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Money & Benefits

Last updated 05/01/2023

In this section you can find out about benefits, grants and funding that may be available to support your child, or you as a parent or carer.

There are several independent organisations in Ealing that can help you identify and claim financial support and provide advice on managing money.

The main benefits you may be entitled to, include:

  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA) age 0-16
  • Free childcare and help with childcare costs
  • SEN Inclusion Funding (SENIF) and Disability Access Fund (DAF) 
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP) age 16+ 
  • Free school meals
  • Personal Budget and Direct Payments
  • Benefits for Carers
  • Help with Transport (Travel Assistance, Blue Badge, Taxi Card)
  • Universal Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support

There’s a useful overview of the financial help that’s available for disabled people on the GOV.UK website and you can also use an independent benefits calculator to find out what support you might qualify for and receive an estimate of how much you could recieve. 

Disability Living Allowance

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child who:

  • is under 16
  • has difficulties walking or needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability

They will need to meet all the eligibility requirements.

Any child who has a disability or illness might qualify for Disability Living Allowance (DLA). You don’t need to wait for a formal diagnosis to make a claim. It is sufficient that they have some form of disability.

DLA for children is a tax-free benefit made up of 2 components (parts). The child might qualify for one or both components. It is also not affected by your income, savings or employment status.

For more information visit Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

How to claim

Use the DLA claim form to apply for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children under 16. The form tells you where to send your application www.gov.uk/dla-disability-living-allowance-benefit 

You can order a printed form by telephoning the Disability Living Allowance helpline on telephone number 0800 121 4600 or textphone 0800 121 4523 from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

The DLA application form can be long and complex.  You may find it upsetting to complete the form, however, it is important to reflect the impact the disabilities and needs have on the family.

It is highly recommended to get help if you can. Make sure you keep a copy before you send it back. 

Local community groups and organisations that can help with advice and form filling:

Other helplines and national support groups may be able to help especially those relating to specific needs, such as the National Autistic Society

Contact have produced some Tips on completing the Disability Living Allowance form (contact.org.uk)

DLA can enable access to a wider range of benefits and support including:

Carers Allowance - if you care for someone receiving middle rate DLA for more than 35hours a week. 

More information including eligibility and application forms available, www.gov.uk/carers-allowance 

15 hours funded nursery placement for two-year-olds- If your child is in receipt of DLA, you are entitled to access the free 15 hours nursery placement for two year olds.  See 'free childcare and help with childcare costs' for more information. 

Disability Access Fund (DAF) – Disability access funding for nurseries and pre school settings for 3 and 4 year olds.  This funding is paid directly to the setting and allows inclusion of children into the setting who may otherwise not be able to access a place due to e.g .increased staff ratios or specialist equipment. 

Parents/carers can speak to their child’s early years setting (nursery/childminder) about submitting an application.  

Free childcare and help with childcare costs

You can get help paying for childcare as long as your childcare provider is registered*

Support schemes currently available are:

• 15 hours of free childcare for 2 year olds. If your child is not recieving DLA then eligiblity will depend on parent/carer income. 

 Check elgibility for DLA
 Check  eligibility for 15 hours free childcare

• 15 hours of free childcare for all 3 and 4 year olds
• 30 hours of free childcare for eligible 3 and 4 year olds.
• Tax free childcare
• Tax credits for childcare
• Universal credit for childcare
• Support while you study

You can visit our childcare page for more information, or to learn about the full range of support available and to check elibiglity for the 30 hours funding visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk. 

You can also contact the Family Information Service to talk through your options on 020 8825 5588 (Mon-Fri, 9am to 5pm) or drop them an email children@ealing.gov.uk

*The law requires anyone providing childcare professionally for children under 8 for a period of more than two hours at a time to register with Ofsted.

Special Educational Needs Inclusion Funding (SENIF) and Disability Access Fund

There is extra money and support for nurseries and childminders looking after children with additional needs. There are 2 main sources of extra funding for  early years settings.  If eligible then they can claim both.

