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Managing your money after being diagnosed with a serious or terminal illness

Reading time: 22 minutes

Being diagnosed with a serious or terminal illness can be overwhelming. Those niggly, everyday practical things can suddenly feel huge.

There are lots of things to think about, whether you’ve received a serious or terminal diagnosis. To make it easier, we've broken it up into eight main areas: 1) paying your bills, 2) finding borrowing options to cover treatment, 3) knowing your options and rights for housing, 4) managing work, 5) finding available financial support, 6) managing your insurance claims, 7) tapping legal resources, and 8) learning what to do if your illness is terminal. You'll find links to each relevant section in the above menu under 'What you'll learn'.

In this guide

Paying your bills

Your borrowing options to cover treatment costs

Your options and rights for housing

Managing work when you are seriously ill

Available financial support

Managing your insurance claims when you have a serious illness

Legal resources for when you have a serious illness

What to do if your illness is terminal

Serious diagnosis FAQs

Managing your money after being diagnosed with a serious or terminal illness

Being diagnosed with a serious or terminal illness can be overwhelming. Those niggly, everyday practical things can suddenly feel huge.

Paying your bills

When you receive a serious diagnosis, it can be challenging to think about the practical side of things. You might worry about needing time off work, managing rent or missing debt repayments. However, there are plenty of resources for people in your position, including tips to describe your new situation to your bank, managing your debt and where to get help.

For bills like electricity, gas and internet, most providers should be able to offer you a flexible repayment plan if you alert them to your circumstances.

How to talk about your new financial situation

These are tips you can use for talking to your bank or utility provider about your bills, or even your landlord or your employer.

1. Explain your diagnosis.

It’s important to go over what your diagnosis means for you financially.

2. Confirm what you can do.

Describe the kind of payments you are able to make and how frequently.

3. Describe what would be the best outcome for you.

This could be smaller payments, no payments, or a different payment schedule (eg, a lump sum).

4. Ask what your options are to get to the best outcome.

Banks and utilities can sometimes offer reduced payments, a mortgage deferral, interest-only payments, or restructuring your mortgage. What they are able to do will depend on each person’s situation.

5. Request a record of your conversation.

It’s best that the company follow your conversation up with an email summarising everything discussed and agreed upon.

Managing your debt with reduced income

If you are concerned about keeping up to date with any non-housing debts during your illness, get in touch with your bank or lender as soon as you can, using the above steps.

As part of managing your debt, it’s a good idea to set up a budget to track your income and spending. Especially if you are approaching government support agencies, building a budget will be an essential part of your money plan.

We have a number of guides designed to help you to take stock and make a plan:

There are agencies and budgeting services that can help manage your budgets or payments. They offer a range of services that can help you or your family.

Family Services
Ministry of Social Development
Salvation Army, particularly their community finance loans
Citizen’s Advice Bureau

It is important to think about both the short-term and long-term impacts of debt. Before making any decisions, talk the issue through with a financial adviser or mentor.

Taking out loans to support your income

If you are going through treatment and need some extra cash, but don’t qualify for any government assistance, personal loans can offer a way to help you make ends meet in the short-term.

It's important you don't rack up debt on credit cards or go to short-term lenders. While they may look like an easy option, the interest can be crippling, landing you in a worse situation financially.

As with all debt, you will need to be confident that you can repay it without damaging your future financial state. It can be challenging to think in the long-term in the face of a serious illness, so we recommend discussing the option with a financial advisor.

There are a couple of things you need to think about before borrowing. We also encourage you to read up about personal loans to avoid the common mistakes people make.

Loans from family

During a difficult time, your family might want to help you with some costs. Some may even extend the offer of a loan to cover any big-ticket items.

While this is kind and generous, you need to be careful that both parties have the same expectations for each other. We suggest creating a written agreement that sets out some basic details about the loan – like how often you will make payments and when the payments need to start, whether there is any interest or fees, and whether there is any room for flexibility in case you get sick again or need to delay payments for another reason.

It may also help to approach one of our linked legal resources below to discuss the agreement in detail. This will protect both yourself and the other party, and make sure that the loan is good for both parties.

