Macmillan Benefits Advice Service

Support with financial concerns including assessing your entitlement to means-tested and non means-tested benefits, one-off payments, insurance and pension advice and helping you apply for a Blue Badge.

• Telephone: 0300 1233 233 (option 1)
• Email: info@macmillanbenefitsservice.co.uk

When you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with cancer, money may not be one of the first things you think about, however, your income may be reduced if you have to give up work due to illness or to look after someone. Bills may stay the same, or they may increase as you spend more time at home. If you are struggling to cope with the financial effects of cancer it is important to remember that there are a range of different benefits that could help.

Macmillan: Money, finance and insurance

Macmillan provide a range of information dedicated to financial support and management.

They also have a free will writing service, for more information call 0808 808 0000.

AdviceNI

AdviceNI is an independent advice network. A list of its members can be found on the AdviceNI website or you can telephone or email to find out if there is an AdviceNI centre in your area.

• Telephone: 028 9064 5919
• Email: info@adviceni.net
  
• Website: AdviceNI

NI Direct

You can go to the nidirect website for information on benefits and support in Northern Ireland.

Community Advice

Your local Community Advice branch can give you financial and welfare advice, including employment rights. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) protects anyone in Northern Ireland who has, or has had, cancer.

This means their employer must not discriminate against them for any reason. If you feel you have been discriminated in work because of your cancer, you can contact your local community advice centre.

Mid and East Antrim Community Advice Services

• Telephone: 028 9600 1333
• Website: Community Advice Mid and East Antrim

Community Advice Causeway

• Telephone: 028 7034 4817
• Website: Community Advice Causeway

Community Advice Antrim and Newtownabbey

• Telephone: 028 9590 6505
• Website: Community Advice Antrim and Newtownabbey

Step (Mid Ulster)

• Cookstown office – Telephone: 028 8676 1875
• Magherafelt office – Telephone: 028 7963 3079

Housing Rights

Housing Rights provide advice and support to people in Northern Ireland, to help them live in a safe, affordable and appropriate home.

Housing Advice Helpline

• Telephone: 028 9024 5640
• Website: Housing Rights

Consumer Council

In Northern Ireland, there are a limited number of energy companies so changing suppliers may not be possible. The Consumer Council for Northern Ireland has information about dealing with fuel bills.

Consumer Council

• Telephone: 0800 121 6022
• Website: Consumer Council for Northern Ireland

If you are having trouble paying your bills or are worried about getting into debt, you should contact your energy supplier as soon as possible.

Priority Service Register

If you are living with cancer, you should let your supplier know and they should then place you on the Priority Service Register, which gives you access to free extra services from your supplier.  It also ensures your energy will not be cut off if you fall behind on your payments.

Help with transport costs

One of the extra costs that cancer patients face is the cost of travel to and from hospital for treatment.

• Depending on what benefits you receive you may be entitled to help with travel costs, for example, bus or train fares to hospital, or some petrol costs. For more information, speak to your healthcare team, staff at the Hospital Cash Office or the Northern Trust Macmillan information and Support Team on 028 9442 4000 (extension: 333079) or at CancerInformation@northerntrust.hscni.net.
• There are special rates for bus, coach and train travel for eligible older people and people with disabilities. Check at your local bus, coach or train station for details, or call Translink on 028 9066 6630, or visit the Translink website.
• If you have problems using public transport, there may be community transport services in your area that can help. Call us on 028 9442 4000 (extension: 333079) or at CancerInformation@northerntrust.hscni.net.
• If you are disabled or get the mobility component of certain benefits you may be able to get free road tax and may benefit from the Motability scheme.

Age NI

Age NI provides information and fact sheets for older people on topics such as benefits, community care, wills and housing.

• Advice line: 0808 808 7575
• Telephone: 028 9024 5729
• Website: Age NI

Social workers

A social worker may be able to give you advice on sources of financial help. The social worker is part of your multi-disciplinary team and is available for you throughout your care at the Northern Trust.

StepChange Debt

StepChange Debt is a registered charity whose purpose is to assist people who are in financial difficulty by providing free, confidential debt advice and no-fee debt solutions. Their online debt counselling service provides instant, anonymous advice, a personalised budget and a realistic recommendation. No commitment is required and the service is free of charge.

• Telephone: 0800 138 1111 (Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 8:00pm, and Saturday 9:00am to 2:00pm)
• Website: StepChange Debt