Financial Assistance Resources

Cancer and Careers Financial Assistance Grants Program

The Financial Assistance Grants Program, introduced in 2020, provides a one-time monetary grant for cancer patients and survivors experiencing financial challenges to use toward bills, technology, skill development or training. Though applications are currently closed,  click here to learn more.

Cancer and Careers Technology Assistance Program

The Technology Assistance Program grants a one-time award of one (1) laptop (such as a Chromebook or similar device) to cancer patients and survivors with limited access to the technologies necessary to participate in CAC’s conferences. To be notified about future Technology Assistance Programs as they become available, please fill out our TAP Notification Signup Form.

Local Resources

Contact helping professionals (e.g., Social Workers, Patient Advocates, Nurse Navigators) at your hospital or treatment center, so they can connect you with local resources and services you may benefit from.

The following websites allow you to search for resources and services in your area:

External Financial Assistance Resources 

The following organizations provide financial support to those in need. Each program has specific criteria for eligibility listed below or on their own websites. Cancer and Careers is not specifically affiliated with the resources mentioned and claim no responsibility for their services. As of publication on our website, the resources below are current and active. Contact us at cancerandcareers@cew.org for feedback about any of the organizations we've listed below.

General Living Expenses

Organization Description / Eligibility Requirements Category Contact Information
Allyson Whitney Foundation
Life Interrupted Grants
 https://allysonwhitney.org/grants/
Provides grants from $500-$1,200 for young adults (16 – 36 years old) who are undergoing treatment or have finished active treatment (within 8 months) for a rare cancer. Grants may be used for expenses such as: medical bills, rent, utilities, car and health insurance premiums, etc. The applications need to be requested by a Social Worker or Patient Navigator. Next round to receive an application is June 2023.
 Cancer-specific Email:
CancerCare Financial Assistance Program https://www.cancercare.org/financial
Offers limited financial assistance for cancer-related costs such as transportation and childcare. Eligibility requirements include but are not limited to: have a cancer diagnosis, be in active treatment for cancer, live in the United States or Puerto Rico, meet eligibility guidelines based on the Federal Poverty Limit.
Cancer-specific Phone number:
1-800-813-HOPE (4673)
Expect Miracles Foundation's SAMFund Financial Assistance Grant https://expectmiraclesfoundation.org/financial-assistance-grant/
SAMFund Financial Assistance Grants are for cancer survivors seeking assistance with essential living expenses. Grants cover rent or mortgage payments, car payments, graduate or continuing education, fertility storage fees and reconstructive, dental, or cosmetic procedures related to your cancer treatment. 		Cancer-specific Email: info@expectmiraclesfoundation.org 

Phone number: (617) 938-3484
Family Reach Financial Treatment Program
(Emergency Relief)
 https://familyreach.org/ftp/
Provides a grant to cover non-medical everyday living expenses. Eligibility requirements include but are not limited to: have a cancer diagnosis, be in active treatment for cancer or have completed cancer treatment within 1 year, receive treatment at a hospital in the United States, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories and be represented by a healthcare professional. Additionally, a child or young adult must be impacted. They can assist families with a child facing cancer (aged 0 to 17), young adult patients (aged 18 to 30) with or without children in the home, and adult patients (31 and older) who have children aged 18 and under. Patients must be represented by a healthcare professional during the application process.
 Cancer-specific Email:
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Urgent Need Program https://www.lls.org/support-resources/financial-support/urgent-need-program
The Urgent Need Program funds provide eligible patients with assistance for non-medical expenses including rent, mortgage, lodging, utilities, childcare, elder care, food, transportation, car repair, car insurance, phone service and acute dental work related to treatment. A grant of $500, once per 12-month period. Must be a blood cancer patient in acute financial need.		 Cancer-specific Email: FinancialAssistance@LLS.org 

Phone number: (877) 557-2672
Modest Needs
Self-Sufficiency Grants
 https://www.modestneeds.org/for-applicants/
Helps families and individuals with unexpected or emergency expenses, or with monthly bills due to a documentable extenuating circumstance that occurred within the past year.
 General, non-cancer specific support Email:
National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.
Military Women's Patient Relief Fund
 https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/nbcf-programs/military-womens-patient-relief-fund/
The NBCF Military Women’s Patient Relief Fund provides financial support to eligible military women diagnosed with breast cancer who face barriers to care, including transportation, childcare, housing, groceries, prescription co-pays, and underinsured treatment costs.
Cancer-specific Phone number: (972) 248-9200

