Disability & Healthcare Support

Having a disability can really impact the cost of living; you may struggle to work as many hours as others or may have additional costs relating to your health that others don't have. There are a few different avenues of support available to you to help you cover any additional costs or make up some of the shortfalls in income that come from your disability.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

The Personal Independence Payment is now the Government's main disability benefit, having largely replaced the Disability Living Allowance. PIP is intended to provide you with additional financial support if you have a disability that impacts your ability to get around and carry out every day tasks. It's intended to cover some of the extra costs associated with such a disability, such as transport, care arrangements, and any other special adjustments you may require.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

If you have a disability that impacts how much you're able to work, including limiting the number of hours you can do or even stopping you from working entirely, you may be entitled to the Employment and Support Allowance. The ESA is intended to give you money towards living costs if you're unable to work, or provide a bit of additional support to your income if you can work but are limited in what you can do.

Help with Costs from the NHS

If you're on a low income or Universal Credit, you may be entitled to financial support from the NHS to cover some of your healthcare costs. The NHS Low Income Support scheme can cover:

Prescription Costs
Dental Costs
Eyecare Costs
Healthcare Travel Costs
Wigs and Fabric Supports

Disabled Student's Allowance (DSA)

If you're studying at university, you may be entitled to Disabled Student's Allowance. This can cover bits of equipment that you need to make the most of your studies, including computers, audio recorders, and software packages.