Disabled people are not only more likely to have a lower income because of limited capacity for work, but they pay more for general living costs, too.
For example, people who require someone to travel with them need to pay for a second ticket or those who need taxis to travel because they are unable to walk or use public transport. There are more, everyday, costs, too. People might find cooking from scratch hard due to being unable to safely handle knives – so they rely on ready meals or pre-prepared veggies. Or they might suffer memory loss or attention difficulties, which means they end up washing the same load of clothes several times because they kept forgetting them in the washer.
These extra costs might seem small, but when there are several of them every week, it quickly adds up. In fact, disability charity Scope revealed research that it costs an average of £570 extra every month, just because of being disabled. One in four disabled people pay over £12,000 a year extra due to their condition.
What ‘counts’ as disabled?
Many people don’t apply for extra funding they would qualify for because they don’t think they are ‘disabled enough’ or even don’t realise their condition qualifies them to apply. There is no specific list of conditions that ‘count’ as disabled – although if you have a cancer, HIV infection, or multiple sclerosis diagnosis these will automatically qualify you from the date of diagnosis.
Otherwise, under the Equality Act 2010, a disability is classed as: “A physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.”
This means if your condition is temporary, such as a broken leg, you’re not considered disabled. But if you have a condition that will last 12 months or more and makes daily life difficult, that’s a disability. It also includes progressive or fluctuating conditions, such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, or depression. If you have a physical or mental health condition that has a substantial and long-term negative impact on your daily life, keep reading to find out where you can apply for extra financial help or claim discounts to help with the extra costs of being disabled.
Use a benefits checker
Charity Turn2Us has a reliable benefits checker as well as a grant finder. It takes about ten minutes to complete the full calculator but it’ll help you find things you might be eligible for and aren’t yet claiming, like Personal Independence Payment. Many people think they won’t get benefits because they still work, or because their partner earns too much – or that it’s simply too hard to get them. Find out what you could be entitled to and make sure you apply for them.
The tests for means-tested disability benefits can be rigorous and difficult, but you can find support from your local Citizens Advice Bureau to help you fill out forms and handle any appeals, too.
Search for local grants
Along with national grants and benefits, you might find that your local community has small grants to help. These might be for specific things, such as replacing broken white goods, or for cost-of-living grants. Your local authority will list some of these on their website, but you can also find information at the library for community groups who might offer financial or practical support.
Apply for a Disabled Persons Railcard
If you travel on the train even a few times a year, you might benefit from a Disabled Persons Railcard. This costs £20 for one year or £54 for three years, and saves you and a companion a third off train fares. The eligibility criteria can be quite strict, but you could save hundreds of pounds a year. You need to be in receipt of Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, have a visual impairment, be registered deaf or use a hearing aid, have epilepsy, or receive other benefits like Attendance Allowance. Receiving Universal Credit for being unable to work does not qualify you.
Get a cinema companion card
The UK Cinema Association (UKCA) offers a companion card in recognition of the fact many disabled people need to be accompanied if they wish to attend the cinema. This card allows a free companion ticket, essentially giving a 50% discount on the two tickets you buy each time.
You’ll need to meet eligibility criteria – but if you don’t meet the main criteria you can still contact them because they recognise that the challenges in receiving certain benefits or paperwork excludes many disabled people. Most theatres also offer free companion tickets. Talk to the box office before you book, as they each have different eligibility requirements and may only allow companion tickets to be booked over the phone or in person.
Apply for home improvement grants
Disabled Facilities Grants help you pay for home improvements that will help you stay in your home and live independently. They are offered by local authorities – but you must be quick! The scheme closes March 31 and nobody knows if an equivalent will be instated after that. These grants are useful for things like installing handles to help you move around the home or get out of the bath, convert your bathroom to a wetroom, or install a ramp to get in and out of your home.
Remember to declare VAT exemption on medical devices
Finally, did you know that if you buy medical assistance devices you could save 20%? If you’re purchasing certain items because they will help you manage your condition at home, or live independently, you could claim VAT relief. This counts for things like rise and recliner chairs, home adaptations like building a ramp, or speech to text devices.
Ask for help with access to work
Disabled people in work often aren’t aware that Access to Work even exists. It’s a brilliant scheme that helps with the extra costs of being disabled while in work. This could be for ongoing costs, such as a BSL interpreter, or one-off equipment costs like a standing desk or specialist software. It doesn’t affect your other benefits and is a non-taxable grant, and it doesn’t matter how much you earn: everyone with a disability is entitled to apply if they need support.
Remember that this can also include support for mental as well as physical conditions. For example, people with depression may be able to access one-to-one support sessions with a mental health professional to help them stay in work. Access to Work does not cover Reasonable Adjustments your employer is responsible for, so it’s important to talk to your employer before you apply to see if there is anything they could already be doing to help you do your job. If you’re unsure if what you need counts as a reasonable adjustment, an Access to Work assessment will help – so it’s still worth applying.
Who pays for access to work?
If you’re employed, ask your employer about an Access to Work assessment. You may find there are more things you can ask for than you even knew existed! Your employer pays some or all of the cost via the scheme and reclaims it. If you’re self-employed, you don’t need to pay but can still claim an Access to Work grant.
You may need to pay up front for one-offs like equipment and reclaim the cash, so do be aware of that. For ongoing costs like PAs or support workers, this can be arranged for repeat payments. Access to Work is in the firing line of the current Government, as with many other benefits and grants for disabled people. As such, if you think you could benefit from specialised equipment or support to do your job, apply now.
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