Family Programs

Organization Description / Eligibility Requirements Category Contact Information
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofa/map/about/help-families
Provides monthly cash assistance payments to low-income families with children. Visit the website for your state’s TANF program contact information.
Government benefits Contact your state’s TANF program.
B+ Foundation Family Assistance Program https://www.bepositive.org/need-help
Offers assistance to families for expenses, such as prescription medications not covered by insurance, travel costs for treatments, mortgage and rent payments, that are attributed to their child’s cancer diagnosis. Eligibility requirements include having a child diagnosed with cancer under the age of 21, and the child must be receiving treatment at any US hospital.
Cancer-specific Email:
Compassion Can’t Wait https://compassioncantwait.org/social-worker-form/
Helps single parent families of children with life threatening illnesses with every day needs during the child’s treatment. A Social Worker must complete the application form.
Single parent household Phone number:
310-276-7111
The National Children’s Cancer Society
Emergency Assistance Fund
https://www.thenccs.org/financial-assistance
Provides $200 in emergency assistance per year to families who have a child that has been inpatient or away from home for 30 consecutive days within the past three months. Assistance may be used for mortgage, rent, utility payments, childcare, health insurance premiums, car expenses or treatment-related expenses.
 Cancer-specific Phone number:
314-241-1600
Pinky Swear Foundation All Star Fund https://pinkyswear.org/all-star-fund/
Provides financial support with unexpected expenses (e.g., rent / mortgage, groceries, gas, etc.) to families who have a child under the age of 22 receiving treatment for cancer.
 Cancer-specific Phone number:
952-974-9600
Natcaf
Children’s Cancer Assistance Fund & Children’s Cancer Dream Network
https://natcaf.org/request-assistance/
Provides financial assistance to families with a child diagnosed with cancer for non-medical costs of getting patient to treatment and other living expenses through their Children’s Cancer Assistance Fund and Children’s Cancer Dream Network. (Natcaf does not operate or accept applications from the following states AR, IA, MI, OR.)
 Cancer-specific Email:

Insurance & Co-Pay Assistance

Organization Description / Eligibility Requirements Contact Information
Accesia Health https://accessiahealth.org/patient-programs/
Offers assistance to pay for one or more of the following: medication and provider copays, coinsurance, health insurance premiums, medical expenses, and travel. Visit their website to see funds that are open for application and to check eligibility requirements.
Phone number:
1-800-366-7741
Patient Access Network Foundation (PAN) https://www.panfoundation.org/
Helps underinsured people with out-of-pocket expenses. Their eligibility finder will determine if you are eligible for assistance, check for open funds and provide additional resources.
 Phone number:
1-866-316-7263
CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation https://www.cancercare.org/copayfoundation
Provides cancer patients assistance with co-payments for their prescribed treatments. Visit their website to see an up-to-date list of the assistance available for each diagnosis. You can apply online or over the phone.
Phone number:
1-866-552-6729
Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief https://copays.org/
Provides direct payment for co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles for patients who need financial assistance. Patients must be currently insured and have coverage for medication seeking financial assistance. Visit their website to review the open funds and eligibility requirements. You can apply online or over the phone. Once you’ve applied, you’ll be notified immediately if you are eligible for assistance.
Phone number:
1-866-512-3861
HealthWell Foundation https://www.healthwellfoundation.org/patients/
Offers financial assistance through multiple Disease Funds for copays, premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses. Visit the website to review the open funds and eligibility requirements.
Phone number:
1-800-675-8416
Medicine Assistance Tool https://medicineassistancetool.org/
Matches patients with resources and cost-sharing programs that may help lower out-of-pocket costs.
 Phone number:
571-350-8643
Good Days https://www.mygooddays.org/
Provides financial support for patients who cannot afford the treatment they need. In order to apply, the patient must be diagnosed with a covered disease and program must be accepting enrollments. Visit their website to review open programs and other eligibility requirements.
Phone number:
1-877-968-7233
Needy Meds https://www.needymeds.org/
Provides free information on programs that help people who can't afford medications and healthcare costs.
 Phone number:
1-800-503-6897
Cost Plus Drugs https://costplusdrugs.com/
Offers safe medicines at the lowest possible price. The company provides complete transparency on the cost of drugs so that patients know they are getting a fair price.
 Online Contact Form or Chat:

