The Independent Living Fund
The Independent Living Fund helps severely disabled people pay for care services in their own home. To qualify, you must be aged from 16 to 65; and be receiving or about to receive care services from your local authority to the value of at least £200 per week. You must also receive the highest rate of Disability Living Allowance care component, be on a low income, and have less than £18,500 savings. Contact your local social services department to see if you qualify.

Benefits
The main disability benefits are:

• Disability Living Allowance if you are under 65; and
• Attendance Allowance if you are 65 or over.

You should also make sure that you are getting all the means-tested help that you are entitled to such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. If you are receiving Pension Credit you may be able to claim a Community Care Grant. These grants can pay for items that you need because of your disability. But you cannot claim for an item that your local authority or the NHS should provide for you.

The Benefits Info section of this website explains how you qualify for these benefits and what to do about claiming.

Housing grants
You may be able to get a grant or loan from your local council to help with the cost of home repairs. If you are disabled you can also apply for a grant to adapt your home to make it more suitable. The help you can get varies depending on your finances, where you live, and whether you are a homeowner or a tenant.

See our information sheet Home Repairs and Improvements (PDF) for more information on the different grants available. SeniorLine can also advise you.