SEN Inclusion funding (SENIF) 

The SEN Inclusion Fund (SENIF) is money available to registered Early Years providers (nurseries, childminders etc.) for supporting children with special educational needs and/or disability (SEND).  The money is for use in the setting that the child attends and will be given to the provider to be used to support the needs of individual children with SEND.  

What is the funding used for?

Funding is used to support your child's needs within the setting e.g reducing child to adult ratio in order to support your child, purchasing sensory/specialist equipment, training staff in any relevant training etc. Providers will be required to evidence how they are using the funding.

What is the eligibility criteria?

2, 3 or 4 year olds without an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan,identified with a level of special educational needs and/or disability (SEND). Children aged under 2 may also be considered if there is a high level of need.  

Speak to your child's early years setting if you think they should apply for SENIF. They can complete the SENIF application. 

Professionals can email inclusionsupportrequest@ealing.gov.uk  for more information. 

Disability Access Fund (DAF) 

If your child is aged 3-4 and receives Disability Living Allowance (DLA) then early years providers can apply for the Disability Access Funding. 

What is the funding used for?

If eligible, settings will recieve a one off payment of £615 which can be used by he setting to make reasonable adjustments to their provision. 

What is the eligibility criteria? 

Providers can apply for DAF if the child within thier setting is aged 3-4 and is accessing thier funded early years entitlement.  The child will also need to be in receipt of DLA. 

If you are a parent/carer and would like your setting to apply for DAF funding on your child's behalf, please complete the Disability Access Fund (DAF) form, found under downloads, and forward to your setting with a copy of your child's DLA letter. 

 

Personal Independance Payments (16 +)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have both:

  • a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability

  • difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition

You can apply for PIP if you are aged 16 and over. You can get PIP even if you’re working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.

For more information and to apply visit Personal Independence Payment (PIP): What PIP is for - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

You can find out more about claiming PIP, moving from DLA to PIP and challenging decisions in the Turn2us PIP guide 

Free school meals

Your child will be able to get free school meals if they’re in a government-funded school and in:

  • reception class
  • year 1
  • year 2

Your child may also be able to get free school meals after year 2 if they meet certain eligiblity criteria. For more information visit Free School Meals |  Ealing Directory (ealingfamiliesdirectory.org.uk)

Personal Budgets and Direct Payments

A personal budget is money you can use to pay for support services, like carers or specialist equipment. It gives you the freedom to choose the services best suited to your child’s/ young person’s needs. 

The amount you get is set out in an Education Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan).

Instead of receiving support through council services, now you can get money to pay directly for the services you need. You can choose a service recommended by the local authority, or you’re free to choose your own.

You’ll need to speak to your Education, Health & Care co-ordinator (EHCco)/ Social Worker about getting a personal budget to do this.

How you'll receive your personal budget

•  Direct Payment – an amount paid directly to you, allowing you to spend it on the services set out on in the plan
•  Arrangement - where the local authority looks after the budget for you and arranges service set out in the plan
•  Third Party Arrangement this is where you choose that your budget is managed by another person or organisation on behalf of the child
•  Any combination of these

What you can spend your personal budget on

Your EHCco will work with you to find the support which best suits your needs.
Depending on what your circumstances are, you’ll be able to spend your budget on

Education

Your education plan may set out that mainstream support is not able to provide the support you need.

You could use your budget for

• specialist education equipment
• one-on-one support
• transport to and from the education provider

Social care

• Support in your home
• Community services
• Short breaks

How to apply for personal budget

To get a budget to support your child’s independence, you’ll first need to be assessed for an Education Health and Care Plan.

• when being assessed for an education health and care plan (EHC plan) your EHCco will ask you about a personal budget
• from assessment to final plan will take a maximum of 20 weeks
• a plan will be created with you and professionals to understand what support is best need for the child/young person
• from this, an estimate can be made as to how much funding the plan should cost.
• the budget and plan will only be finalised once you and the young person are completely happy with it.

