick Pay is not available if you are self employed, but you may be eligible for Employment and Support Allowance instead.

How does a sickness benefit differ from a disability benefit?

Statutory Sick Pay is a benefit for employees who are temporarily unable to work due to illness. It can be paid for as long as you are off sick, for up to 28 weeks.

If you are unable to work because you are living with a disability or a health condition that impacts your daily life, you may be eligible for a disability benefit such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP).

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

The new-style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a social security contributory benefit for people whose Statutory Sick Pay has ended or who don't qualify.

If you have lost earnings due to unemployment, illness or other specific life events, and you've paid or been credited with the minimum National Insurance contributions (NICs) in the last three years, you may be eligible to apply.

You can get ESA even if you have savings and your partner is working, and most income isn't taken into account (though a personal pension can affect how much you receive).

If you are also eligible for Universal Credit (UC), you can claim these two benefits together.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Personal Independence Payment is a benefit to help with the extra costs of living with a long-term health condition or disability.

If you are of working age and have difficulties with daily living tasks or mobility because of your condition, regardless of whether these stop you from working or not, you may be eligible to apply. For example, if:

• you have a physical health condition caused by cancer or treatment
• you have a mental health condition following a cancer diagnosis
• you have a disability

Your PIP entitlement is assessed based on how difficult you find certain everyday tasks and getting around.

You can get PIP even if you’re working, have savings, and are receiving other benefits, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements.

Adult Disability Payment (ADP)

Scotland

Adult Disability Payment (ADP) has replaced Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in Scotland. It has the same eligibility requirements and rates as PIP (see above). You can find out more about  here.

Benefits if you're of pension age

Pension Credit

Pension Credit is a means tested benefit that tops us your income to the minimum weekly amount if you are below a particular threshold.

How much you are eligible for depends on your income and personal financial circumstances.

There are two types of Pension Credit.

• Guaranteed Credit is payable if your household income (including your state pension, other pensions, earnings from employment and self-employment, certain benefits and other income) is below the threshold. You might get an additional amount if you're a carer, severely disabled (and on a particular disability benefit rate), responsible for a child or young person, or have leasehold housing costs.

• Savings Credit is payable if you (and your partner) reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 and have some retirement provisions, like savings or a pension. You might receive it if you have qualifying income above the Savings Credit threshold.
  

Attendance Allowance

England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Attendance Allowance is a non-means tested benefit to help with extra costs if you have difficulties with personal care because of a physical or mental disability or health condition.

How much you get depends on the level of care you need. If you have been awarded Attendance Allowance, a benefit check can identify if you may be eligible for extra Pension Credit, Council Tax Reduction or Housing Benefit on top of Attendance Allowance.

Pension Age Disability Payment

Scotland

Pension Age Disability Payment has replaced Attendance Allowance in Scotland. It has the same eligibility requirements and rates as Attendance Allowance (see above). You can find out more about  here.

Benefits if your diagnosis is non-curative or you're nearing the end of life

England, Wales and Northern Ireland

If your health professional, cancer nurse or doctor thinks you may have less than 12 months to live, you can access benefits more quickly by claiming under the .

This applies to Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance.

Scotland

In Scotland, if your diagnosis is non-curative or you are nearing the end of life, you may be eligible to claim benefits under instead, regardless of your life expectancy.

Support from your local council

As well as benefits from the government, there may be some support available to you from your local council.

Council Tax Reduction

If you’re on a low income or you claim benefits, you may be eligible to apply for .

If you are disabled and meet specific criteria as a result of your disability, you may be entitled to a discount on your council tax bill regardless of your income and savings. Find out more about the .

Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)

If you get the housing element of Universal Credit (or Housing Benefit) and need more help with housing costs, you may be eligible to apply for a .

Your local council will decide how much you get and how long for based on your circumstances.

Benefits for carers

Caring for someone with cancer can put a strain on your finances. There are benefits available to support carers, and you don't have to be related to or living with the person you are caring for to be eligible.

Carer's Allowance

 â€“ or  in Scotland â€“ is a benefit to help people who care for someone needing significant care.

If you are caring for someone for more than 35 hours a week, and they are receiving certain benefits, you may be eligible to apply.

If you are working, you may still be eligible to apply for Carers Allowance or Carer Support Payment, depending on your earnings.

Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment is considered an income, so it can affect the other benefits that you and the person you are caring for can get, such as Universal Credit and particular premiums on Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction.

Carer's Credit

Carer's Credit is a scheme to help fill gaps in your National Insurance payment record, so that you can take on caring responsibilities without it affecting your eligibility for the state pension.

Even if you don't qualify for Carer's Allowance or Carer Support Payment, you may be eligible to apply for Carer's Credit.

You will get Carer's Credit automatically if you are receiving Carer's Allowance or Carer Support Payment.

You may be eligible for an ‘underlying entitlement’ to Carers Allowance or Carer Support Payment. This can increase entitlement to some benefits. Talk to a Benefits Advisor at your nearest ÐÇ̽Â鶹 to find out if you are eligible.

Other benefits for carers

If you are on a low income, you may be eligible for other benefits as a carer, such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit.

If you are a carer and have your own health issues too, you could be claiming a disability or sickness benefit for your own limited ability to work, and still claim carer benefits.

Last review: Oct 2025 | Next review: Oct 2028