What Cancer Benefits Can I Claim?
Universal Credit is a payment that helps you with living costs. You can claim it if you're on a low income, out of work or you can’t work.
The government has been introducing Universal Credit gradually since April 2013, and replacing the following benefits:
Income based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Income Support
Child Tax Credits
Working Tax Credits
Housing Benefit
Most of these benefits are due to end in April 2026 and will be replaced by universal credit. You should have received a notice from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to change to universal credit. This is called a migration notice. You should contact the DWP if you haven’t heard from them.
Read more about Universal Credit (UC) on the Government website
Statutory Sick Pay is a benefit for employed people who become ill and cannot work. Your employer pays it for up to 28 weeks. To qualify for SSP you must be:
employed
have done some work for your employer
have been ill for at least one full working day
If you are an agency worker, you might be able to claim SSP.
You are paid SSP for the days that you are contracted to work. For example, you will not be paid for weekends if you work Monday to Friday.
Statutory Sick Pay may be topped up with Universal Credit.
Read more about Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) on the Government website
If you are ill, have a long term health condition or a disability, the new style Employment and Support Allowance benefit offers:
financial support if you're unable to work
help so that you can work if you're able to
New style Employment and Support Allowance is for people under the State Pension age. You need to have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.
You qualify whether you're in or out of work or were self employed. But certain conditions around work and National Insurance contributions might affect your claim for ESA. You usually need to have:
worked as an employee or have been self employed
paid enough National Insurance contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years
New style ESA is not . You can apply for it three months before your Statutory Sick Pay ends.
There is a different way to apply for Employment and Support Allowance if you are near the end of life. This can help you get your benefit more quickly.
Claiming ESA if you’re nearing the end of life
There is also a different way to apply if you live in Northern Ireland.
Claiming Employment and Support Allowance in Northern Ireland
Read more about Employment and Support Allowance on the Government website
New style Jobseeker's Allowance is a non means tested benefit that can support you while you're looking for work.
To qualify, you will need to have:
worked as an employee
made Class 1 National Insurance contributions in the last 2 to 3 years
To help with extra costs, such as children or young people and housing, you may also claim Universal Credit to top up your JSA.
Read more about Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) on the Government website
Tax credits are payments by His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) that give extra money to people who need it. Universal Credit (UC) has replaced tax credits. Tax credits ended on 5 April 2025. Universal credit is now available across the UK. It is no longer possible to make a brand new claim for tax credits. Instead, you claim UC or Pension Credit if appropriate. If you have already claimed tax credits, you should have received a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The letter asks you to claim either Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
There were two types:
Working Tax Credit (WTC)
Child Tax Credit (CTC)
Read about Universal Credit (UC) on the Government website
Read about Pension Credit on the Government website
Council Tax Reduction is a benefit that can help you pay your council tax if you are on a low income or getting certain benefits.
There is a different scheme in Northern Ireland.
Read more on how it works in Northern Ireland
Read more about Council Tax Reduction on the Government website
You can get help and advice on benefits from the following people:
a hospital or community social worker - they can give you advice on benefits and help you deal with debts
a welfare rights adviser at a hospital
Citizens Advice - their advisers can help with filling out benefit forms
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provide its service through Jobcentre Plus offices. They deal with benefits for people who are unemployed or who can’t work because of a health condition or a disability
In Northern Ireland, the Department for Communities deals with benefits and pensions. For Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support in Northern Ireland, you need to contact your Jobs and Benefits office.
Contact a Jobs and Benefits office
Macmillan Cancer Support provides support and guidance on how to deal with the financial impact of cancer.
You can contact their team of money advisers (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) on 0808 808 0000.
You can use the government’s benefits checker to find out which financial support you may be eligible for.
We also have information on contacts who can provide advice on benefits.
Last reviewed: 07 Apr 2026
Next review due: 07 Apr 2027
Working out which benefits you can apply for can be difficult. And applying for them can be time consuming. A number of organisations can help.
You may be able to get financial support from charities and organisations that help people with cancer and their families.
There are people and organisations that can help with benefits advice and information. They can help people with cancer and their carers.
Cancer might affect your personal finances, such as your mortgage, pension, credit cards and insurance. A financial adviser can offer advice.
Get information on coping with practical matters such as money and travel, as well as treatment for overseas visitors.
Search for the cancer type you want to find out about. Each section has detailed information about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, research and coping with cancer.
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