Council Tax
Disability Living Allowance or Child Disability Payments (for children)
In all parts of the UK, children who need help to look after themselves (care) and or find it difficult to get around and walk (mobility) are entitled to some form of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Child Disability Payment. Both are divided into two parts, care and mobility. You may get just one component or both.
Care Component is paid at one of 3 possible rates. To qualify for the care component you must need substantially more help than a non-disabled child of the same age. The lower rate is for people who need help for a significant portion of the day either all at once or at intervals throughout the day. The middle rate is for people who need help with their bodily functions throughout the day or night, or need a lot of supervision to avoid danger to themselves or others. The higher rate is for people who require supervision both day and night.
Mobility Component is paid at one of 2 rates. The lower rate is for people who cannot manage outdoors without help or supervision because of physical or learning disability, and a higher rate for people who are unable or virtually unable to walk or have severe visual, mental health, medical or cognitive disabilities.
Housing grants for disabled facilities, adaptations and home improvements
In all areas of the UK, financial support is available to make adaptations and home improvements to help meet the needs of a disabled person and support your families roles in caring. Across the UK conditions and criteria vary, so ask your local council, Occupational Therapist or Housing department for more information. Many start the process with a visit from an Occupational Therapist who will make an assessment and reccomendations which must be followed in order to qualify for financial assistance. Disability Rights UK has a great information page on housing grants across the UK for further information.
Help with Health Costs
Across the UK people with disabilities can qualify for financial support to help cover costs associated with a range of health services such as prescription charges, sight tests and glasses, free NHS dental treatment, travel to hospital for treatment, NHS low income scheme. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland prescriptions are free of charge. More information can be found:
Personal Independence Payments (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for England and Wales and Adult Disability Payments, if you live in Scotland, can help with the extra living costs if you have both:
- a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
- difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition
You can get PIP and ADP even if you’re working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.
Both are broken down into 2 parts which are assessed on how safe someone is; how long it takes them, how often a condition affects them, and whether help is needed from a person or a piece of equipment. The two parts are:
- Daily living – whether you need help with day to day tasks such as preparing food, eating and drinking, managing your medicines or treatments, washing and bathing, using the toilet, dressing and undressing, reading, managing your money, socialising and being around other people, talking, listening and understanding.
- Mobility – whether you need help with getting around such as working out a route and following it, physically moving around or leaving your home. You do not have to have a physical disability to get the mobility part. You may also be eligible if you have difficulty getting around because of a cognitive or mental health condition.
Whether you get one or both parts and how much you get depends on how difficult you find everyday tasks and getting around.
Find out more information you live in England or Wales:
https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/disability
Find out more information you live in Scotland:
https://www.mygov.scot/browse/benefits/disability-benefits/adult-disability-payment