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What is it? If you need help with one-off payments for crucial items to help you care for your child, then you can apply to the Family Fund for help. Generally families receive grants for washing machines, dishwashers, driving lessons, telephone use or holidays. The government fund is for low income families, who care for a child under sixteen years with a chronic illness or disability. The fund will give priority to those in greatest financial need.
How do I get help?
The Family Fund produces an information leaflet with up-to date details of how to apply, and who is likely to be eligible for money. You may want to ask your health visitor or other professional to write a letter in support of your request. You will have to give your child's details and explain why you need the item/activity in order to better care for the child, You will also have to provide some details about your income and savings.
When they receive your completed application form, they may send a visitor to you quickly, to help you make an urgent application in full or they will contact professionals named by you first, and then send a visitor to help you with your application. It should take between six and eight weeks after your application for them to make their decision. Subsequent applications from you will be processed faster.
How to contact them
Contact : The Family Fund Trust
Telephone (to enquire about making an application): 01904 621115
General information service (about other services): 01904 550033
What is it?
This organisation, founded in 1962 originally to help children disabled by thalidomide, now encompasses all children under 18 with joint or limb disabilities.The Trust is especially aware of meeting the needs of the whole family. The Trust offers experienced fieldworkers who can make regular visits to the family at home and who offer advice on all aspects of coping with a child with arthritis, including requests for modest financial help. They aim to provide a consistent, flexible service to support families.
How do I contact them?
In the first instance telephone or write to them and they will send you information and arrange a home visit to chat about how they can help.
Contact: The Lady Hoare Trust Telephone: 020 7820 9989
1stFloor, 89 Albert Embankment, www.ladyhoaretrust.org.uk
London, SE1 7TP
If you are on Income Support, you may be able to get a loan or grant towards the cost of specific item of household equipment or furniture. In practice, it seems to be very hard to get money from the Social Fund, and budgeting for repayments from a low income can be difficult. Find out more from your local Benefits Agency Office or local advice centre.
What is it?
If you've had to adapt your home specially for your disabled child, the council tax bill could be reduced to that of a house in the band immediately below yours. If your house is already in the lowest band (band A) you will not qualify. The sort of adaptations which might make the difference are:
Ring your local Council Tax Office and ask if you qualify.
You can get help with fares to hospital if you are on Income Support or Family Credit, or sometimes if your income is very low and if the appointment is an important part of your child's treatment. Most hospitals have someone who deals with reimbursing fares on the spot, so ask the clinic receptionist or consultants' secretary where you should go within the hospital. This includes journey to specialist hospitals a long way from your home, so ask your child's Consultant to write to the Health Authority saying that you need to attend that appointment and you should get the fare repaid.
'Every week we had to go to Oxford and they said 'Do you want help to pay for travel costs', and we said 'No, it's all right'. I didn't really think about it, but after a while it adds up to a lot of money. So now I do claim, and use our money for something else she needs.'
This organisation aims to inform, support and campaign on behalf of parents of disabled who wish to/need to work. Book and regular newsletter called 'Waving not drowning' provides useful information, including negotiating with employers. They have a variety of free factsheets including topics about different childcare options, Flexible working, Working Families Tax Credit, Factsheet for fathers, Benefits and tax credits for families with disabled children.
Contact: Parents at Work Telephone: 020 7628 3565
45 Beech Street, Free factsheets: 020 7628 3578
London EC2Y 8AD (24 hour answerphone)
This organisation publishes very thorough, detailed up-to date books about benefits, social and legal provision for people with disabilities and their carers. The handbook is regularly updated. The most recent edition, covering 2002-2003 Disability Rights Handbook (27th Edition), costs £13.00 (£9.00 if your child already receives benefits).
Contact: Disability Alliance Telephone: 020 724 8776
Universal House,
88-94 Wentworth Street,
London E1 7SA
You may be eligible to claim for exemption of annual vehicle tax if the child is over 5 years, receives higher rate of the Mobility section of Disability Living Allowance, and you jointly register the ownership of the vehicle in the child and parents' name. This could be a saving of at least £150 annually (2002). You have to get the certificate stamped in the local Transport Department each year.
Contact: Fylde Benefits Directorate, Telephone: 0845 7123456
Disability Living Allowance Unit,
Warbreck House, Warbreck Hill,
Blackpool, FY2 0YE