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Find out how to claim for extra costs you have to pay because of a disability or ill health.
Disability related expenses are extra costs you have to pay because of your disability or a long term health condition.
These can be anything from heating to clothing, disability related equipment to basic domestic or gardening services.
They'll usually meet a need which has been included in your care and support plan and are not provided in another way. For example, through mobility benefits, your personal budget or a grant.
In exceptional circumstances, we'll consider costs outside of your care and support plan.
If you pay towards your care, we might reduce the amount you pay to allow for these extra costs if you get any of the following:
We'll ask you about disability related expenses when we carry out your financial assessment.
For any costs we approve, we'll make an allowance for them in the amount you pay. This can reduce the amount you pay towards your care and support.
Learn more about the financial assessment process
Write down your extra costs and put the information on your financial assessment form, or ask for a financial assessment review.
Keep receipts or bills showing you buy the items or services you're claiming.
Receipts for services should include:
Disability related expenses are different for different people. There is no cap on expenses, but any costs you claim must be:
If you buy items or services when there is a cheaper alternative that meets your needs, we might reject the claim.
If your expense isn't in this list, you should still include it in your financial assessment form for us to consider.
Everyday living costs are costs someone pays regardless of their disability or illness.
We can only fund the extra costs you have to pay because of your disability or long term health condition.
For example, we will not consider all your food costs, only those extra costs for special food you need because of your disability.
To calculate the expense, we would look at the difference between the average food spend for a household of your size and how much you need to spend.
Think about your daily life and what items and services you use.
Try to think about what differences there are between what you have to spend compared to a relative, friend or neighbour who doesn't have a disability or health condition.
It might help to look through your invoices, bills or receipts to see what you spend in a week, month or year, and work out which costs arise from your disability.
You may use some items and services more at certain times than others, so it might be easier to think about the extra costs you spend over a whole year.
Your DREs will increase a small amount each year to take account of inflation. You can also get in touch and ask us to review them.
Get in touch with the Financial Assessment Team if you have any questions about disability related expenses or your circumstances.
020 8770 5280
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