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About Us>What We Do > Living Beyond Breast Cancer Fund

Living Beyond Breast Cancer Fund

About Us>What We Do > Living Beyond Breast Cancer Fund

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Breast cancer can be expensive. We're here to help.

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We appreciate your interest in the Living Beyond Breast Cancer Fund. The availability of grants varies according to funding and the number of applications received.

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Please note: We used to accept new applications on a monthly basis. Starting in 2024, applications will be accepted every other month on the third Wednesday (January, March, May, July, September, and November).

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At this time, we are not able to accept new applications. The application will open on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time. You must start your application before 12:10 pm Eastern Time. At 12:10 pm Eastern Time, the application button will be removed from the webpage and no additional applications can be started. We receive a very high volume of applications and review them on a first-come, first-served basis. Once we reach our maximum number of applications, no other applications will be reviewed.

The application is 100% online. It cannot be printed or sent to you. You cannot access the application until March 20. We strongly encourage you to review this entire webpage to ensure that you have a clear understanding of the program and the eligibility guidelines.

To apply, both of these things must be done: 1) We need an application from you on the date that we accept new applications, and 2) your healthcare provider must complete a form to verify your breast cancer diagnosis.

If you are a healthcare provider (for instance, a social worker, nurse navigator, nurse, or doctor) please see “I’m a healthcare provider – what should I do?”

Please review the Program Overview section below to learn more about the Living Beyond Breast Cancer Fund. For additional information and resources, please visit our Financial assistance page.

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Program overview

Below, you'll find details about the grant and answers to some frequently asked questions.

How much is the grant amount?

Grants range from $500 - $1,250 based on individual circumstances and as funding allows.

This is a one-time grant and can only be awarded to people who have not received a grant through the Living Beyond Breast Cancer Fund in the past.

How can the grant be applied?

The grant can be used for living expenses only: rent, mortgage, utilities (such as gas, electric, heating oil, water, phone, internet or cable), car payment, or car insurance.

Grants cannot be used to cover medical expenses, personal loans, or credit cards.

Funds are sent directly to the company/biller (for example, landlord or electric company). No funds are given directly to the applicant.

This is not an emergency fund. We make every effort to process applications within 6-8 weeks of submission.

Am I eligible to receive a grant?

This is a one-time financial assistance program. Please read these eligibility guidelines carefully:

Breast cancer stage

  • Early-stage breast cancer (stage 0/DCIS, I, II, or III): Applicants with early-stage breast cancer:
    • Must have been diagnosed within the past 12 months from the date of grant application, and
    • Must have an active treatment plan that includes surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy only), chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, and/or immunotherapy.
    • LBBC cannot consider applicants receiving only long-term hormonal therapy, such as tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors, for a grant.
  • Metastatic breast cancer (stage IV): Applicants living with metastatic breast cancer can apply regardless of their date of diagnosis or treatment plan.
    • LBBC defines metastatic breast cancer as breast cancer that has traveled away from the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other parts of the body, such as the bones, lungs, liver, or brain.

Financial need

  • Applicants must be experiencing financial need due to breast cancer treatment and have a household income under 400% of the U.S. Federal Poverty Level.
  • To determine whether your household is at 400% or less of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), please use the NeedyMeds FPL calculator (do not use commas when entering your income).

Place of residence

Applicants must live within one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia.

I have received funds from LBBC previously. Am I still eligible?

Grants can only be awarded to people who have not received a Living Beyond Breast Cancer Fund grant in the past.

If you have received a grant related to attending an LBBC conference or program, you may be eligible for a Living Beyond Breast Cancer Fund grant.

If you have questions about your eligibility, email us at grantinfo@lbbc.org

How do I apply?

To apply, both of these things must be done: 1) We need an application from you on the date that we accept new applications, and 2) your healthcare provider must complete a form to verify your breast cancer diagnosis.

