Financial help if you're disabled

Overview

There is a wide range of disability-related financial support, including benefits, tax credits, payments, grants and concessions.

The main disability and sickness benefits are:

• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Attendance Allowance
• Employment and Support Allowance

Depending on your circumstances, you might also be able to get:

• Industrial Injuries Benefit if you’re disabled as a result of work
• Constant Attendance Allowance if you need daily care and attention because of a disability
• the disability element of Working Tax Credit, if you work and are getting PIP or DLA

Vehicles and transport

If you’re disabled you can apply for the following:

• exemption from paying vehicle tax
• parking benefits - Blue Badge
• disabled persons bus pass or railcard
• help to buy or lease a car from The Motability Scheme

Home and housing

If you’ve been assessed by your local council as needing care and support services, you can get:

• Direct payments - allowing you to buy in and arrange help yourself instead of getting it directly from social services
• Disabled Facilities Grants - which is money towards the costs of home adaptations to enable you to continue living there

If you’re on a low income you may also be entitled to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction from your local council.

Help if you’re employed

You may be able to:

• top up a low salary by claiming Income Support or Working Tax Credit, for example
• get an Access to Work grant to help with the cost of travel or special equipment at work

VAT relief on certain goods and services

You don’t have to pay VAT on certain goods and services if they’re just for your own use and you’re disabled or have a long term illness.

Armed forces compensation

You may be able to get compensation if you’ve been injured or disabled while serving in the armed forces.

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