Refinancing your mortgage

If you own your home and have equity in it, you can consider refinancing (sometimes called ‘remortgaging’) and get a lump sum loan to finance treatment costs. The same way as you would refinance to renovate your kitchen, you can also refinance to secure relatively low-interest loans.

Not everyone will be able to do this, and not everyone will want to. This option would mean a larger outstanding loan balance whenever you are able to begin making repayments again.

For example, if your home is worth $500,000 and your mortgage is $100,000, you have $400,000 of equity. If you refinanced to get a one-off payment of $150,000 to pay for any treatment costs or other expenses, your mortgage would then become $250,000.

Since your repayments will increase, the bank will need to make an assessment of what you can reasonably afford to pay. So having equity alone will not mean this option will be available.

Refinancing is generally preferable to a personal loan because mortgages tend to have lower interest rates than personal loans, meaning you spend less money on interest payments. Here’s our guide on how to refinance your mortgage.

Reverse mortgages

If you own your home and are mortgage free, you may be able to borrow money using you home as a security in a reverse mortgage (also known as a home equity release). The bank will be able to get its money back when the house is sold, either when you move on to managed care or when you pass.

You will need to be over 60 before you can apply, and you can only borrow a percentage of your home’s value. Reverse mortgages typically come with a lifetime occupancy guarantee, meaning that you will have the right to live in your home for as long as you choose.

For a detailed explanation of reverse mortgages, see this article from Consumer and this guide from MoneyHub.

Renters

If you are renting or a boarder, a serious illness may cause you to change your living situation.

If you would like to stay in your rental home during treatment but can’t pay rent how you usually would, contact your landlord and talk about options for changing the ways you pay rent during the treatment period.

You may want to explain your diagnosis, the duration of treatment, and the timing of any income you might receive during this time. Are you getting a lump sum insurance payout? Regular payments from your insurer? An accommodation supplement through Work and Income?

Your landlord may be able to accommodate you paying rent on a different timeline to how you were paying before – for example, in a lump sum in a month’s time; weekly, fortnightly, or monthly, depending on when your income is credited into your account, etc.

As long as you can pay rent, your landlord should not have any reason to end your tenancy unless something changes for the landlord themselves, such as selling the house or their own family needing to use it in an emergency.

If you would like to leave your rental and seek other options such as living with family, you’ll need to look into the type of lease you have and what is required for giving notice.

If a solution can’t be found – whether with changing your rental payments or leaving your tenancy – contact Tenancy Services.

If you do need to appeal to the Tenancy Tribunal, there are accessible legal resources available. You can approach Citizen’s Advice Bureau and ask for help with understanding your lease, or with next steps in resolving a conflict with your landlord.

Kainga Ora and MSD tenants

If you are a tenant in a Kainga Ora home, a change in circumstances that affects your income will need to be talked through with the Ministry of Social Development. Like tenants in private rentals, you will have a tenancy agreement with Kainga Ora that describes how you or Kainga Ora can end the tenancy if things change.

Homeowners

If you own your home and it is mortgaged through a bank, there are ways you can adjust repayments to accommodate your reduced income during treatment. Get in touch with your bank to see what is available to you.

If your home is currently mortgaged, you may want to consider talking to the bank about your options. In some circumstance, banks can offer options such as a mortgage deferral or pay interest-only for a few months.

Managing work when you are seriously ill

A serious illness usually involves some time off work, and this can be challenging to navigate. You may be able to, and want to, continue working during treatment, or you may want some time off, both of which you will need to discuss with your employer to make sure that you are on the same page.

Talking to your employer

First and foremost, it is important to talk to your employer about your health and how much time off you will need. Your employer should discuss with you the full details of your leave entitlements, your rights, and details of any benefits you may be entitled to. If they have not done so, you can usually find this information in your employment contract. Your Human Resources department should have a copy on file if you did not save one.

Employers can’t dismiss you just because you are seriously ill. They will normally be required to make reasonable arrangements like giving you time off to go to the hospital, working flexible hours or working from home. Typically, if you need time off for treatment, your employer will develop a ‘return to work’ plan.

