Financial Help
Caring for someone with a rare disease can affect your health, energy, and money. Carers often spend more money on travel to appointments, heating, medical needs, or taking time off work. You may also be looking for information but asked to pay for journal articles or to join conferences. Below are links to support that may help with money needs.
Gillian Cassidy - Navigating Finances
Catherine DonaghyNavigating Finances
Lynne LohfeldNavigating Finances
Una CoyleNavigating Finances
| Resource | Details | Notes | Link | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | NI Direct Carer’s Allowance | Carer’s Allowance if you’re aged 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone who is ill or has a disability, you may be eligible for Carer’s Allowance. |
For more information or advice about Carer’s Allowance, contact the Disability and Carers Service: Phone: 0800 587 0912 Textphone number: 0800 012 1574 (If you are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus, or have speech difficulties) Email address for Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance: dcs.post@dfcni.gov.uk Email address for Carers Allowance: belfastcastlecourt.caenquiries@dfcni.gov.uk |
Carer’s Allowance Info |
| 2. | NI Direct Help with Health Costs | Most Health Service treatment is free, although there can be charges for some things. Depending on your circumstances, you might get help with the cost of some treatment, services and items. If you’re on a low income, you may be able to get help with health service and travel costs. |
Help with Health Costs |
|
| 3. | NI Direct Hospital Travel Costs Scheme | You may get financial help from the Hospital Travel Costs Scheme if you’re on a low income, need Health Service treatment at a hospital, Health Service centre or private clinic and have been under the care of a consultant. |
Hospital Travel Costs Scheme |
|
| 4. | NI Direct Social Fund Budgeting Loans Service | Contact the Social Fund Budgeting loans service if you need money for essential household items such as furniture or essential household equipment, clothing, footwear or home improvements. |
Freephone: 0800 022 4250 Opening hours: Lines are open Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 4.00 pm If you receive a suspicious text, contact the Social Fund Service: 0800 022 4250 |
Budgeting Loans Service |
| 5. | NI Direct Disabled Person’s Allowance | Some ratepayers may be able to get a 25 percent discount in their rates if they’ve suitably changed a property to meet the needs of an adult or child with permanent disabilities who lives in the household. |
Telephone: 0300 200 7801 Text relay: 18001 0300 200 7801 email: applicationbased.raterelief@finance-ni.gov.uk |
Disabled Person’s Allowance |
| 6. | Family Fund Helping Disabled Children | UK’s largest grant-making charity for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child, on a low income. |
Telephone: 01904 550055 |
Family Fund |
| 7. | Blind Person’s Allowance | Contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to claim |
HMRC Telephone: 0300 200 3301 Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm |
Blind Person’s Allowance |
| 8. | Over 80 Pension | The Over 80 Pension is a State Pension for people aged 80 or over |
The earliest you can claim is 3 months before your 80th birthday. |
Over 80 Pension |
| 9. | Money Helper Help with Pensions | Free, impartial guidance online or by phone. |
Call: 0800 011 3797 Outside UK: +44 20 7932 5780 Self-employed: 0345 602 7021 |
Money Helper |
| 10. | Disabled Facilities Grant | A disabled facilities grant to adapt the home of a disabled person. An occupational therapist must recommend the work. |
Disabled Facilities Grant |
Benefits For Carers
Carer’s Allowance
Phone:
0800 587 0912
What is it?
It is a taxable benefit paid if you are aged 16 and over and spend at least 35 hours per week looking after someone who has an illness or a disability.
For further information on eligibility go to www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/carers-allowance
How to claim
Online
NI Direct: www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/apply-carers-allowance-online
In Person
If you cannot claim online, form DS700 and DS700(SP) (for those over state pension age) is available from Disability and Carers Service or your local Jobs & Benefits office.
Telephone
Disability and Carers Service: 0800 587 0912
Benefit Enquiry Line: 0800 232 1271
Text phone: 0800 012 1574 (for people with speech and hearing difficulties).
Carer Premium
Phone:
0800 090 2309
What is it?
The carer premium is an extra payment you can get if you’re caring for someone and receiving certain benefits. If you’re entitled to Carer’s Allowance and some other means-tested benefits, you may also be able to receive the carer premium. This is an extra payment given on top of your other benefits and not a benefit in itself.