1. For the person affected by breast cancer:

  • You must complete and submit the online application when it is next open (the date and time are posted at the top of this webpage, www.lbbc.org/fund).
  • The application can only be seen and completed online on the date and time when we accept new applications. The application cannot be downloaded, printed, or mailed.
  • When you apply, remember to refresh your screen right at 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time. The application button will be posted on this page at that time. It will remain there until 12:10 pm Eastern Time.
    • Click here to see an example of what the buttons will look like when the application is open.
  • Be sure that you are applying in Eastern Time, if you live in another time zone such as Central, Mountain, or Pacific. For example, 12:00 pm Eastern Time is 11:00 am Central Time.
  • At 12:10 pm Eastern Time, the application button will be removed from the webpage and no additional applications can be started.
  • With the high amount of need in the breast cancer community, we do our best to assist as many people as possible. Our grant is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. We will review applications in the order in which they are received until we reach our maximum number.

 

2. For a member of your cancer healthcare team:

  • A member of your cancer healthcare team must complete the Healthcare Provider Verification Form to confirm your breast cancer diagnosis.
  • The healthcare provider verification form is valid for 90 days from the date we receive it.
  • This form can be completed at any time by a member of your healthcare team (such as a social worker, nurse, navigator, or doctor). It can be done before you apply, or once you have submitted your application.
  • The person applying for a grant cannot complete the healthcare provider verification form. Only the healthcare provider can complete this form.
  • A delay in receiving the verification form from your healthcare provider may affect the application review timeline. Please ask your healthcare provider to submit the form as soon as possible.
  • The Healthcare Provider Verification Form is not meant to be printed and given to your healthcare provider.
  • If your healthcare provider is unable to submit your form online, please ask them to contact us at (855) 807-6386, press #2 or grantinfo@lbbc.org.

I’m a healthcare provider – what should I do?

  • Please complete the Healthcare Provider Verification Form to confirm your patient’s breast cancer diagnosis.
  • The healthcare provider verification form is valid for 90 days from the date we receive it.
  • This form can be completed at any time by a member of the patient’s healthcare team (such as a social worker, nurse, navigator, or doctor). It can be submitted before your patient applies, or once they have submitted their application (see “How do I apply?”).
  • The person applying for a grant cannot complete the healthcare provider verification form. Only the healthcare provider can complete this form.
  • A delay in receiving the healthcare provider verification form may affect the application review timeline. Please submit the form as soon as possible.
  • Please be sure that your patient meets our eligibility criteria:
    • Previous grants: This is a one-time financial assistance program. Grants can only be awarded to people who have not received a Living Beyond Breast Cancer Fund grant in the past.
    • Breast cancer stage:
      • Early-stage breast cancer (stage 0/DCIS, I, II, or III): Applicants with early-stage breast cancer:
        • Must have been diagnosed within the past 12 months from the date of grant application, and
        • Must have an active treatment plan that includes surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy only), chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, and/or immunotherapy.
        • LBBC cannot consider applicants receiving only long-term hormonal therapy, such as tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors, for a grant.
      • Metastatic breast cancer (stage IV): Applicants living with metastatic breast cancer can apply regardless of their date of diagnosis or treatment plan.
        • LBBC defines metastatic breast cancer as breast cancer that has traveled away from the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other parts of the body, such as the bones, lungs, liver, or brain.
    • Financial need:
      • Applicants must be experiencing financial need due to breast cancer treatment and have a household income under 400% of the U.S. Federal Poverty Level.
      • To determine whether your patient's household is at 400% or less of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), please use the NeedyMeds FPL calculator (do not use commas when entering income).
    • Place of residence: Applicants must live within one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia.
  • The Healthcare Provider Verification Form is not meant to be printed. If you are unable to submit the form online for your patient, please contact us at (855) 807-6386, press #2 or grantinfo@lbbc.org.

What information do I need to provide when applying?

Before you apply, please review the information on this page to be sure you understand the program, whether you are eligible for a grant, and the two-step application process.

When you apply, be prepared to provide the following types of information:

  • Your name, address, email address, date of birth and other required personal information
  • Information about your breast cancer: when you were diagnosed, breast cancer type and stage (for example, stage II ER/PR-positive or hormone-receptor positive breast cancer), and your treatment plan
  • The number of people in your household, your monthly income at the time of application, and the income of any other household members
  • A short statement about how breast cancer has affected your/your family’s financial situation
  • Your cancer center/hospital name and your healthcare provider’s name, title/role and contact information

You do not need to submit bills or any other type of documents during the application process.