Transportation / Travel and Lodging

Organization Description / Eligibility Requirements Category Contact Information
Mercy Medical Angels https://www.mercymedical.org/request-assistance
Provides transportation on the ground (e.g., gas cards, bus or train tickets) and in the air (e.g., commercial airline tickets and volunteer pilots) for patients and one medically necessary escort. Eligibility requirements may include but are not limited to: 21 days’ notice, medical clearance, income verification, verification of medical appointment, etc.
Income-based Email:
Road to Recovery https://www.cancer.org/support-programs-and-services/road-to-recovery.html
Provides free local transportation for cancer patients who do not have a ride or are unable to drive. In order to be eligible, patients must be traveling to a cancer-related medical appointment. Call 1-800-227-2345 to coordinate your ride.
Cancer-specific Phone number:
1-800-227-2345
Hope Lodge https://www.cancer.org/support-programs-and-services/patient-lodging/hope-lodge.html
Offers free temporary housing for cancer patients who need outpatient treatment. The emphasis is on providing a nurturing, home-like environment that is conducive to healing. Accommodations and eligibility requirements may vary by location.
 Cancer-specific Phone number:
1-800-227-2345
Joe’s House https://www.joeshouse.org/
Lists cancer treatment centers and hospitals around the country with nearby lodging facilities that offer a discount. The site also lists lodging chain partners offering discounts.
Cancer-specific Phone number:
1-877-563-7468
Lyft Jobs Access https://www.lyft.com/lyftup/jobs-access/get-help
Thanks to the Indeed Essentials to Work Program, job seeking individuals may be eligible for free Lyft rides to help you get to a job. Check to see if these rides are available in your city.
 General Support - not income specific Visit the website for availability:
Extended Stay America & American Cancer Society https://www.extendedstayamerica.com/acs-partnership
As the Official Hotel Partner of the American Cancer Society, Extended Stay America provides free and discounted rooms for patients needing temporary housing while receiving treatment. The American Cancer Society will work with patients to determine eligibility.
 Cancer-specific Phone number:
1-800-227-2345

Food

Organization Description / Eligibility Requirements Category Contact Information
SNAP https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-directory
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a government program that helps people buy food. Each state has its own application and eligibility requirements. Contact your local SNAP office to apply and for more information.
Government benefits Contact your local SNAP office.
Feeding America https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank
The Feeding America nationwide network of food banks and food programs help people find food in their communities. Enter your zip code to find food banks in your area.
 General support: Open eligibility Phone number:
1-800-771-2303
USDA: Free and Reduced Price School Meals https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/applying-free-and-reduced-price-school-meals
Contact your child’s school and fill out a school meal application to determine if your child is eligible for free or reduced price school meals. Children are automatically eligible for free meals if anyone in their household gets SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR benefits.
 Government benefits Contact your child’s school or school district.
Meals on Wheels https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/find-meals
Provides meals for seniors (generally 60+) at home or in their community for free or on a voluntary sliding scale contribution. Search using your zip code to find your local program and apply. Please note that during the COVID-19 crisis, provider operating status, capacity and/or delivery schedules will vary.
Age-specific: Seniors Phone number:
1-888-998-6325

Education / Scholarships

Organization Description / Eligibility Requirements Category Contact Information
LLS Scholarship for Blood Cancer Survivors https://www.lls.org/lls-scholarship-blood-cancer-survivors
The LLS Scholarship for Blood Cancer Survivors provides up to $7,500 to cover tuition for virtual or in-person vocational, trade, two-year, or four-year undergraduate education for one year.
Scholarship, Young Adults Email: Scholarship@LLS.org
The Ruth Cheatham Foundation https://www.ruthcheathamfoundation.org/scholarship-info
Supports teens impacted by cancer by bridging the educational opportunity gap and providing a gateway to economic mobility and a higher quality of life. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need and impact of disease and vary in amount from $2,000, $3,500, and $5,000.
Scholarship, Young Adults Email: mail@ruthcheathamfoundation.org
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