These agencies help cancer patients and families struggling with a broad range of financial issues. All assistance is free of charge and available nationwide.
If you have been diagnosed with cancer and need help paying for mortgage or rent, utilities, filing taxes, or even getting legal or financial-planning advice related to your care, these no-cost programs can assist you. If you find an error in any listing, let us know here.
Upsolve Free Bankruptcy Filing
Description:
A nonprofit tool that allows you to complete Chapter 7 bankruptcy forms online and for free. Includes education, customer support, and community. Featured in Forbes and funded by institutions like Harvard University so this service is available at no cost to anyone living in the USA. To complete your forms online, please create your free account here: https://upsolve.org/.
USDA Housing Repair Grant
Description:
Income-based grants of up to $7500 to repair, improve or modernize owner-occupied residential homes to remove health and safety hazards. Applicant must be 62 or older to apply. In addition, family income must be less than half of the median in that area and property address must be in qualifying location. To check your property address and download the application form, please visit: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-repair-loans-grants.
Ciitizen
Description:
A free medical records service for cancer patients that gathers and creates a repository of all of your medical records across all networks and service providers in one single place. Ensure that your care team has access to all of your labs, scans, and treatment so that everyone is on the same page and you can focus on getting the best possible care based on all of the information contained in your entire medical record. To get started, please visit https://www.ciitizen.com/.
CENTS Financial Planning for Cancer
Description:
The CENTS Program provides the services of a Certified Financial Planner at no cost to cancer patients and caregivers. In addition, this free nationwide program comes with a personal patient advocate to help sort out health insurance and other cancer-related payment issues. This generous program is funded by the Foundation for Financial Planning. Contact the program for more information on this free service here: https://centsprogram.org/contact-us/.
AARP Advanced Directive Legal Forms
Description:
Free state-specific legal forms to make your wishes regarding your care known and to appoint someone to make sure those wishes are carried out. Forms are available for all states and are free for everyone regardless of age. You do not need to be an AARP member to download and complete these documents. Select your state forms here: https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/financial-legal/free-printable-advance-directives/.
United Way Free Tax Filing Program
Description:
Free tax filing program available for US residents who meet certain income guidelines (currently $66,000 or less for individuals). This program is offered by the United Way and provides online federal and state return filing for free. Get started here: https://www.unitedway.org/myfreetaxes/.
National Cancer Legal Services Network
Description:
Free legal services programs for people affected by cancer. Legal services programs include assisting with insurance disputes, obtaining public benefits and housing, resolving employment issues, and quality-of-care concerns. Please visit the provider directory online here: http://www.nclsn.org/members-directory/.
LawHelp.org
Description:
An online portal that connects you to non-profit and pro bono legal aid programs with eligibility for free services based on income and financial need. These programs provide a variety of free legal services including assistance with legal rights and self-help information. To local a free legal aid program near you, please visit the online search form here: https://www.lawhelp.org/find-help/.
The Salvation Army
Description:
The Salvation Army provides help with utility bills, utility deposits, rent and mortgage payments, prescription medications, food, and clothing needs for families in financial need. Your local Salvation Army will have all the details. You will need to provide valid ID and other documents as part of the application process. To locate your local Salvation Army, visit http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/plugins/gdosCenterSearch?start=1.
Making Home Affordable
Description:
National, government-sponsored mortgage assistance for a variety of situations from temporary financial difficulties to long-term solutions. Programs available for all homeowners in the US experiencing financial hardship. Check out your options for immediate assistance with this free Federal program here: https://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/need-help/Pages/need-help-options.aspx.
HPF Homeowner Hotline
Email: info@995hope.org
Description:
HUD-certified counselors provide free financial counseling and options to keep your home and avoid foreclosure during times of financial difficulty. If you are a US homeowner having trouble keeping up with your payments, you can get help right now by visiting https://995hope.org/how-to-avoid-foreclosure/.
Campaign for Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)
Description:
The LIHEAP federal program helps households who cannot afford to make their home energy efficient or pay to keep their utilities running to locate local agencies who can help for free. To find the agency near you, use their lookup system here: https://liheapch.acf.hhs.gov/db/index.php.
This information should be printed on brochures and given out around the cancer hospitals. These can help prevent a million nervous breakdowns
Hi David,
We agree and are so happy you find the information helpful! There is so much financial stress that accompanies a cancer diagnosis. Hopefully, easy access to agencies that can help will ease some of that burden.
Its been very long and hard, and financially difficult going on 2 yrs of treatment now.
Please know help is available. Take a look at these free financial assistance programs: https://cancercarenews.com/category/free-financial-help-for-cancer-patients/. Also please consider working one-on-one with a care navigator who can help you get the personalized help you need. We list free care navigator programs in this section of the website: https://cancercarenews.com/free-counseling-for-cancer-patients/professional-support/. Thank you for reaching out. All the very best to you.