A grant is a financial donation that you don’t have to repay. Many UK charities and trusts provide grants to help with the extra costs of ill health or disability. Find out what grants are available and how to apply.
- When to apply for a disability grant
- Search for a disability grant
- Applying for a disability grant
- Other grants that may be available
When to apply for a disability grant
Most charities will expect you to have applied for all the state benefits, local authority support and other help you are legally entitled to before approaching them for a grant.
So make sure you have checked your entitlements. Follow the links below or speak to a benefits or disability adviser to make sure:
- Disability and sickness benefits – check your entitlements
- Local authority funding for care costs – do you qualify?
Search for a disability grant
Use the Turn2us Grants Search tool
The Turn2us website has a free Grants Search tool that lets you look for grants based on your circumstances and needs.
Just put in your postcode, your age and sex for a full list, and then narrow down your results by medical condition or disability.
Search for a disability grant by category
The Disability Grants website lists the grants that are available by category, so you can search for grants in ‘equipment’, ‘housing’, ‘holidays’, etc.
Search for grants using Money Saving Expert
Martin Lewis has put together a list of grants, some of which are aimed at disabled adults and children.
Applying for a disability grant
Once you’ve tracked down the grants you want to apply for, contact the awarding bodies and fill in the application forms.
Read the terms and conditions to make sure you fully understand whether you qualify before you apply.
You might need to supply a report from a professional, such as an occupational therapist or a social worker, or to include detailed information about your finances.
If you need help with the paperwork, an advocacy organisation such as the Older People’s Advocacy Alliance might be able to help.
Other grants that may be available
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, it might be worth looking for grants that are not just for disabled people.
For example you could look for grants for people on a low income or for people who live in your area.
This article is provided by the Money Advice Service.