What are some tips for applying?

The application can only be seen and completed online on the date and time when we accept new applications. The application cannot be downloaded, printed, or mailed.

  • Click here to see an example of what the buttons will look like when the application is open.

We recommend applying on a computer or tablet; cell phone is not recommended.

Due to the volume of requests we receive, LBBC staff are not able to help you complete the application form. You may want to consider asking a family member, friend, or healthcare provider (such as your social worker or navigator) to help you with the application.

We receive a very high volume of applications and quickly exceed our maximum number. We encourage applicants to:

  • Visit this page (www.lbbc.org/fund) just before 12:00 pm (noon) Eastern Time on the next date we open for new applications.
  • The application button is not visible until 12:00 pm Eastern Time on the date we open for new applications.
  • Refresh your screen right at 12:00 pm Eastern Time. The application button will be posted on this page at that time. It will remain there until 12:10 pm Eastern Time.
  • Be sure that you are applying in Eastern Time, if you live in another time zone such as Central, Mountain, or Pacific. For example, 12:00 pm Eastern Time is 11:00 am Central Time.
  • At 12:10 pm Eastern Time, the application button will be removed from the webpage and no additional applications can be started.
  • With the high amount of need in the breast cancer community, we do our best to assist as many people as possible. Our grant is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. We will review applications in the order in which they are received until we reach our maximum number.
  • Once you submit your application you will see a screen thanking you for completing it. There are no other steps for you to take at this time.

Please submit only one application.

I submitted an application. Now what?

We review as many applications as possible until we reach our maximum number.

Email is our primary means of communication about applications and grants. Please be sure to check your inbox and junk/spam folders for communications from Living Beyond Breast Cancer.

If your completed application is within the number we can accept, we will email you about your healthcare provider verification form (if not already submitted) and provide a specific timeline for this form to be completed by your healthcare provider. If we do not receive a response, this can result in the application being deactivated.

We will email you within six weeks of your application date to notify you of your application status.

If you have not heard from us via email within six weeks of submitting your application, please contact us at (855) 807-6386, press #2 or grantinfo@lbbc.org.

Calls are returned in the order received. We will return your message as soon as possible. Due to high call volume, emailing us may result in a faster reply to your question.

What happens if I am approved for a grant?

  • You will receive an email from LBBC notifying you of the grant approval.
  • Email is our primary means of communication about applications and grants. Please be sure to check your inbox and junk/spam folders for communications from Living Beyond Breast Cancer.
  • We will request copies of 1-2 billing documents from you (in our approved categories of rent, mortgage, utilities, car payment or car insurance) by a specific date.
  • We will pay these bills on your behalf up to the amount of your grant.
  • Checks to billers are mailed from our office. We will inform you of the specific timing for your grant.
  • If we do not receive a response from you, this can result in the grant being deactivated. You will not be able to reapply.

Where else can I find financial assistance?

Our financial assistance page has more information about resources available to help you find programs and services, including other organizations offering grants and other financial assistance.

A resource for people living with metastatic breast cancer is our featured partner Infinite Strength, at www.infinitestrength.org or 203-812-0549. Infinite Strength provides six months of financial support to underrepresented/underserved single mothers living with Metastatic Breast Cancer (Stage IV) in order for them to have a better quality of life. Qualified applicants must be single mothers who have children under the age of 18 living with them (whom they are financially responsible for) and they must be 200% of the federal poverty level. Please contact Infinite Strength directly to learn more.

My question isn't answered here.

If you have additional questions, you can contact us by emailing grantinfo@lbbc.org or by calling (855) 807-6386, press #3.

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Thank you

The Living Beyond Breast Cancer Fund is made possible by generous contributions of individual, foundation and corporate donors. We especially want to recognize the extraordinary generosity of:

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LBBC is grateful to all the individuals and companies who contribute to the LBBC Fund.

* The Orsher Family’s contributions have allowed us to continue to expand the Living Beyond Breast Cancer Fund across the country to support people living in rural, suburban, and urban America.

** Forward4Tobi allows us to support women living with metastatic breast cancer and their families so that they can focus on their health.