The carer premium is sometimes known as other things. It’s called the carer addition when it’s added to Pension Credit, and it’s known as the carer amount or carer element when it’s added to Universal Credit.
You don’t have to do anything in order to get the carer premium. If you get Carer’s Allowance, or meet the eligibility criteria for it, it will be added on automatically by the relevant government department.
It’s worth noting that if the person you care for gets the severe disability premium included in their means-tested benefit, this severe disability premium may stop if you claim Carer’s Allowance.
Further advice
Online
TURN2US: www.turn2us.org.uk/Jargon-buster/Overlapping-Benefit-Rule
Marie Curie: www.mariecurie.org.uk/help/support/benefits-entitlements/carers/premium
Telephone
Marie Curie: 0800 090 2309
Alternatively contact your local Jobs & Benefits office.
Self Directed Support
What is is?
Self Directed Support is not a benefit but a way of providing social care support that empowers individuals to have informed choice about how support is provided to them with a focus on working together to achieve individual outcomes.
Self Directed Support enables individuals to choose how their support is provided and gives them as much control as they want over their Personal Budget.
An individual’s personal budget can be:
- Taken as a Direct Payment,
- A Managed Budget (where the Trust holds the budget, but the individual is in control of how it is spent),
- The Trust can arrange a service, or
- You can choose a mixture of these options.
Direct Payments are local Trust payments available for anyone who has been assessed as needing help from social services. You can also normally get them if you are a carer aged 16 or over and have been assessed by the local trust as eligible to receive social care support.
Further Information
For further information on Direct Payments go to:
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/direct-payments-guidance
For more information on Self Directed Support in your Trust area, please speak with your Key Worker or your Trust’s Self Directed Support Implementation Officer.
Other Benefits
You, your partner, or someone you are caring for, may be entitled to some of the following benefits. You can obtain further information on additional benefits and the necessary forms from your local Jobs and Benefits office.
Attendance Allowance
Phone:
What is it?
A tax-free benefit paid to people at State Pension age or over who have needed help with personal care because of a physical or mental disability for six months.
How to claim
Online
NI Direct: www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/attendance-allowance
Telephone
Disability and Carers Service: 0800 587 0912
Alternatively contact your local Jobs & Benefits office.
Personal Independence Payment
Phone:
Since 20 June 2016 Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has replaced DLA for people aged 16 to state pension age. PIP and DLA cannot be claimed at the same time.
DLA will stay for children up to the age of 16, both for existing or new claimants. Existing claimants who were aged 65 or over on 20 June 2016 will continue to receive DLA, provided you continue to meet the eligibility criteria.
If you currently receive DLA and were aged 16 to 64 on 20 June 2016 you will be impacted by the introduction of PIP, even if you have an indefinite or lifetime award of DLA. During the assessment process you will continue to receive your DLA award until your eligibility for PIP is decided, provided you make a claim when requested to do so and fully engage in the process.
What is it?
PIP helps towards some of the extra costs arising from having a long-term health condition or disability that is expected to last for 12 months or longer. Entitlement to PIP is based on the effect a long term health condition has on your daily life, not the condition itself. PIP is made up of two components (parts); a ‘daily living component’ and a ‘mobility component’. Each component has two rates; standard and enhanced. If you qualify for PIP, you will get money for one or both components.
For further information go to:
www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/personal-independence-payment-pip
How to claim
Telephone
Contact the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Centre on the numbers below.
For new claims to PIP:
Telephone: 0800 012 1573
Text phone: 0800 587 0937 (for people with speech and hearing difficulties).
For existing claims and enquiries:
Telephone: 0800 587 0932
Text phone: 0800 587 0937 (for people with speech and hearing difficulties).
Universal Credit
Phone:
What is it?
Universal Credit was introduced in Northern Ireland in September 2017 and is a new payment for working age people who are on low income or out of work. To get Universal Credit you must be aged 18 or over and be under State Pension age.
The benefits that are being replaced by Universal Credits are:
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (income-based)
- Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)
- Income Support
- Child Tax Credits
- Working Tax Credits
- Housing Benefit (Rental).
