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Financial assistance

Dealing with cancer can present significant financial challenges. Finding time for appointments and treatments while facing medical bills and additional travel costs can all take a toll on your budget.

Cancer Council can help you find relevant community and government resources that may be able to assist you financially.

We may be able to provide a one-off grant to help you meet specific financial challenges posed by cancer. This is assessed on an individual basis usually through a social worker at your treatment centre.

Talk to your social worker first, then call Cancer Council 13 11 20 if you need further assistance.

Qualified financial planners from the Financial Planning Referral Service can help you with:

  • applying for Centrelink benefits
  • budgeting
  • transitioning to retirement
  • planning for your children’s future
  • debt management, superannuation and insurance.

Legal assistance

Qualified lawyers from the Legal Referral Service can help you with:

  • drafting wills
  • powers of attorney
  • early access to superannuation
  • mortgage hardship variations
  • credit and debt issues
  • insurance claims and disputes
  • employment and discrimination

How does it work?

Cancer Council will connect you with a lawyer or financial planner. Usually you will meet them at their office but if you are very unwell, they may be able to visit you in hospital or at home.

If you speak a language other than English we can arrange an interpreter for you.

Anyone affected by cancer can apply. We will do our best to help you but we may not always be able to assist. You must pass a means test in order to qualify for free assistance. If you do not satisfy the means test you can still choose to have paid assistance.

Your social worker or Cancer Council can help you find out if you are eligible and will let you know if there are services in your area.

For eligible clients, legal and financial planning assistance is provided at no cost. If you do not satisfy the means test you can still choose to have paid assistance.

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For more information call Cancer Council 13 11 20.

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