More than 40,000 families in Scotland raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people, could be eligible for financial help from Family Fund to cope with higher costs of living. The charity is urging carers or parents on low incomes to check if they qualify for a grant which could ease the additional pressures on household budgets this winter.
It costs three times as much to raise a disabled child and families often face severely reduced income as they provide the round-the-clock care their children need. But many people may not be aware of the UK’s largest grant-making charity for families with disabled children and the help it offers.
Family Fund provides funding for a wide range of essentials including clothing, white goods, furniture, appliances, games consoles, digital devices and sensory and play equipment. The charity has received ongoing funding from the Scottish Government, but is urging families to apply for a grant as soon as possible.
What can families apply for?
Whether you need a kitchen appliance, like a fridge, cooker or washing machine, clothing and bedding, sensory or play equipment or technology for your child or a much-needed family break, Family Fund may be able to help.
You can apply for any items that will help meet your child’s additional support needs.
Grants you can apply for
If you live in Scotland or England, you can apply for:
- Family breaks
- Days out
- Clothing
- Computers and tablets
- Recreational and household items
- Kitchen appliances
- Sensory toys and equipment
- Games consoles
- Games
- Books and music
- Outdoor play and leisure facilities
- Specialist bikes or tricycles
- Garden improvements
Full details of what you can apply for and information for people living in Wales and Northern Ireland can be found on the Family Fund website here.
Eligibility
Grants depend on available funding and are available for families on a low income, raising a child or young person aged 17 or under with a long-term disability, disabling condition or life-limiting illness.
To decide if your family is eligible for a grant, Family Fund will look at your income and the impact of disability on your child.
You will also need to confirm your UK residency status if you are not a UK national and that the main carer has lived within the UK for six months or more.
Your income
Family Fund focuses on supporting families on a low income. You are likely to be eligible for a grant if your family's main carer receives one of the following:
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income Related Employment Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit
- Pension Credit
You need to send Family Fund a copy of your most recent benefit entitlement (this can be a letter or a screenshot), showing the name of the main carer of the family, and current address.
You can still apply if you don't receive any benefits, but will need to provide some extra information about your household income. The charity may need to speak to someone to confirm your family income and situation.
If you have a significant level of household income, savings or capital, you will not be eligible for a grant.
Your child and young person's eligibility
To help Family Fund make a decision about your grant they need some information about your child's disability, but they don't need to have a formal diagnosis.
If your child needs a high level of support in at least three of these areas, you are eligible to apply:
- Personal care: a high level of physical support needed with feeding, washing, toileting or moving and transferring.
- Access to social activities: a high level of support needed for your child to engage socially and take part in activities.
- Education: a high level of support needed with education and learning.
- Communication: a high level of support listening, speaking and understanding.
- Supervision and Vigilance: a high level of supervision and measures needed to ensure their safety.
- Medical or therapeutic treatment or condition management: support needed in the form of treatment or therapy.
- Physical environment and specialist resources: Your child needs physical adaptations and adjustments to help them.
Full details on eligibility can be found on the Family Fund website here.
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