The following benefits will not be replaced by Universal Credit and will continue:
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (Contribution- based)
- Employment and Support Allowance (Contribution- based)
- Child Benefit
- Pension Credit
- Carer’s Allowance
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
Further information is available from the Department for Communities website at: www.communities-ni.gov.uk/publications/universal-credit-customer-information
How to claim
Online
Ni Direct: www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/claim-universal-credit-online
Telephone
Universal Credit Service Centre: 0800 012 1331
Text phone: 0800 012 1441 (for people with speech and hearing difficulties).
Help with Health Costs
What is it?
Most Health Service treatment is free, although there can be charges for some things. Depending on your circumstances, you might get help with the cost of some treatment, services and items. If you’re on a low income, you may be able to get help with health service and travel costs.
All prescriptions dispensed in Northern Ireland are free of charge for everyone. This includes medication, wigs and surgical appliances.
You may also be entitled to the following:
- free HS dental treatment
- free sight tests
- vouchers towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses
- help with the costs of travel for treatment on referral by a doctor or dentist.
Further information is available from the Ni Direct website at:
www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/help-health-costs
How to claim
For most people all you need to do is fill in the back of your prescription form, or tell your dentist or optician when you go for dental or optical treatment. If you are claiming help with healthcare travel costs or for wigs and fabric supports, tell the hospital and show proof of entitlement.
For those who want to claim on low income grounds, or before your benefit claim is settled, you need to fill in the claim form HC1 ‘Claim for help with health and travel costs’. It can be downloaded from NI Direct at www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/claim-help-health-and-travel-costs-form-hc1 or collected from your local Jobs & Benefits office or hospitals. Your doctor, dentist, pharmacist and optician might also have a copy. When you have filled in the form, post it to or hand it in to your local Jobs and Benefits office.
Important Note
For people who have reached State Pension qualifying age your claim will be dealt with by the Pension Service:
Telephone: 0800 587 0892
Text phone: 0808 100 2198 (for people with speech and hearing difficulties).
Housing Benefit
Phone:
What is it?
Housing Benefit is a tax-free, income related benefit, awarded to you if you are responsible for paying rent and/or rates and satisfy the qualifying conditions. If you are on low income, you may be able to get help to pay for your rent, rates and some service charges. You can claim Housing Benefit if you’re employed or unemployed.
For further information go to:
www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/housing-benefit-and-rate-relief-tenants
How to claim
You will only be able to make a new claim for Housing Benefit if you are over pension age or if you receive a Severe Disability Premium in your other benefits. If neither of these apply, you can get help with your rent by applying for Universal Credit.
Online
Housing Executive: www.nihe.gov.uk/Housing-Help/Housing-Benefit/Making-a-claim-for-Housing-Benefit
Telephone
Housing Executive: 03448 920 902
Pension Service (if you’re claiming Pension Credit): 0800 587 0892
Pension Service text phone: 0808 100 2198 (for people with speech and hearing difficulties)
Alternatively contact your local Jobs & Benefits office if you’re claiming Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.
Employment and Support Allowance
What is it?
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) offers support and financial help so you can do suitable work if you are able to. It gives you access to a Work Coach and services including employment, training and condition management support to help you manage your illness or disability at work.
There are three types of ESA: new style, contribution-based and income-related. If you are claiming or have made a claim to Universal Credit you may be entitled to ‘new style’ ESA.
For further information on Employment and Support Allowance go to:
www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/employment-and-support-allowance
How to claim
Online
NI Direct: www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/employment-and-support-allowance-claim-form-esa1
Telephone
Employment and Support Allowance Centre: 0800 085 6318
Text phone: 0800 328 3419 (for people with speech and hearing difficulties).
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
What is it?
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is available to support people who are ill or disabled from an accident or disease caused by work or while they were on an approved employment training scheme or course.
How to claim
Online
NI Direct: www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefit
Telephone
Industrial Injuries Branch telephone:
- surnames beginning with A-D: 028 4146 6671
- surnames beginning with E-L: 028 4146 6646
- surnames beginning with M-Mi: 028 4146 6723
- surnames beginning with Mo-Z: 028 4146 6712
Alternatively contact your local Jobs & Benefits office.
