Breast cancer patients can receive up to $750 from the Susan G. Komen financial assistance fund! This program is designed to support low-to-moderate income patients who are struggling because of the cost of their treatments.
In this article, we’ll break down what this fund is and how you can get help from this organization.
About Susan G. Komen
Susan G. Komen for the Cure is an organization named in honor of Susan Goodman Komen, who died at the age of 36 from breast cancer. The foundation was started by Susan’s sister, Nancy Brinker, who promised to do everything in her power to stop cancer from taking more lives. Two years after Susan died, Nancy battled breast cancer herself and is now a survivor.
This foundation is dedicated to fighting cancer on multiple fronts. Their foundation directly supports ongoing cancer research, early intervention and treatment protocols, cancer screenings, education and awareness, and even direct patient support through Susan G. Komen Financial Assistance Grants.
Susan G. Komen Financial Assistance Grants
Patients who are currently battling breast cancer can receive up to $750 from the Susan G. Komen Financial Assistance Grants program. This program is designed to provide assistance directly to patients who are experiencing a financial need.
The amount of money that you receive will depend on your current cancer diagnosis. If you are in stage 0-3, then you can receive up to $500. If you have stage 4 metastatic breast cancer that has spread to other parts of your body, then you can receive up to $750.
It is important to remember that the Susan G. Komen Financial Assistance program is not an emergency fund. It takes about six weeks for the foundation to process applications, so the money will not arrive immediately.
The funds from this program are intended to help you pay for your daily living expenses, which could include:
- Bills
- Child care
- Durable Medical Equipment
- Elder care
- Food
- Home health care
- Housing (rent or mortgage)
- Side-effect management
- Treatment, supplies or medical care
- Transportation
- Utilities
The Susan G Komen Financial Assistance Grants is unique because they pay the money directly to the patient. Many other programs will pay vendors (like landlords or utility companies) directly instead of putting the money in your hands but the Susan G. Komen foundation will give the money directly to you.
Are You Eligible?
You may be eligible for help from the Susan G. Komen financial assistance program if you meet the following criteria:
- You must either be in active treatment for breast cancer OR be living with metastatic breast cancer.
- You must have a household income that does not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Level.
- You must live in the United States or a US territory.
- You must not have received help from the Susan G. Komen Financial Assistance Program in the last 12 months.
If you meet the eligibility requirements for this grant program, you may qualify for other help as well. You can call the Komen Breast Cancer Helpline to speak to a representative who may be able to help you find other resources that can help. You can reach the helpline by calling 1-877-GO-KOMEN (1-877-465-6636).
How to Apply
There are several ways to apply for the Susan G. Komen financial assistance program. You can apply online, download a paper application and mail it in, or you can call the Helpline to speak to someone who can help you complete your application over the phone.
There are two different parts to the application and you must submit both of them at the same time in order to be considered.
Application
No matter how you choose to complete the application, it’s important that you read every page carefully and fill it out completely. This organization receives a lot of applications and they don’t have time to follow up on incomplete paperwork. The application form itself states that “incomplete or unsigned applications will not be considered for funding.” A mistake in the paperwork could cause you to miss out, so be very careful.
In order to complete the application, you will need to provide detailed information about your diagnosis, including the date of diagnosis, cancer type, subtype, and stage. You will also need to provide details about your health insurance, household income, and your bank account information. Your bank information is required because Susan G. Komen financial assistance grants are direct deposited into your account.
Doctor’s Letter
If you have stage 0-3 cancer, you will also need to submit a letter from your medical provider. This letter must be written on official letterhead with a date. The date cannot be more than 12 months old at the time that you submit it. The letter must clearly state that you are currently being treated for breast cancer and describe the current stage of breast cancer.
If you have metastatic breast cancer, then you can submit medical documentation that shows your diagnosis instead of submitting a letter from your medical provider.
The letter and your application must be submitted at the same time. Make sure that you have the letter in your possession before you begin preparing your application.
Things to Remember
Submitting an application does not guarantee that you will receive help from the Susan G. Komen financial assistance program. The fine print on the application clearly states that the program depends on the availability of funds.
Don’t underestimate the importance of submitting a completed application. If your application is not fully filled out or doesn’t include a letter, you may not receive a response. It’s very important to make sure everything is in order before you submit the paperwork.
You can reapply after 12 months! Theoretically, you could receive this money every year if you remain eligible.
Summary
The Susan G. Komen Financial Assistance Program provides up to $750 in assistance to breast cancer patients who are undergoing active treatment. These funds are paid directly to the patient and can be used to pay for daily living expenses like housing, transportation, bills or treatment. It’s easy to apply as long as you remember to fully complete the application and submit a letter from your medical provider!
Nicole Thelin
Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.