Various resources and organisations provide practical help and advice to help with finances during and after an illness.

Centrelink
Information can be obtained through the Centrelink website or by phoning 13 27 17. Many Centrelink offices have financial information services. They offer a confidential interview. Centrelink has a booklet entitled "Are you ill, injured or do you have a disability?"  It describes the main features of financial support at present (this may change):

• A Sickness Allowance is paid on a “temporary basis to people who are employed and who are temporarily unable to work due to a medical condition”.
• A Disability Support Pension is available for those who are “assessed as not being able to work 15 hours or more per week in the next 2 years or be retrained for such work within 2 years because of illness, injury, or disability”.
• A Pharmaceutical Allowance may be paid when a person receives a range of government pensions.
• A Health Care Card enables health and medical services to be offered at reduced rates.
• A Pensioner Concession Card is available for persons receiving a range of government pensions. It enables reduced fares for bus and rail transport, motor vehicle registration, telephone and local council rates.

Information on the support available for those who are caring can be found in a Centrelink booklet entitled “Caring for Someone: A guide to your options and our services”.

Ambulance cover
Information on state or territory ambulance service can be found on the following websites:

• Ambulance cover NSW and ACT
• MBF ambulance cover in Australia
• Ambulance cover for SA
• Ambulance cover VIC
• Ambulance cover WA.

After death
The Centrelink website has a booklet entitled Needing help after someone has died? It includes helpful, practical information about what to do and who to contact after someone has passed away, where to get financial advice, and information about payments and special benefits.

The Understanding Money website has an information sheet on Managing money when your partner dies.  It also has a section dealing with losing your partner.

General resources

• The Cancer Voices SA website has information on financial issues.
• Getting Advice: A practical guide to personal financial advice has been produced by the Australian Securities Investment Commission. This site may also help in choosing an advisor to help with financial issues.
• Information on carer payment and carer allowance can be found at the Carers Australia website or on the Centrelink website.
• Red Cross may be able to help with equipment hire.
• Eligible Veterans and war widows who develop cancer can seek assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs for services and equipment and in certain cases, medications.

Websites

• Make-A-Wish Foundation
  This foundation helps to grant wishes for children with life-limiting illnesses.
• Ronald McDonald House Accommodation is provided for children and families who travel to metropolitan hospitals for treatment.
• AIDS Trust of Australia
  This trust may be able to provide financial support for patients with HIV / AIDS.
• Cancer Council Australia
  Some cancer organisations provide limited financial support for those with cancer.
• Pink Ribbon Day This site provides information on practical support and financial assistance for breast cancer patients.

Related CareSearch pages
Financial help and advice
Wills
Funerals
Costs of care
 

This page was created on 26 May 2009 and is due for review in May 2011
Last updated 12 January 2010