‘New Style’ Jobseeker’s Allowance
Phone:
What is it?
Universal Credit replaced Jobseeker’s Allowance. However if you have been credited with enough National Insurance contributions, you may be entitled to ‘New Style’ Jobseeker’s Allowance. ‘New style’ Jobseeker’s Allowance works in the same way as contribution-based JSA. Your partner’s income and savings won’t affect how much you’re paid.
You can get ‘New Style’ Jobseeker’s Allowance for up to 182 days. Depending on your circumstances, it can be claimed on its own or at the same time as Universal Credit.
How to claim
Online
NI Direct: www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/jobseekers-allowance
Telephone
Department for Communities: 0800 022 4250
Text phone: 0800 587 1297 (for people with speech and hearing difficulties).
Statutory Sick Pay
Phone:
What is it?
If you’re an employee and unable to work because you’re ill you may be able to get Statutory Sick Pay. It is paid by your employer and can be paid for up to 28 weeks.
For further information on Statutory Sick Pay go to:
www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/apply-statutory-sick-pay
Alternatively telephone NI Direct: 0300 200 7898
How to claim
Speak to your Employer about Statutory Sick Pay.
Budgeting Loans
Phone:
What are they?
If you’re on a low income and need help with certain important costs, you may be able to get an interest-free Budgeting Loan from the Social Fund that you pay back. You can apply to borrow between £100 and £1,500. A Budgeting Loan does not count as income and will not affect other benefits you’re getting.
For further information on Budgeting Loans go to:
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/social-fund-budgeting-loan
Alternatively telephone NI Direct: 0300 200 7898
How to claim
Online
NI Direct: www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/budgeting-loan-form-sf500
Alternatively contact your local Jobs & Benefits office.
Family Benefits
Child Benefit
Phone
What is it?
Child Benefit is a benefit paid for bringing up children and is paid for each child. It is non-taxable and not affected by income or savings. You can get Child Benefit if you are responsible for a child who lives with you. You could also get Child Benefit if the child lives with someone else, and that person is not claiming Child Benefit and you are contributing to the child’s upkeep. Only one person can get Child Benefit and often it is the child’s mother who claims.
For further information go to:
www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/child
How to claim
Online
Gov.uk: www.gov.uk/child-benefit
Telephone
Child Benefit Office: 0300 200 3100
Text phone: 0300 200 3103 (for deaf and hard of hearing users only).
Family Fund
What is it?
The Family Fund is the largest independent grant-giving organisation, helping families in the UK caring for a severely disabled child/children living at home. The Fund supports families through the provision of grants that relate to the need of their disabled child or young person – provided the family meets the Fund’s grant-making criteria. Grants are discretionary and subject to funds being available.
For further information go to:
How to claim
Online
Family Fund: www.familyfund.org.uk/FAQs/how-do-we-apply
Telephone
Family Fund: 01904 550055
Maternity Allowance
Phone:
What is it?
Maternity Allowance is usually paid if you don’t qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay. You can claim Maternity Allowance as soon as you have been pregnant for 26 weeks. Payments can start 11 weeks before your baby is due.
For further information go to:
www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/maternity-allowance
How to claim
Online
Ni Direct: www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/maternity-allowance-form-ma1-guidance-notes-and-test-period-table
Telephone
Department for Communities – Maternity Allowance: 028 9082 3318
Alternatively contact your local Jobs & Benefits office.
Statutory Maternity Pay
What is it?
Statutory Maternity Pay is paid to pregnant women by their employer in the same way that wages are paid. It is paid for up to 39 weeks and is subject to payment of National Insurance Contributions.
For further information go to:
www.gov.uk/maternity-pay-leave/pay
How to claim?
A woman must tell her employer at least 4 weeks (28 days) before she intends to stop work. When she gets her maternity certificate (form MAT B1) from her doctor or midwife, she should give it to her employer. Any delay may lose benefit.
Sure Start Maternity Grant
Phone:
What is it?
If you’re on a low income and get certain benefits or tax credits, you could get a Sure Start Maternity Grant. This is a one-off, tax-free payment to help towards the cost of maternity and baby items.
