Financial support after a stem cell transplant

Why might I need financial support?

One of the main reasons why some people return to work earlier than they should after their transplant is because they don’t have enough money. However, during your recovery and before going back to work, you might be able to get some help to ease your financial worries.

Although some cancer charities offer financial support, it’s often only available to people with blood cancer and not blood disorders. So on this page, we’ve suggested other options that can financially benefit anyone who has had a stem cell transplant.

Sick pay

If you’re too ill to work, you can claim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from the UK government if you meet both of these criteria:

• you are in employment
• and you have been off work for longer than four days in a row.

Your employer pays your SSP, but you first need to inform them of your situation in writing. You will also need to get a ‘fit note’ from your doctor or nurse. You can claim SSP for up to 28 weeks, which is the same as seven months.

Occupational or company sick pay

You may be entitled to extra sick pay from your employer, on top of the SSP from the government. There’s no set rule on how much money you’ll receive or how long you’ll get it for – it all depends on your company and contract. Not all companies offer occupational sick pay – you’ll need to talk to someone in your HR department about what’s available to you.

For more information about both SSP and company sick pay, visit the Acas website.

Government benefits

There’s a wide range of government benefits available for people who have been too sick to work, as well as for people who care for them. Each benefit has different eligibility criteria, so you’ll need to check for your specific medical condition and situation. 

You might be entitled to government benefits such as: 

• Disability benefits like the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) 

• Carer's allowance 

• Universal credit 

• Council tax reduction 

For more information on benefits, visit the Citizens Advice website. You can also speak to an adviser in your local centre, or call their national services for free on 0800 144 8848 for England or 0800 702 2020 for Wales. 

Applying for grants

Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible to apply for a grant. A grant is a sum of money to help you out that you’ll never need to pay back. You usually need to fill in a form and explain how the money will help with your recovery. 

Some organisations and charities offering grants include:

Anthony Nolan

We offer grants to people who have had a stem cell transplant who have limited savings. You can apply for a one-off grant up to £250 to help with a wide range of practical needs linked to transplant. For example, travel costs, hospital parking fees or money towards a new mattress or washing machine to help reduce your infection risk. Find out if you’re eligible and how to apply on our page about Anthony Nolan Grants. 

Macmillan

Macmillan offers one-off grants up to £200 to help with living costs for people recovering from cancer treatment. The grants are intended for people with little or no savings, but the amount given will depend on your needs and situation. For more information, visit their webpage on Macmillan Grants. 

Young Lives vs Cancer

Young Lives vs Cancer offers grants of £100 to children and young people who have received an initial or secondary cancer diagnosis, or a relapse diagnosis a year or more after the end of their previous treatment. For more information and to apply, visit their webpage on Young Lives vs Cancer Grants. 

You can also search for a wide range of local and national grant schemes on the Turn2us website. Using this search tool, you can find specific grants for people with cancers and blood disorders, as well as their carers. 

Tips for saving money and getting support

Below you’ll find tips and advice for managing your finances and applying for help with your situation: 

• Some of the grant or benefit application forms can be tricky to fill in, but you can get help from a welfare advisor or social worker. If you have any questions or need help, you can also contact Citizens Advice. 

• Try to plan ahead financially as much as possible. For example, three months before your statutory sick pay ends, start to look into other ways of getting support. 

• Find out about all the ways your employer can support you financially during your time off and into your recovery. You can do this by reading through your employee handbook (if your workplace provides one) or contacting someone in HR. 

• People who have a blood cancer diagnosis are entitled to free prescriptions, as are people recovering from a transplant to treat blood cancer. Ask your doctor for a ‘medical exemption application form’ for prescriptions. Unfortunately, this scheme does not cover people with a blood disorder. However, you may be able to get free prescriptions using the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS). 

• If you have insurance policies for your house, health, or life, you might be entitled to a payment following a blood cancer or blood disorder diagnosis. For more specific advice, you’ll need to check with the company providing your cover. 

Where can I look for more financial help?

If you’ve read all the information on this page but still need more help, you can try the following online sources: 

• Blood Cancer UK – This page offers information on financial support available for people with blood cancer diagnoses. 

• Citizens Advice – The debt and money section of the website offers advice and information on coping with debt, plus employment and consumer issues. 

• GOV.UK – The UK Government website has a section on benefits, with information on what’s available and how to apply. 

• Macmillan – This page offers information on benefits and financial support that might be useful during your recovery. 

• Maggie's – This page explains how you can access free practical support with a Benefits Advisor by getting in touch with Maggie’s. 

• MoneyHelper – This website offers free, impartial financial advice for everyone. This UK government runs the MoneyHelper website. 

• MoneySavingExpert – This independent website offers general advice on how to save money and ways to reduce your monthly bills. 

• Turn2us – This website has tools which allow you to search for benefits and grants you may be eligible for in the UK.