The process of cancer treatment is not only hospitals and tests. It is also the daily life of the patient and his loved ones, which runs parallel to the treatment. Unfortunately, often the expenses associated with a cancer diagnosis significantly deplete the family budget. The solution to the situation may be social assistance. Realistic financial support that allows you to focus on what matters most now - a peaceful recovery. What social assistance for a cancer patient is available in Poland?

What is social assistance?

Social assistance is support provided to a person in a difficult life situation. It can be caused by, among other things, illness, loss of work, a fortuitous event. In order to obtain social assistance, an appropriate application (in person or by mail) should be submitted to a social assistance center or a close relative should be authorized to do so. The application should be accompanied by the necessary documentation, including a certificate of income and the situation in which the needy person finds himself.

Social assistance in Poland is still sometimes a taboo subject. It is worth emphasizing its role in supporting people in need - sometimes even a one-time benefit helps them find their way out of a temporary difficult situation and put their affairs back together. Each of us may need help at some point. To ask for it is not shame, but courage.

What are the types of social benefits?

Social assistance in Poland is provided by the social welfare center competent for the place of residence of the person applying for assistance. This assistance can take various forms. These are both monetary (benefits, loans) and non-monetary forms of assistance, including psychological counseling, social work, social and health insurance contributions or assistance in kind. Importantly - once obtained, social assistance can be lost if one ceases to meet the conditions associated with obtaining a given benefit.

Social assistance from the ZFŚS is another possible form of social aid in Poland. The term ZFŚS refers to the Company Social Benefits Fund. These are funds for social assistance for employees of companies with a minimum of 50 employees. Smaller companies can also belong to the ZFŚS, but this is their voluntary decision. Social assistance from the ZFŚS includes subsidies for children's care in a nursery or kindergarten, cultural subsidies (e.g., cinema tickets), assistance in the form of Christmas packages for children, or refundable/non-refundable housing or renovation loans.

Social assistance for a cancer patient

A cancer diagnosis affects not only the patient, but also his loved ones. In addition to fighting for the patient's health and life, sometimes the family has to fight for its daily existence. When the sole breadwinner in the family falls ill or cancer treatment is costly, the entire family's budget suffers. The bundle of bills to pay grows on the table. The situation for some families is so difficult that grocery shopping is limited to basic products, and children have to stop hobbies or tutoring. These are difficult situations, but with the help of others it is possible to get out of them. This is what social assistance for cancer patients is provided for.

Who can you turn to for help in a difficult situation?

If you are in a difficult situation, don't be afraid to ask for help. Family and friends, despite their sincere intentions, are not always able to help as much as needed. If you have financial problems, you can apply for social assistance from the municipal social welfare center. If you are a working person, it is a good idea to ask your employer if the company supports employees in difficult life situations.

Don't neglect your mental health either. Financial problems are quite a burden, especially if you are a parent and have custody of minors. Ask for support from a psychologist.

Social assistance for cancer patients is also provided on behalf of cancer foundations. At Cancer Fighters, we surround our charges with the necessary care. This is both mental, organizational, psychological and financial support.

Check out: how to support people with cancer.

Social support for cancer patients - support based on Cancer Fighters collections

Cancer Fighters is many forms of assistance, including social support. What's more, at our foundation you can get social support on the basis of collections for cancer patients. What does this consist of? If you set up a collection, donors contribute funds to it, which you use for treatment expenses. Classically, these are bills for tests, rehabilitation, therapy, transportation and accommodation for the patient. These are standard options for spending funds from any collection on popular fundraising platforms. We offer another important option. Cancer Fighters' charges can use part of the funds from an individual collection to provide social support for themselves and their loved ones.

Who can benefit from Cancer Fighters' welfare assistance?

Any person who sets up a collection with us. Sometimes our residents set up a collection, but it turns out that they don't need to spend all the money raised on it on cancer treatment. Instead, they have financial problems concerning everyday functioning. We are talking, for example, about paying bills, grocery shopping or expenses related to children's education.

This type of social assistance for cancer patients and their families is provided on an application basis. If you are in need of financial assistance for daily living and have accumulated funds on collection, please contact us. Our team will verify your request. Once it is approved, we will proceed with the process of withdrawing funds from your collection account.

You too can set up a collection for your treatment or that of a loved one. Check out, what an effective collection for cancer treatment should have.

What can the social aid from the foundation be used for?

Social support from the Cancer Fighters Foundation is financial support provided by donors. You can use part of the funds from your collection for such things as:

• Paying apartment/house bills,
• grocery shopping,
• Purchase of clothes and shoes,
• Purchase of cleaning products, household chemicals,
• school aids for children,
• tuition and childcare fees,
• expenses related to children's hobbies,
• loan installment payments.

Social assistance from the collection are expenses for your daily needs, unrelated to treatment. Of course, as with any disbursement of funds from a collection, it will be necessary to document the expenses incurred. We watch over the transparency of the collection, ensuring the safety and satisfaction of both those setting up the collection and the donors.

What does the social assistance from the foundation give to the sick person and his relatives?

Usually anonymous donors are behind it. These are individuals who, even with small contributions, can make a real difference in someone's life. Financial security and a peaceful livelihood for the family allow the patient to focus on the treatment process. He no longer has to choose between buying unreimbursed medicines or school aids for his child.

It probably goes without saying how important the patient's attitude and mental health are in treatment. Possible financial hardship at home can take away the patient's hope for a cure and, in extreme cases, result in refusal of treatment so as not to put additional financial burden on loved ones.

On the other side, we also have the patient's relatives. Social assistance for families is not just about meeting basic needs. In the case of, at least, the Social Security Fund, it can include subsidized recreation. Even a temporary respite helps to gather energy to continue supporting a loved one in the fight against the disease.

How else can you help a person with cancer? Check out our support actions for cancer patients!

If you have questions about Cancer Fighters social support and setting up a collection - please contact us.

Sources:

1. Who must create a Company Social Benefits Fund, business.gov.pl, accessed. 24.08.2025r.
2. Take advantage of social assistance, gov.pl, date accessed. 24.08.2025r.
3. Principles of social assistance, gov.pl, accessed Aug. 24, 2025.