A Sure Start Maternity Grant is £500 and you don’t have to pay it back.
For further information go to:
www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/sure-start-maternity-grant
How to claim
Online
Ni Direct: www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/sure-start-maternity-grant-form-sf100
Telephone
Lisburn Jobs & Benefits office: 0800 022 4250
Child Maintenance Service
What is it?
Child maintenance is regular financial support that helps pay everyday living costs of bringing up a child when parents are separated. It’s for children who are under 16 or under 20 and still in full-time education not higher than A-Level.
Child maintenance can help your child’s well-being and the quality of family relationships. The parent who doesn’t have the day-to-day care (the ‘paying parent’) pays child maintenance to the parent or person who does (the ‘receiving parent’).
When possible, you should make sure your child is looked after by having an effective maintenance arrangement in place. Both parents are legally responsible for the financial costs of bringing up their children, even parents who don’t live with their children.
Separated parents can arrange child maintenance:
- privately through a family-based arrangement
- through a Consent Order from a court
- through the Child Maintenance Service (CMS).
For further information go to:
www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/parenting-and-childcare/child-maintenance-service
How to claim
Telephone
Child Maintenance Choices: 0800 028 7439
Text number: for a call back, text ‘Choices’ to 67300
Text relay: 18001 0800 028 7439 (for people with speech and hearing impairments).
Email
Child Maintenance Choices: cms_choices@nidirect.gsi.gov.uk
Coping with Death Finance
Funeral Expenses Payment
Phone:
What is it?
A Funeral Expenses Payment is intended to help you pay for certain funeral costs if you are on a low income and you are the person responsible for arranging the funeral. It is non-taxable and recoverable from any money available from the deceased’s estate.
For more information go to:
www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/funeral-expenses-payment
How to claim
Online
NI Direct: www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/funeral-expenses-payment-application-forms
Telephone
Bereavement Service helpline: 0800 085 2463
Inheritance Tax
What is it?
Inheritance Tax is a tax on the estate (the property, money and possessions) of someone who’s died. This applies to estates over £325,000.
Further information is available from GOV.UK:
If you are thinking about making a will, you may want to get help from a solicitor or a voluntary organisation.
Further information can be found at:
www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/making-will
Alternatively telephone NI Direct: 0300 200 7898
Bereavement Support Payment
Phone:
What is it?
Bereavement Support Payment gives financial help to deal with the more immediate costs caused by the death of a spouse or civil partner. It is paid where the date of death was on or after 6 April 2017. All payments are tax free. Your age will not affect the amounts you receive provided you are below State Pension age.
For further information on Bereavement Support Payment go to:
www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/bereavement-support-payment
How to claim
Online
NI Direct: www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/bereavement-support-payment-application-form
Telephone
Department for Communities: 0800 085 2463
Tax and Pensions
Blind Person’s Allowance (BPA)
Phone:
What is it?
Blind Person’s Allowance is an extra amount of tax-free allowance, meaning you can earn more before you start paying Income Tax. You can claim Blind Person’s Allowance if both of the following apply:
- you cannot do work for which eyesight is essential
- you have a certificate that says you’re blind or severely sight impaired (or a similar document from your doctor).
For further information go to:
www.gov.uk/blind-persons-allowance
How to claim
Telephone
HMRC: 0300 200 3301
Carer’s Credit
Phone:
What is it?
Carer’s Credit is a weekly Class 3 National Insurance credit for carers which will protect your future entitlement to State Pension and bereavement benefits. Carer’s Credit can also help if your spouse or civil partner needs to claim bereavement benefits.
You will already be getting Carer’s Credit if you get Carer’s Allowance or Child Benefit for a child under the age of 12.
For further information go to:
www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/carers-credit-0
How to claim
Online
Ni Direct: www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/carers-credit-claim-form-cci-guidance-notes-and-care-certificate
Telephone
Disability and Carers Service: 0800 587 0912
Text phone: 0800 012 1574 (for people with speech and hearing impairments)
Tax Credits
What is it?
Tax credits have been replaced by Universal Credit for most people.
