Financial Assistance for Cancer Patients

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, most aspects of a family’s lifestyle are impacted in some way. We understand families are under high amounts of pressure and stress during the course of their child’s cancer, treatment and beyond. 

Cancer Hub provides guidance with financial assistance for cancer patients and helping them focus on treatment and wellbeing.

Redkite provides financial support for cancer patients and their families because with a diagnosis can often come with unexpected costs, such as going down to one income due to one parent becoming a full-time carer. The financial pressure can become unimaginable. Financial help for cancer patients, and their families is essential for them to get by. 

This is why Redkite’s financial assistance for cancer helps to ease the pressure to parents, guardians, and carers of a child with cancer, as well as independent teenagers (aged 16-18) with cancer, by helping them pay for:

• Rent and mortgage
• Essential household bills (e.g. mobile phone, electricity, and internet)
• Groceries
• Petrol

Redkite offers three levels of cancer financial support to suit different needs and these funds can be accessed from the time of diagnosis until 12 months after treatment ends through their online portal ‘myRedkite’

Tips to help families ease financial stress is a great resource for support services that may be able to help.

Types of Financial Assistance

Government Support

• Centrelink benefits (Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, JobSeeker if applicable) Understanding and navigating Centrelink is difficult and confusing. Redkite have highlighted a few tips about Centrelink and other options that may be relevant to you and your family.
  
  
• Healthcare cards and concessions – A card that can allow you to access bulk-billed doctor visits, cheaper medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), and lower your threshold for  the Medicare Safety Net. Depending on your state or territory, you may also be able to access discounts on electricity and gas bills, property and water rates, public transport and motor vehicle registration.

Charitable and Community Assistance

• Local charities and foundations offering grants, vouchers, or subsidies for living costs, utilities, and transport.
  
  Redkite is a national cancer charity that provides professional and essential support to children and young people aged 0-18years diagnosed with cancer, and their families.
  
  To access Redkite services call 1800 733 548 or email [email protected]. For fundraising or donations, email [email protected]

• Include guidance on how to apply and eligibility criteria families. The myRedkite portal allows families to access the services they need, whenever they need them.
  
  Online portal: You may need to register for an account on the myRedkite portal and provide details to confirm eligibility.
  
  Hospital-based health professional: In some cases, a hospital-based health professional will need to confirm a diagnosis for the application to be processed. 

Emergency Financial Relief

• Options for immediate financial help for essential living expenses, including food, utilities, and transport – In special circumstances, such as a child’s cancer diagnosis, some superannuation funds may allow you to access all or part of your super before you retire. Read more about Accessing your superannuation early.
  
  

To access support, get in touch on 1800 431 312.