EX GRATIA PAYMENT FOR CANCER PATIENTS

[Janette]

Very good for members to know.

In this area the NSW Cancer Council is providing funding for the local transport assistance group, which is usually for the elderly and disabled to get to hospital or medical appointments, to drive Cancer patients to appointments at no charge. People have to be assessed though as needing the assistance.

The Cancer Council does some great things, without the trumpets and fanfare.

[retta]

Yes the social worker at my centre told me about it & I used the $250 as part payment for an electricity bill. You just have to allow plenty of time because they have to send a photo copy of the bill to the cancer council for approval. It was a great help but yes not something that was widely known about. This was in NSW.

[megg32]

I had help from The Blue Angels here, they paid for a gas and electricity bill for me while I had chemo

[jayem]

I recently found out from my cousin in Victoria that the Cancer Council in Victoria offers a one off payment of up to $300 to assist with a utility bill. She had to get a letter from her doctor and sent it off to the Cancer Council. I found out today that the same scheme exists in NSW and is arranged through the social worker in the oncology department of the hospital where you received the major part of treatment. I have yet to do this but the lady from the Cancer Council was most helpful. She said it didn't matter that I am now past that part of treatment, the financial issues still exist.

Given that both NSW and Victoria have this scheme I would imagine it to be Australia wide. It would be worth a phone call to your local state Cancer Council to see how it operates there.

The thing that surprises me is that it is not offered as a matter of course but is available if you ask for it.

I would be interest to know if anyone else has heard of or accessed this scheme.