Further information can be found at
For further information see Universal Credit.
Over 80 Pension
Phone:
What is it?
The Over 80 Pension is a state pension for people aged 80 or over who have little or no State Pension. It’s not based on National Insurance contributions.
You are not eligible for the over 80 Pension if you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016.
For further information go to:
www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/over-80-pension
How to claim
Telephone
Northern Ireland Pension Centre: 0800 587 0892
Text phone: 0800 012 1574 (for people with speech and hearing impairments)
Northern Ireland Pension Centre: pensionservice@nissa.gsi.gov.uk
Alternatively contact your local Jobs & Benefits office.
Pensions Advisory Service
Phone:
What is it?
The Pensions Advisory Service are an independent non-profit organisation that provides free information, advice and guidance on the whole spectrum of pensions, including state, company, personal and stakeholder schemes.
For further information go to:
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/the-pensions-advisory-service/
Contact details
Online
Telephone
The Pensions Advisory Service: 0800 011 3797
Pension Credit
What is it?
Pension Credit is an income-related benefit made up of two elements – Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income if it’s below a certain amount whereas Savings Credit is an extra payment for people who saved some money towards their retirement, for example a pension.
For further information go to:
www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/understanding-pension-credit
How to claim
Online
NI Direct: www.nidirect.gov.uk/node/13614
Telephone
Northern Ireland Pension Centre: 0800 587 0892
Text phone: 0808 100 2198 (for people with speech and hearing impairments)
State Pension
Phone:
What is it?
The new State Pension was introduced on 6 April 2016. You can still receive it if you have other income like a personal or workplace pension.
You won’t get your State Pension automatically – you have to claim it.
For further information go to:
www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/understanding-and-qualifying-new-state-pension
How to claim
You should receive an invitation to claim at least two months before your State Pension age.
Online
NI Direct: www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/get-your-state-pension
Telephone
Northern Ireland Pension Centre: 0808 100 2658
Text phone: 0808 100 2198 (for people with speech and hearing impairments)
War Pensions
Phone:
What are they?
There are two main types of War Pension – War Disablement Pension and War Widows/Widowers Pension. There are also other allowances that you may be entitled to.
For further information go to:
War Widow(er) Pension GOV.UK: www.gov.uk/guidance/war-pension-scheme-war-widows-or-war-widowers-pension
GOV.UK: www.gov.uk/guidance/war-pension-scheme-wps
Veterans UK: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterans-uk
Telephone
War Pensions Welfare Service: 028 9032 7881
Veterans UK: 0808 1914 218
Homes and Housing
Disabled Facilities Grant
What is it?
The Housing Executive grant is intended to make the homes of a person with a disability more suitable for him/her to live in. Only work recommended by an Occupational Therapist can be considered. Up to £25,000 is available and the size of the grant awarded will depend on the cost of the work recommended by your Occupational Therapist and your financial circumstances. In certain circumstances the award may be increased up to a maximum of £50,000. Owner-occupiers, landlords or tenants, but not Housing Executive tenants, can get assistance to carry out adaptations.
Typical work may include:
- improve access to a bathroom, living room or bedroom
- install bathroom facilities
- adapt kitchen facilities to make preparing and cooking food easier
- adapt lighting and heating controls
- improve the heating system.
For further information go to:
www.nihe.gov.uk/Housing-Help/Grants/Types-of-grants-available/Disabled-Facilities-Grant
How to apply
Contact your local Duty Occupational Therapist at your Health and Social Care Trust who will initiate the process. Alternatively, your GP or Social Worker can refer you to your local Trust. NIHE will become involved in the process following a recommendation from an Occupational Therapist.
Disabled Person’s Allowance (DPA)
Phone:
What is it?
Where a property has been suitably adapted or has additional features to accommodate a disabled person’s special needs, you might be entitled to 25% discount in your rates. This allowance is not means tested. To apply, you don’t need to provide information about your income and savings.
For further information go to:
www.nidirect.gov.uk/disabled-persons-allowance
How to apply
Online
NI Direct: www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/disabled-persons-allowance-application-form
Telephone
Land and Property Services: 0300 200 7801
Text Relay: 18001 0300 200 7801
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