Grants and loans
If you are living with cancer and need financial help, you may be able to get a grant or loan. Find out more about the different types.
Which grants and loans are available?
If you have cancer and need financial help, you may be able to get a grant or loan. These are available from local and national organisations in the UK.
Find out information about:
- government and local council grants and loans
- grants and loans for heating costs
- grants and loans from charities and other organisations
- Macmillan Grants.
Related pages
Government and local councils
Different areas have Local Welfare Assistance schemes that provide grants and loans. These schemes help people who are on a low income or getting certain benefits in an emergency situation. You could get:
- vouchers or a pre-paid card to pay for food, fuel or clothing
- basic living items, such as a bed, cooker or fridge.
How you apply depends on where you live:
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If you live in England or Scotland
You can contact your local council. You can find your local council’s contact details at GOV.UK.
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If you live in Wales
You can contact the Discretionary Assistance Fund on 0800 859 5924.
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If you live in Northern Ireland
You can contact the Finance Support Service on 0800 587 2750, or use textphone 0800 587 2751.
For more information, you can also speak to our welfare rights advisers on 0808 808 00 00.
Grants and loans for heating costs
There are different types of support available if you are struggling with heating bills. Your energy supplier may be able to give you a grant, a discount or a better way to manage your payments. There are also energy-saving schemes and government grants to reduce your costs.
We have more information about managing your energy costs.Charities and other organisations
Other sources of help include:
- occupational funds
- help from utility companies – gas, electricity and water companies
- help from charities.
For more information, call the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8am to 8pm.
Young Lives vs Cancer provides one-off grants to children and young people with cancer and their families. These can help with the extra costs that cancer can cause. You can apply with the help of a Young Lives vs Cancer social worker or by completing a form on their website. For more information, call 0300 303 5220.
Turn2us helps people find specific charities that may be able to offer financial help. They have a grants search tool on their website and offer some grants themselves.
Your local library may have books about organisations that offer grants. This may include: A guide to grants for individuals in need, published by the Directory of Social Change.
Macmillan Grants
Macmillan Grants are small payments to help people with the extra costs that cancer can cause. They are for people who have a low level of income and savings.
If you need things like extra clothing, help paying heating bills or travel to your appointments, you may be able to get a Macmillan Grant.
A grant from Macmillan would not affect the benefits you are entitled to. It is an extra bit of help, not a replacement for other support.
We have more information about Macmillan Grants.
About our information
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References
Below is a sample of the sources used in our financial help and benefits information. If you would like more information about the sources we use, please contact us at cancerinformationteam@macmillan.org.uk
GOV.UK www.gov.uk (accessed January 2022).
Benefits and pension rates 2021 to 2022. www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-and-pension-rates-2021-to-2022/benefit-and-pension-rates-2021-to-2022 (accessed January 2022).
nidirect.gov.uk www.nidirect.gov.uk (accessed January 2022).
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This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by Macmillan professionals and people living with cancer. It has been approved by Macmillan’s Welfare Rights team.
Our cancer information has been awarded the PIF TICK. Created by the Patient Information Forum, this quality mark shows we meet PIF’s 10 criteria for trustworthy health information.
Date reviewed
Our cancer information meets the PIF TICK quality mark.
This means it is easy to use, up-to-date and based on the latest evidence. Learn more about how we produce our information.
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