Yes, Wellspring’s Money Matters program is a free case-management service specifically designed to help people with cancer and their family members understand and access the financial resources available to them during one of the most financially vulnerable periods of their lives. A trained Money Matters case manager meets with you privately, by phone, video call or in-person, to review your individual circumstances, assess your eligibility for income replacement programs and other financial resources, and walk you through application processes, eligibility criteria, timelines, and payment amounts. Topics covered include income replacement programs, drug coverage, long-term disability benefits, returning to work, insurance questions, and community resources — and case managers can assist directly with application paperwork. The program is currently available to cancer patients and families in Alberta and Ontario.
The Money Matters program covers a broad range of cancer-relate financial concerns that patients and families commonly face but often don’t know where to start navigating. Case managers can help with understanding and applying for income replacement programs, long-term disability benefits, drug coverage options, insurance questions, and community resources — as well as guidance around returning to work during or after cancer treatment. Importantly, case managers don’t just provide information — they actively assist with the paperwork and documentation required for government, workplace, and community organization programs, which can be one of the most overwhelming parts of the process when you are already managing a serious illness. As one participant described it, having expert help with the long-term disability application process — from someone who was both knowledgeable and genuinely empathetic — made all the difference.
Financial stress following a cancer diagnosis is not only common — it is well-documented. Canadian consistently show that a cancer diagnosis can impose substantial financial burden on patients and the people close to them, affecting income, employment, insurance, and out-of-pocket costs in ways that create cascading stress across the entire family. This financial burden doesn’t just affect bank accounts — it affects recovery. Research has found that informational and practical support around financial concerns is associated with reduced anxiety in people living with cancer, which means that addressing money worries is not separate from health — it is part of it. As one family member described after their father navigated Wellspring’s Money Matters program: the financial stress relief on the family very likely helped reduce her father’s stress and improve his chemotherapy journey.
Yes, this is one of the core functions of the Money Matters program. Many cancer patients and families are unaware of the full range of income replacement programs, disability benefits, drug coverage options, and community resources that may be available to them, and navigating eligibility criteria, application processes, and documentation requirements can feel impossible while simultaneously managing a serious illness. A Money Matters case manager will review your specific circumstances and assess your eligibility for available programs — removing the guesswork and helping ensure you don’t miss out on support you are entitled to. Case managers can also assist directly with completing application paperwork, which participants consistently describe as one of the most valuable parts of the service. The program does not provide financial planning or advisory services and does not provide funding — but it provides exactly the expert navigation and advocacy that most people need most.
The Money Matters program is a private, one-on-one service — your appointment takes place individually with a case manager, either by phone, in-person, or video call, and your personal and financial circumstances are discussed in a confidential setting. The program is available not only to people with cancer themselves, but also to their family members and caregivers — because the financial impact of a cancer diagnosis affects the whole household, and family members are often the ones managing the paperwork, advocating for benefits, and navigating the system on a loved one’s behalf. Once you request an appointment, you will be matched with a case manager and contacted by phone or email to schedule a time that works for you. The program is currently available in Alberta and Ontario only.
Accessing Money Matters is straightforward — simply visit Wellspring Portal, and request an appointment through the Money Matters page. Once your request is received, Wellspring will match you with a case manager who has specialized training in cancer-related financial resources in your province — either Ontario or Alberta, as the program is currently available in these two provinces only. You will then be contacted by phone or email to schedule a mutually convenient appointment time. If you choose to meet online, you will receive a confirmation email with a Zoom link; if you prefer a phone appointment, the case manager will call you at the scheduled time. The meeting is private, one-on-one, and focused entirely on your circumstances and needs — at no cost to you.