The aid was presented by Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil at the latter's residence at Kampung Kionsom in Inanam.
Joseph, 68, is the former head of the Sabah and Sarawak NST Editorial Department based in Kuching.
He was diagnosed with bone cancer in 2014, and currently suffers kidney failure and high blood pressure.
Joseph said that he was moved because Fahmi came personally eventhough the road leading to his house was in bad shape.
"I also hope that the presence of the minister and the Inanam assemblyman can speed up the upgrading of the access road here.
"The bad road is giving us difficulties. Last week my father was sick and the ambulance couldn't get in because of the bad road," he said.
Joseph joined Kinabalu Sabah Times as an editor in 1977 before joining the New Straits Times Press (NSTP) as a correspondent in Sabah.
He was then transferred to the Times of Malaysia London Ltd, which is the NST Office in London.
Upon his return from London, Joseph was based in Kuching, before being transferred to the NST headquarters in Kuala Lumpur in 2004.
During the visit, Fahmi said that Joseph is the 24th recipient of the fund.
During the National Journalists Day 2023, Tabung Kasih@HAWANA was set up to support media practitioners, former media personnel and veteran journalists who are in need.
"It is an initiative of the Communications and Digital Ministry and has been implemented through the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) since April 14, 2023 as a continuous effort to help those in the media community facing difficulties and challenges in life.
"This programme will continue to be implemented for journalists who need it.
"The prime minister has channelled an allocation of RM1 million to implement this programme," he said.
Fahmi added that he would discuss with Sepanggar Member of Parliament Datuk Mustapha Sakmud and Inanam state assemblyman Datuk Peto Galim regarding efforts to continue helping Joseph.