Financial Support for Cancer: Your Guide to Assistance and Benefits
21 May 2025
7
Minutes
Katrin Straub
CEO at nextsure
A cancer diagnosis presents immense challenges for those affected and their families, including financial ones. This article shows you what financial assistance is available for cancer patients and how you can apply for it. Learn more about your rights and options.
The topic in brief and concise terms
Cancer patients are entitled to a variety of social benefits, such as sickness benefit, domestic help, and disability pensions, which need to be applied for.
A disability certificate (from a degree of disability of 50) offers compensations such as special protection against dismissal and tax relief.
The German Cancer Aid's hardship fund offers one-time financial support in emergencies, which is bound to income limits.
Gain an Overview: First Steps to Financial Relief
Cancer often leads to loss of income and additional costs. Fortunately, there is a system of social benefits in Germany that provides financial assistance for cancer. Health insurance companies, for instance, cover costs for medication, bandages, therapeutic and medical aids. It is important to inform yourself early about your entitlements, as many benefits must be applied for. The social service at the hospital or cancer counselling centres are the first points of contact for comprehensive advice. This initial orientation helps you plan the next steps.
Secure sick pay and continued salary: Your income during illness
If you become unable to work due to your cancer, your employer will typically continue to pay your full salary for up to six weeks. This period is a maximum of 42 calendar days. After that, the statutory health insurance takes over with sickness benefit. The sickness benefit amounts to seventy percent of your regular gross income, but no more than ninety percent of your net income. You can receive sickness benefit for a maximum of 78 weeks within a three-year period. A continuous medical certificate is crucial to ensure your entitlement to sickness benefit is not jeopardised. For those privately insured, the agreed-upon daily sickness allowance rules in the respective contract apply. The cancer insurance can provide important additional coverage here. These benefits form an important basis of your financial support during cancer and help cover ongoing costs.
Getting Help with Everyday Tasks: Domestic Assistance and Travel Costs
Cancer patients often have the right to a household help if they are unable to continue managing their household due to illness. This is particularly applicable when children under the age of twelve are living in the household; in such cases, support can be granted for up to 26 weeks. Without children in the household, an entitlement of up to four weeks exists. Statutory health insurance funds also generally cover the travel costs for chemotherapy or radiotherapy, but these must be approved in advance. This usually requires a co-payment of ten percent, at least five euros and at most ten euros per trip. These practical aids significantly ease your daily life. Also, get informed about the waiting periods for cancer insurance to be optimally prepared. Such support is an important part of financial assistance for cancer.
Check long-term protection: Disability pension and severe disability
If, due to cancer, you can no longer work or only work in a limited capacity, a disability pension may be an option. This can be granted as a full or partial pension, depending on your remaining ability to perform in the general job market. Applying for recognition of a severe disability is also an important step. If you have a degree of disability (GdB) of 50 or more, you are considered severely disabled. A disability ID card, usually issued for five years, provides various compensatory benefits. These include special protection against dismissal, five extra days of leave, and tax advantages. These rules offer vital financial support in cases of cancer and compensate for disadvantages. The best cancer insurance can complement this.
Possible compensatory benefits from a disability ID card include:
Special protection against dismissal at the workplace
Entitlement to five additional days of leave per year
The possibility of earlier retirement
Tax relief (disability allowance)
Discounts on public transport and facilities
Exemption from broadcasting fees in some cases
These long-term safeguarding mechanisms are a pillar of financial support in cases of cancer.
Managing Copayments and Hardships: Limits on Expenses and Financial Disparities
Statutory health insurance members have to make co-payments for many services, for example, ten percent for medicines and bandages (at least five, at most ten euros). However, there is an annual burden limit. This is two percent of the family's gross income, one percent for those with chronic illnesses. Collect all co-payment receipts to apply for a possible exemption for the rest of the year. For cancer patients who find themselves in financial difficulty through no fault of their own, there is the Deutsche Krebshilfe's hardship fund. This can provide a one-time financial support that does not need to be repaid. Since its inception, the hardship fund has provided around 140 million euros. A retrospective cancer insurance is often not possible, which is why prevention is important. These mechanisms offer crucial financial assistance for cancer in difficult situations.
Claiming care services: Support with care needs
If cancer leads to the need for care, the long-term care insurance covers the costs for care at home or in a facility. Since the Care Enhancement Act II, the care requirement is assessed based on five care levels that evaluate independence. All those who receive outpatient care are entitled to a relief amount of up to 125 Euros per month. This amount is earmarked for specific care and relief services. The benefits of long-term care insurance are an essential component of financial support for cancer.
The long-term care insurance offers various types of benefits:
Care allowance for self-provided care aids
Care services for professional nursing services
Combination benefits of cash and in-kind services
Partially inpatient day or night care
Fully inpatient care in a nursing home
Grants for home improvements
Care aids
A cancer insurance without medical questions can be an option to secure oneself early. Proper planning and utilisation of these benefits can significantly reduce the financial burden.
Organise rehabilitation and reintegration: Back to everyday life and work
After initial treatment, cancer patients are entitled to rehabilitation measures. These usually last three weeks and aim to alleviate the physical and emotional consequences of the illness. The costs are generally covered by pension insurance providers or health insurance companies. The "Hamburg Model" can facilitate a gradual return to work. During this time, you remain on sick leave and usually receive sickness or transitional benefits. The Workplace Reintegration Management (BEM) is another tool employers must offer if an employee has been sick for more than six weeks. These measures are an important part of financial assistance for cancer, as they pave the way back into working life. You might also consider a specific cancer insurance. Careful planning of rehabilitation is vital for long-term recovery.
Expert tips for your applications: What to watch out for
Your next step: Individual consultation for your situation
More useful links
The Deutsche Rentenversicherung provides comprehensive information on the disability pension, which may be relevant in cases of permanently reduced work capacity due to cancer.
The VdK Deutschland offers detailed information on social law issues in the context of cancer and provides guidance on benefits and assistance.
FAQ
What does the health insurance cover in the case of cancer?
The health insurance covers costs for medical treatment, medication, remedies (e.g., physiotherapy), aids (e.g., wigs, wheelchairs), hospital stays, travel expenses for certain therapies, household help under certain conditions, and sick pay after the continuation of wage payments.
Can I receive financial support from the government if I have cancer?
Yes, government financial assistance for cancer is available in the form of social benefits such as sickness benefit, disability pension, care allowance, citizen's allowance (formerly unemployment benefit II/social assistance) if in need, housing benefit, and tax relief.
How do I apply for the Hardship Fund of the German Cancer Aid?
You need to submit an application with personal data, income/expenditure (confirmed by an authority/public institution), and a medical certificate to the German Cancer Aid. The forms are available on their website.
What are the benefits of a disability ID card for cancer patients?
A disability identification card (from a GdB of 50) offers, among other benefits, special protection against dismissal, additional vacation days (five extra days), tax relief (disability lump sum), early retirement, and discounts on public transportation.
Will I get help with household chores as a cancer patient?
Yes, under certain conditions you are entitled to domestic help if no other person living in the household is able to manage it. If there are children under the age of twelve living in the household, assistance can be extended (up to 26 weeks).
What is the co-payment limit for cancer patients?
The limit for co-payments for chronically ill patients (including cancer patients) is one percent of the annual family gross income. For other insured persons, it is two percent. Once this limit is reached, you may be exempt from further co-payments for the rest of the year.