You can share this information sheet about cancer with your employer to help them better understand what you may be going through.

If you are having trouble getting the arrangements you need, you can also approach Citizen’s Advice Bureau and ask for help with understanding your employment contract, or with next steps in resolving a conflict with your employer.

Available financial support

There is a large variety of support available for you from the government, and a serious illness can mean that you need one or more of them. You’ll find benefit and support options like income-supplements from the Ministry of Social Development as well as housing support from Kainga Ora. You also will have the option to withdraw from KiwiSaver on a hardship basis.

Government help

If you can’t work during treatment, there are government benefits and services which can compensate for your lost income for the duration of treatment. If you need to travel to specialists for treatment, the Ministry of Health has a National Travel Assistance programme to help you with costs.

Private investment or retirement schemes

In severe circumstances, you can apply for a KiwiSaver hardship withdrawal. If you’re part of another private investment or retirement scheme, you may wish to withdraw the money you’ve put aside. You can ask your provider about how to pull money out. If you run into any issues, we recommend you look into getting legal help from some of our linked resources.

Insurance claims

If you had purchased any insurance policies that cover serious illness or inability to work, you may be eligible to make a claim on those policies.

Managing your insurance claims when you have a serious illness

Depending on the type of policy you have and the level of coverage, there are likely to be a variety of options for you. However, not all policies will cover your situation. For example, just having a health insurance policy does not mean that it will cover all or even a portion of your treatment costs. If you are unsure about policy coverage, you should get in touch with your insurer to confirm.

Review what insurance you have

Life insurance

If you have a life insurance policy and receive a serious or terminal diagnosis, you may be able to claim a lump sum portion of the policy on diagnosis to finance treatment or recovery. Not all life insurance policies have the same features, and you will need to contact your insurer to determine what you may be entitled to.

Life insurance

Talk to your insurer or insurance adviser

If you bought insurance through a broker or financial adviser specialising in insurance, they should be able to work your claim through with your insurer. Good insurance advisers specialise in getting claims paid.

If you’re speaking to your insurer directly, it will help to

Describe your diagnosis in detail – is it treatable or terminal? Advanced, and requires extensive and long treatment, or less advanced and with a shorter treatment course? Are you likely to be out of work? If so, for how long?
Ask what evidence you will need to submit alongside your claim (if any). Once your insurer has a clear picture of your situation, you can ask them to talk you through what you may be able to claim.

Be prepared to follow-up with your insurer after a claim

If you have lodged a claim with your insurer, they may require you to provide evidence of the illness or to be assessed by a medical professional. You may then be periodically re-assessed for as long as you continue being ‘on-claim’ (or receiving payments from your insurer).

If you want to make sure your insurance adviser is being accurate, you can also check your policy document in detail, either by yourself or with the help of a legal professional.

If you need to lodge a complaint about your insurer, you can do so through Ombudsman New Zealand.

Legal resources for when you have a serious illness

A serious illness can raise a lot of question marks about any existing contracts or arrangements you have, including housing, employment, visas, custody arrangements etc. A lawyer can help you answer those questions and clarify what you’re required to do and what your rights are. Here’s how to find a private lawyer or free legal help.

Finding a private lawyer

Private lawyers usually work for law firms and offer their services on an hourly basis. If you decide to engage a lawyer, the ‘clock’ will start from when you agree to use their services. If you are unsure, you can always ask them at what point they will begin charging you.

Private lawyers can be a good option if you need a lot of hands-on support, and they can guide you through your specific situation in detail. If you are considering engaging a private lawyer, the New Zealand Law Society has a register of lawyers sorted by specialisation (e.g. family law).

Finding free legal help

Organisations like Community Law, Citizen’s Advice Bureau and Youth Law offer free legal help to people who for one reason or another don’t want to engage private lawyers. Both Community and Youth Law sometimes offer legal representation to people who otherwise may not be able to afford it. Youth Law focus on anyone under 25, while Community Law and Citizen’s Advice Bureau are open to everyone.

