You might earn less when caring for a child with cancer as you may need to work fewer hours or stop working. You might also have extra expenses, such as travel costs. There are government benefits that you might qualify for if you care for someone with cancer.
Social workers can help with any practical, emotional and financial problems you may have. Young Lives vs Cancer provide social workers who provide dedicated support children with cancer and their families.
DLA for children helps with day-to-day living costs if your child has, or had, cancer. It is not means tested, meaning it’s not based on your income or savings. It will not affect any other benefits you’re getting. The amount you get will depend on the level of help your child needs.
You can get DLA if your child needs:
help walking
help getting around outdoors or in new places
more care or supervision than a child their age without a serious illness or disability.
Your child must have needed help with some or all of these for at least 3 months and be likely to need help for at least another 6 months.
Applying for DLS (Young Lives vs Cancer)
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children - how to apply (gov.uk)
The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for people aged 16+. It is available to people who have a health condition, whether in or out of work. The benefit is there to help people live as independently as possible and deal with any extra costs that can often come with having a health condition.
Your eligibility for PIP is based on how your condition affects you, rather than the condition itself. This means that you will need to go through an application process to see what level of support you are entitled to.
Applying for PIP (Young Lives vs Cancer)
You may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS). For eligibility information visit the link below.
Carer's Allowance is a payment you can get if you're looking after someone for at least 35 hours a week and they are on certain benefits. The care can include:
helping them with washing and cooking
taking them to a doctor's appointment
helping them with daily tasks such as paying bills and doing shopping
Carer's Allowance (gov.uk)
Helpful links
Get a Young Lives Vs Cancer Grant (Young Lives vs Cancer)
Young Lives vs Cancer Crisis Fund (Young Lives vs Cancer)
Help with money (Young Lives vs Cancer)
Useful contacts for benefits (Cancer Research UK)
Money and work (Macmillan Cancer Support)
Macmillan Grants (Macmillan Cancer Support)
Grants for people with cancer (Disability Grants)
Family Fund Grants (Family Fund)
Financial support and cancer (Cancer Research UK)