The impact on work and finances

Managing work

Whether you can work during and after treatment depends on many factors, including how you’re feeling and the type of work you do. Ask your doctor about how cancer and treatment may affect your work. They can provide a letter to your employer explaining the likely impact.

Telling your employer about your diagnosis is up to you. You don’t have to by law, but you do need to let them know if anything could make it harder to do your work or pose a safety risk to you or others. It’s illegal for employers to discriminate due to cancer and its treatment.

You can talk to your employer about:

• Workplace changes – Your employer may need to make changes to help you keep working. These are called reasonable adjustments; examples include changing your hours or adjusting your workload.
• Leave – You may be able to take paid sick leave, annual leave or long service leave, or unpaid leave.

At the time of the diagnosis, I was working as an office manager, but afterwards we reassessed our life. I now work in aged care, which I love.

Jodie

Managing your finances

Cancer can make earning money harder and it can increase your expenses. Even with Medicare or private health insurance, you may still have to pay some costs yourself.

Out-of-pocket costs you may have include:

• gap payments for GPs and specialists
• scans or tests not covered by the public system
• hospital or surgery fees
• medicines and dressings
• visits to physiotherapists, dietitians or other therapists
• travel, parking and accommodation
• child care
• general help at home.

Where to get financial support

Many people worry about money when dealing with cancer. There are different professionals who may be able to provide assistance. You can call Cancer Connect on 13 11 20 to ask for support and we may be able to refer you to financial support services.

You hear that once people are in a credit trap, they can’t get out of it. I called Cancer Council and ended up speaking to a financial counsellor. She helped me sort things out with the bank.

Vincent

Other sources of income

If you have to stop working because of cancer, you may be able to get financial support in different ways.

Government benefits – The Australian Government provides a range of payments through Centrelink for people with cancer and their carers. To check if you’re eligible for payments, ask your social worker or visit Services Australia.

Insurance – You may have personal insurance policies (e.g. income protection or total and permanent disability insurance) or insurance through your superannuation. If your policies cover your situation, it may be helpful to seek financial advice, as time limits to make a claim may apply.

Superannuation (super) – In Australia, you can access your super after the age of 60. You usually need to be retired if aged under 65. You may also be able to access super early in certain circumstances, such as to pay for medical treatment or severe financial hardship. Talk to your super provider or a financial professional for advice.

When my treatment finished, I couldn’t wait to get back to work. I wanted to return to something normal. I went back part-time and that helped me take my mind off things.

Kate

Planning ahead

There are some other legal steps, such as advance care planning, making a will and appointing a guardian, that can help your family if you become seriously ill. Having plans in place can give you peace of mind and make sure your wishes are known and followed. If you need help with making a will or other legal matters, Cancer Council may be able to refer you to a qualified lawyer. Call Cancer Connect on 13 11 20.