Grants for adults with cancer

There are charities that can offer grants and information about grants to adults with cancer and their families.

Macmillan Cancer Support

Macmillan provides small one-off payments for people with cancer who have a low income and low savings. The grants can help with practical needs caused by cancer or its treatment. You can use the money to:

• buy new clothes if your body's shape or size has changed due to weight loss or weight gain
• pay your heating bills if they are high because you're using your heating more due to feeling cold during chemotherapy
• pay for a much-needed short break in the UK during, between, or after treatment, or when you can't have any further treatment

Macmillan will also look at specific requests that can help to make your situation more comfortable and give you a better quality of life.

How much will you get?

How much you get will depend on your situation and needs. The average amount is about £300. A Macmillan grant doesn't usually affect any other benefits you're getting.

Who qualifies?

To qualify, you must:

• have a cancer diagnosis, or still be affected by cancer or its treatment
• live in the UK
• have less than £1,000 in savings
• have a low income after paying rent, mortgage and Council Tax (a weekly income of up to £323 for a single person, or £442 for a couple or family)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance (AA) are not counted as part of your income.

How to apply

You can apply by phone by calling the number lower down on this page. Or you can ask the following people to apply on your behalf:

• a medical or healthcare professional
• a benefits adviser
• a social worker
• someone in another professional position working with people affected by cancer

If the person applying for you is not a healthcare professional, a second person needs to write a medical report. The report needs to have information on your cancer diagnosis, outlook (prognosis) and how cancer has affected you. This person can be a Macmillan nurse, clinical nurse specialist, hospital doctor, GP or any other Macmillan healthcare professional that looks after you.

Contact details

Contact Macmillan Cancer Support for more information on grants. Ask to speak to the Welfare Rights team.

Helpline: 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm and Saturday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm). 

Charis

Charis gives access to many products and services that can support people who need them the most. The website has a shop function which is a simple and easy to use platform. It helps you to find the support you need. Charis has partnered with:

• other charities
• local authorities
• housing associations
• companies

Scheme providers include:

• Utilita
• British gas
• E-ON
• EDF
• Scottish Power
• SSE
• Park Homes Warm Discount
• BES - utilities
• E-ON next
• OVO energy

Contact details

Phone: 01733 421 021

Turn2us

Turn2us is a national UK charity that gives practical help to people who are struggling financially. It helps people find financial support such as welfare benefits and charitable grants. The website has:

• a benefits calculator
• a search tool for finding funds that might be able to give you a grant or other types of help
• a tool to look for a local adviser to help you with advice on personal benefits or grants issues
• a helpline

Turn2us also has its own national grant programmes, as well as financial help for people in need in Edinburgh. You can find more information on their website.

Helpline: 0808 802 2000, 9am to 5pm Mondays to Fridays

Other resources

For a complete list of charities offering grants, ask for this book in your local library:

The Guide to Major Trusts 2023/24

Abigail O'Loughlin

17th edition

Published by the Directory of Social Change, September 2022

ISBN 9781784820701