Financial Help

Benefits
Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Disabled Persons Tax Credits, Incapacity/Income Support. For information regarding these and other benefits available contact your local Benefits Agency or Citizens Advice Bureau.
Funding & Insurance
Many charities help people with a specific condition or disability. The criteria may differ but generally charities will only help individuals, families and groups who are on a low income. For more information contact your local Disability Service.
Community Care Grants
These payments are meant to help people to re-establish themselves in the community after spending some time away from home in hospital, at a hostel or in a residential care home. Forms are available from the Department for Work and Pensions.
Independent Living Fund
The Fund considers applications for financial assistance from disabled people aged between 16-65 years. All applicants must meet the following conditions: Receiving the highest rate of Disabled Living Allowance care component, be "severely disabled", be unable to pay for all the personal care that is needed, live alone or with another person who is unable to provide all the care needed and have incomes at income support level, or be in receipt of a care package from Social Services. Alternatively the Fund may act for people hoping to move out of hospital or residential care to provide care at home through agreed care plans with local Social Services. For more information contact: The Independent Living Fund, PO Box 7525, Nottingham NG2 4ZT
VAT Exemption
Certain aids, services and related goods designed solely for use by a disabled person are free of Value Added Tax (VAT). For more information contact: HM Customs & Excise, VAT Registration Unit, Queens Dock, Liverpool L74 4AG.