Financial Help for Disabled Patients and Carers
If you are disabled (or caring for someone who is), first of all ensure you are claiming benefits that you are entitled to (billions go unclaimed, you could end up with over £100 a week extra in some cases). This can help to pay for better food and a nicer life.
Financial help for carers and patients
- Disabled Facilities Grants can be used to widen doors, install ramps and grab rails, build downstairs bathrooms and heating/lighting controls.
- Family Fund offers grants for children with disabilities.
- NHS has info on how to apply for walking sticks and NHS wheelchairs. You can apply for a personal wheelchair budget to upgrade to a more comfortable one. Which? has a good post on how to choose the best wheelchair.
- Remap has volunteer ‘garage tinkerers’: a garden chair for an amputee, an oven door opener for weak hands, a one-handed sandwich cutter for a stroke survivor, and emergency brake for an epileptic.
- You can claim for compensation if you were made disabled (or have mental health issues) while serving in the Armed Forces.
Ben Ryan created a fantastic bionic limb for his young son, who had to have a limb amputated at birth, due to a blood clot. He quit his job to set up Ambionics.
Yet despite winning an inventor’s prize, the government won’t fund him. Yet his genius could change the lives of children – yet MPs spend money on bombs.
Free help for home telephones
- Relay is a free app to help people who have difficulty using the telephone. Also register with BT Protected Services Scheme (this prevents your bill being cut off, in case you forget to pay).
- BT Home Essentials offers cheaper calls/broadband (apply for BT Priority Repair & free BT directory enquiries).
- If you’re registered blind, Royal Mail offers free postage (national and international) of books, media & mobility aids. Also get free loan of digital radios and touch-to-see books.
Free mobility help
- People in wheelchairs can get free equipment like raised toilet seats, bath rails, slip mats etc.
- Order a radar key (to access disabled toilets) and blue badge (parking).
- Londoners with a disability can get discounted (limited) travel across the city via Taxicard. Apply to your borough (GPs can endorse applications).
- The Disabled Person’s Railcard is available for many people on benefits (and epilepsy). It costs £20 for 1 year and entitles a third savings on all fares.
Read rules for train travel with pets. Animals must be kept on leads or in carriers, and aside from guide dogs (who still may find them stressful), pets are not allowed on seats/escalators (must be carried).
Switch donations to humane research
Most medical charities receive millions of pounds/dollars, to carry out unkind, out-dated and ineffective experiments on innocent animals.
Instead, switch donations to humane research charities which fund boffins at universities doing wonderful work without animals, yet receive fewer funds and no government help. And more chance of a cure.