What to say when seeking legal help

If you are getting in touch with either a private lawyer or a community organisation, it can seem daunting, but your opening doesn’t need to be overly formal. Key to include are:

An introduction – “Hi! My name is Aliyah, and I am getting in touch because I need legal help.”
A clear description of what you need – “I have recently been diagnosed with cancer and my landlord will not agree to allow me to exit my lease. Is there anything I can do to exit?” or “I am on a work visa and have been diagnosed with cancer, what are my options for extending the visa?”
Your contacts – “My phone number is 111-111-111 and you can also reach me at this email.”

Here are our guides on family trusts, wills and enduring powers of attorney.

Propose someone to take over your accounts and products

If you have bank accounts, credit cards or other bank products like personal loans, it’s important to let your bank know about your diagnosis and propose someone who will inherit these accounts and products after you’re gone.

Often, a bank account will have a signatory or several, meaning that access to the account is restricted. Sorting out whether the signatories are still the correct people is important.

Pass on your passwords

As we spend more time online, it becomes more important for us to make sure that someone inherits any of our online accounts and the information in them. Leaving these passwords and details with someone can really help the people you leave behind.

For example, consider leaving the passwords to any social media accounts like Facebook. Some social media platforms have special settings you can access to let them know who to pass the account on to in case of your passing (a 'legacy contact'). Here's an example for Facebook.

The exception to this rule concerns passwords to any of your bank accounts, including KiwiSaver and investment accounts. Never share the passwords to your financial accounts with others.

Put your will in place

Writing a will helps you make sure that after your passing your possessions are divided the way you want. It is your chance to explicitly provide for any children, friends, relatives, or organisations you want.

Wills are legal documents, so you will need to get some legal help with writing and signing your will. There are some online platforms which help you build a will for free or for a small fee, or you can ask around and see if any lawyers would be willing to help.

Set your enduring powers of attorney

EPAs allow other people to make decisions for us. If you’d like to set up an EPA, you will need to get legal advice. There are two types of enduring powers of attorney – personal and property.

For personal EPAs, it can only be one person at a time. This can be a friend, family member, or someone you feel has your best interest at heart.

For property EPAs you can appoint multiple people or a trust. EPAs are usually established as part of a will, but you can set them up separately as well.

In-person support when you have a serious or terminal illness

If this guide or any other material you find is challenging to understand, there is personalised help available.

Depending on your hospital there may be an on-site social worker who might be able to help you figure out next steps. You can ask your doctor, nurse, or reception if this is something that is on offer.

You may also be able to get in touch with your WINZ or Ministry of Social Development case worker face to face.

Otherwise, you can also approach Citizen’s Advice Bureau and ask for help with translating or understanding any paperwork.

For caregivers of those who are seriously or terminally ill

If you are caring for someone who is seriously or terminally ill, you might have to step in and help them from time to time, even if you are not legally empowered to be their attorney.

In some cases, this can work, but you will typically only be able to get some general information for them. When involving a bank, an insurance company, or any other third party, the person who is the account holder or policyholder will need to be there for the conversation, unless you have enduring power of attorney (EPA).

If the person you are caring for has not arranged for an EPA, then applications will need to be made to the family court for someone to be formally appointed. The costs can far outweigh those of setting up an EPA. We recommend that you seek legal advice from any of the resources listed above.

For example, you can set up a time to talk face-to-face with the bank, but the person you’re caring for must attend as well. You can engage a lawyer, but the person you’re caring for must attend the meeting and make all the decisions. You can take notes for them and ask questions, but you won’t be able to speak on their behalf.

I have just been diagnosed with a serious illness, and I’m worried about paying my bills. How can I keep my lights on?

Check out the above section on ‘Paying your bills when you have a serious illness’. Most companies will be prepared to work with you to help manage essential expenses during a time of serious illness. If you have any trouble, you’ll also find linked affordable and free legal resources.

I am sick and need help from my landlord or employer, but I am struggling to make sense of my lease or contract. Where can I find help?

With a lease, your first point of contact should be your landlord or property manager. They should be able to talk you through the details of your lease. For a general overview, see the above section on ‘Tips for renters when you have a serious illness’.

