Families Can Face Financial Challenges

A Pediatric Cancer Diagnosis Changes Household Finances

Getting a cancer diagnosis for a child can be challenging enough. There are so many things going through a parent’s mind that the thought of dealing with finances is often last on the list.

At least half of all families with a child battling cancer will report severe financial hardship as a result of their child’s treatment. 49% of families surveyed reported taking on “considerable to severe” new debt as a result of their child’s treatment.*
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In addition to health care costs, there are other hidden expenses that add up quickly:

• Gas and food expenses for travel back and forth to doctor visits
• Extra child care for siblings
• Special equipment or clothing
• Home improvements to make sure the child’s environment is safe and clean
• Special foods and supplements
• Lost hours at work due to extended care

 
However, there are resources available that can assist you if your expenses are starting to become challenging during treatment.

1. ASK can provide families with short-term financial assistance for things like mortgage/rent payments, gas, groceries and utility bills. To learn more, please contact ASK Program Coordinator Denice Grawe at dgrawe@askccf.org or (804) 658-5910.
   
2. Income assistance for families may be available through Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is designed to supplement the income of eligible families with low incomes and limited assets in which there’s a disabled individual. Children qualify if they meet Social Security’s definition of disability.  In many states, Medicaid is given to children getting SSI, but you may need to apply for it separately. You can get more information about SSI and Medicaid from our clinic social workers Robyn Dillon and Janice Graham. Their contact information is below.
   
3. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a grant program that provides monthly cash to help pay for food, clothing, housing, utilities, transportation, phone, medical supplies, and other basic needs not paid for by Medicaid. Contact our clinic social workers for more details.

 
Robyn Dillon and Janice Graham are the social workers for the ASK Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.  They can be reached by calling 628-0422 or 828-9065 or emailing them at robyn.dillon@vcuhealth.org or Janice.graham@vcuhealth.org.
 
ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation is proud to be the local resource for families in Central Virginia managing a child in cancer treatment and beyond.  We are here to assist you. We may not have all of the answers, but our goal is to help you get the resources and assistance you need.
 
This article includes tips from a workshop that ASK recently offered to parents and caregivers. Each month, the workshop series will focus on a different issue facing our ASK families. 
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