If your symptoms are causing any kind of disability, there are many organisations which provide equipment that can help you. Social services can often provide aids to daily living, such as handrails and ramps for your home. The Disabled Living Foundation runs an information service. It has specialist advisers on incontinence and clothing, and occupational therapists can give personal advice on aids and equipment. It has showrooms with specialist equipment on display, from special cutlery to walking aids and wheelchairs.

The Red Cross has a branch in every county and volunteers who can help you in many ways, including shopping, posting letters and changing library books. They also lend equipment for nursing someone at home, such as wheelchairs and commodes, and have an escort service to take people to hospital.

In many areas there are volunteer schemes that can arrange for someone to visit your home to provide company for you and a break for your carer. You can contact your local Community Volunteer Service or the Volunteer Bureau to find out what is available locally, and you can see if any information is displayed on notice boards in your GP's surgery, your local library, community centre or church.

Illness nearly always involves unexpected expenses and some reduction in income, but help is available from a variety of sources and can sometimes be obtained at short notice. If you need specialist equipment or particular foods due to your symptoms, you may be able to claim financial help towards their cost.

Sick pay and benefits

If you are employed and unable to work, your employer can pay you Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for a maximum of 28 weeks.

If you are still unable to work after this period, you may be able to claim Incapacity Benefit. There are three rates of Incapacity Benefit: a short-term lower rate, a short-term higher rate and a long-term rate.

You can claim the short-term higher rate of benefit from the Benefits Agency if you have paid the correct level of National Insurance contributions. If you are still unable to work after one year, you can claim long-term Incapacity Benefit.

If you are self-employed you are entitled to the same benefits, as long as you have been paying the correct National Insurance contributions.

People who are unemployed and unable to work cannot claim Job Seeker’s Allowance but can apply to see if they qualify for the short-term lower rate of Incapacity Benefit.

People who are not eligible for Incapacity Benefit because they have not paid the relevant National Insurance contributions may qualify for Income Support.

If you are ill and not able to work, remember to ask your GP for a medical certificate for the period of your illness. If you are in hospital, ask your doctor or nurse for a certificate to cover the time that you are an inpatient. This will be necessary if you need to claim a benefit. You may need to take a medical test to see if you are eligible to claim.

You may qualify for Disability Living Allowance (if you are under 65) or for Attendance Allowance (if you are over 65). Ask your local Social Security office for claim forms. There is a fast-track claim for people who may not live longer than 6 months. People who are claiming under this 'special rule’ need to get their doctor to complete a form for either benefit. It is impossible to tell exactly how long someone may live and many people with advanced cancer may be entitled to this benefit, so it can be helpful to check with your doctor. Special rules payments of AA and the DLA care component are made for a maximum of three years.

You may also be able to get tax credits from the Inland Revenue such as Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit. You can get information about these from a social worker, Citizens Advice Bureau, the Department for Work and Pensions or the Tax Credits Helpline on 0845 300 3900.

The Benefits Agency has two booklets (IB1 and SD1) which outline all these benefits and others you may be entitled to. You can get a copy from your local Citizens Advice Bureau or Social Security office, where staff will also be able to advise you about the benefits you can claim. You will usually need to make an appointment. Their addresses and telephone numbers are in the phone book. You can also get information from the Benefit Enquiry Line or the Department for Work and Pensions website www.dwp.gov.uk

The social worker at the hospital can give you advice on sources of financial help.

If you have been assessed as having a need for social services, you may be entitled to get direct payments from your local authority. This means that you are given payments to organise social services yourself, rather than the local social services organising and paying for them for you. You can get information about direct payments from the Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk or from your local social security office.

You may also be able to claim grants and benefits from other organisations or charities. Macmillan Cancer Support gives grants to people with cancer and has a financial advice helpline. They produce a booklet called Help with the Cost of Cancer. A book that gives details of all the trusts and organisations that provide financial support is available from bookshops or local libraries. It is called A Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need.

Our section on financial issues has more detailed information on these issues.