With an employment contract, your first point of contact should be your Human Resources department or your manager. For a general overview, see the above section on ‘Talking to your employer’.

If you can’t resolve your issue with your employer, you’ll find linked affordable and free legal resources.

A member of my whānau was just diagnosed with a serious illness. What are my options as far as time off and financial support?

As a caregiver, you may be eligible for many of the same support available to people who have been diagnosed themselves. Whether you are renting, boarding, or own your home, all the resources we have set out will still apply.

Similarly, your employer should make the same accommodations for you as a caregiver that they would if you were sick yourself.

The only point of difference could be your ability to make legal and medical decisions on behalf of your child. If you are their legal guardian, you will be able to decide on their behalf. If you are not their legal guardian, we recommend approaching any one of the legal resources we have listed.

I have just been diagnosed with a serious illness and have a lot of debt. I am worried about going further into debt while I am sick. What can I do?

It can be tricky to balance concerns about your physical health with concerns about your financial health. To start, see the above section on ‘Managing your debt’.

Depending on your financial situation, you may also need to borrow money during your treatment or recovery. You’ll find information about the different types of debt, how to pay it off faster, and where to get loans in the above section ‘Paying your bills when you have a serious illness’.

What kind of support am I eligible for now I have a serious illness?

If you have one, your first point of contact should be your MSD case manager. If you don’t yet have a case manager and aren’t receiving any government benefits, head over to the Ministry of Social Development website and figure out if you are eligible for any support.

There are also these charitable organisations who may be able to help:

Family Services
Ministry of Social Development
Salvation Army, particularly their community finance loans.

What should I say to my landlord, bank, or employer after receiving a serious illness diagnosis?

You should start by explaining your diagnosis, what this means for you in relation to your finances or ability to work, and what your ideal outcome would be. Then you can work together to find a suitable solution. You’ll find more specifics above.

I haven’t been able to get the support I need from my bank, landlord, or employer. What are my rights and where can I find support?

If you’ve exhausted your options working directly with your bank, landlord or employer, you can get free advice on your rights. Here’s our guide on knowing your rights.

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Managing your money after being diagnosed with a serious or terminal illness

Reading time: 22 minutes

In this guide

Managing your money after being diagnosed with a serious or terminal illness

Paying your bills

How to talk about your new financial situation

1. Explain your diagnosis.

2. Confirm what you can do.

3. Describe what would be the best outcome for you.

4. Ask what your options are to get to the best outcome.

5. Request a record of your conversation.

Managing your debt with reduced income

Your borrowing options to cover treatment costs

Taking out loans to support your income

Loans from family

Refinancing your mortgage

Reverse mortgages

Your options and rights for housing

Renters

Kainga Ora and MSD tenants

Homeowners

Managing work when you are seriously ill

Talking to your employer

Available financial support

Government help

Private investment or retirement schemes

Insurance claims

Managing your insurance claims when you have a serious illness

Review what insurance you have

Life insurance

Life insurance

Talk to your insurer or insurance adviser

Be prepared to follow-up with your insurer after a claim

Legal resources for when you have a serious illness

Finding a private lawyer

Finding free legal help

What to say when seeking legal help

What to do if your illness is terminal

Propose someone to take over your accounts and products

Pass on your passwords

Put your will in place

Set your enduring powers of attorney

In-person support when you have a serious or terminal illness

For caregivers of those who are seriously or terminally ill

Serious diagnosis FAQs

I have just been diagnosed with a serious illness, and I’m worried about paying my bills. How can I keep my lights on?

I am sick and need help from my landlord or employer, but I am struggling to make sense of my lease or contract. Where can I find help?

A member of my whānau was just diagnosed with a serious illness. What are my options as far as time off and financial support?

I have just been diagnosed with a serious illness and have a lot of debt. I am worried about going further into debt while I am sick. What can I do?

What kind of support am I eligible for now I have a serious illness?

What should I say to my landlord, bank, or employer after receiving a serious illness diagnosis?

I haven’t been able to get the support I need from my bank, landlord, or employer. What are my rights and where can I find support?