Disability related expenses (DREs)
Find out how to claim for extra costs you have to pay because of a disability or ill health.
About disability related expenses
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.
When you can claim an expense
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:
- Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (care component)
- Personal Independence Payment (daily living component)
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
How to claim an expense
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:
- a unique receipt reference number
- the date the service was provided
- a description of the work and the cost
How big your expense claim can be
Disability related expenses are different for different people. There is no cap on expenses, but any costs you claim must be:
- reasonable given your level of need
- reasonable for the type of expense
If you buy items or services when there is a cheaper alternative that meets your needs, we might reject the claim.
Examples of expenses
If your expense isn't in this list, you should still include it in your financial assessment form for us to consider.
- Help at home with things like cleaning and gardening if you can’t do them yourself.
- Community alarm if you have one and pay for it yourself.
- Things you need to buy for your disability, such as a wheelchair, bed, hoist, kitchen or bathroom equipment.
- Extra transport costs to health appointments if you can’t use public transport.
- Extra heating and energy costs because of your health condition or disability.
- Extra bedding, clothing or footwear you need because of your disability or health condition.
- Extra things from the pharmacy which your prescription does not cover such as bandages or disinfectant.
- Extra water if your disability means you need to wash clothes or bedding more often.
Difference between everyday living costs and extra costs
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.
Working out your expenses
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.
Ask us to review your expenses
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.
Contact us
Get in touch with the Financial Assessment Team if you have any questions about disability related expenses or your circumstances.
Phone
020 8770 5280