If You Need: Help With Household And Living Costs

Most of the time, people with cancer can keep working and continue to live as they did before their illness. However, occasionally people lose their jobs or are unable to return to work because their disease is worsening. Sometimes people lose their jobs for reasons other than their cancer, and they need financial assistance until they find a new job. In many of these cases, cancer patients may be eligible for financial help. Because cancer can be a long-term illness, a family's financial resources may be gradually depleted. But people with cancer may not want to ask for help, viewing it as "charity" or something reserved only for the poor. If you feel this way, remember that you did not choose to get cancer. Your tax dollars have supported financial aid programs for others.

These programs are there for you now, if you should need them. If a person with cancer cannot work, other family members who are not already employed may need to take a job. This change may cause feelings of guilt and anger, even in the most loving families. Talking together as a family can help, but sometimes a professional counselor may be needed. Family stress will make coping with cancer more difficult. Get help for you or your family if you cannot resolve your differences on your own.

Help You Can Receive:

A financial counselor or social worker can advise you about available financial assistance.
Cash grants and/or food stamps are available for people with a small income and few assets.
Disability benefits are available if you are not able to work for six months or longer. These benefits are available from employers if they offer long-term disability plans. If you have no benefits at work, help is available from the US Social Security Administration.

How Do You Find These Services?

Ask your hospital social worker to help you. Your social worker can determine if you meet the various program guidelines for receiving financial help.

You can also contact your:

County Board of Assistance
Social Security Administration office
Community agencies suggested by your social worker

Helpful Hints

If it is difficult for you to continue working because of the effects of your illness, you may be able to get job retraining.

If you think you have been discriminated against either in your present job or in finding a new job, there are grievance procedures available to you. For more information, see Help With Job Rehabilitation.

Job re-entry programs are available for people who return to work after staying home to raise a family. Ask your social worker for information about these programs.

Some people cannot keep up with utility bills and mortgages. If you are beginning to have problems paying household bills, don't wait until a crisis occurs to get help. Talk with your mortgage and utility companies before they have to contact you. Most utility companies have payment plans that can be arranged during times of crisis. Banks often are willing to reduce mortgage payments for a time or until you can get on your feet again. Ignoring a problem will not make it go away. Take action yourself before the problem becomes too much to handle. Your social worker can often help by contacting utility companies or banks if you are unsure how to proceed.

This Fact Sheet is adapted from the book, Helping People Cope: A Guide for Families Facing Cancer, written by Joan F. Hermann, ACSW, Sandra L. Wojtkowiak, RN, MSN, Peter S. Houts, Ph.D., and S. Benham Kahn, MD, and supported by the Pennsylvania Cancer Control Program of the Pennsylvania Department of Health; 1990 Revised Edition.

c 1993, American Cancer Society, Inc.

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