Using and managing direct payments

You’ll get all the support you need to fully understand and use your direct payments.

This includes

• putting together a plan
• finding the right services
• employing assistants/ workers and setting up payrolls
• managing your accounts
You can use direct payments to
• pay someone to support you, like a personal assistant
• buy services agreed in your support plan
• join a group/ take part in activities which meet your needs
You can’t use direct payments for
• services not in your care plan, or that don’t suit your needs
• paying people cash in hand
• household expenses, like bills, clothing and food.

How to manage your payments

A bank account will need to be set up for you to use. The amount agreed that you will need for support will be sent to your account monthly.
Each payment will be sent a month in advance.
You’ll need to keep any receipts for services you pay for.

If you can’t manage your direct payments

You can nominate someone to manage them for you.

Benefits

Direct payments do not affect your entitlement to benefits. 

Hiring care with direct payments

You can use your direct payments to buy agreed services.

• carers
• assistants
• care agency

We’ll give you all the support you need to hire people.

Employing relatives

The home family is so important to someone’s care; direct payments are not designed to replace that.

This means you can’t employ a direct family member who lives in the home – unless it’s an exceptional circumstance, like if a family member has particularly complex needs.

You can employ the following family members if they live outside the home.

• parent or parent-in-law
• son, daughter, son-in-law or daughter-in-law - except for children's services
• stepson or stepdaughter
• brother or sister
• aunt or uncle
• grandparent
• the husband, wife or partner of any of the relatives in this list

Choosing a care agency

To choose an agency:

• you can be recommended a list of providers by us
• or you can look at the care quality commission website. They make sure health and care services give safe and high quality care.

You’ll be responsible for directly dealing with the agency.

• Read the Citizens Advice guide to using direct payments for hiring care 

Employing someone to help with your care

• Read the government guide to employing people
• Read the Money Advice Service guide to employing staff here. 

Find answers to all your direct payments questions

CarePlace

You can find thousands of local care and support organisations and individuals.  This means you can organise your own care, and find assistants without having to go through social services. 

Visit the CarePlace website 

Carers UK

Access  information about asking for direct payments, plus questions and answers here

Visit the Carers UK website

Who to contact

To get direct payments paid to you, first you’ll have to be assessed. 

For children and young people aged 0 to 18 years: 

You’ll need to speak to your Education, Health and Care Co-Ordinator (EHCCo).  If you’re unsure call the Special Educational Needs Assessment Service (SENAS) on 020 8825 6910.  

For young people 18 to 25 years:

You’ll need to discuss this with your social worker.  If you’re unsure who your allocated social worker is, please contact Adult Services 020 8825 8000 (option 2 and 1).

Benefits for Carers

Carers allowance 

Carers allowance is the main benefit available for anyone who cares for someone more than 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits.

You don’t have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.

You won’t be paid extra if you care for more than one person.

Carer’s Allowance can affect the other benefits that you and the person you care for get. You have to pay tax on it if your income is over the Personal Allowance.

For full eligiblity and to apply visit Carer's Allowance: How it works - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

Carers credit

You could get Carer’s Credit if you’re caring for someone for at least 20 hours a week.

Carer’s Credit is a National Insurance credit that helps with gaps in your National Insurance record. Your State Pension is based on your National Insurance record.

Your income, savings or investments will not affect eligibility for Carer’s Credit.

For more information and to apply visit Carer's Credit: Eligibility - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Flexible work arrangements 

All employees can apply for flexible working if they’ve worked continuously for the same employer for at least 26 weeks. Flexible working arrangements can support parents and carers to drop and pick up children or young people from their place of learning. 

You may wish to seek legal advice and support:

• Ealing Advice Service  offers free, impartial and confidential information and advice on a wide range of topics, including benefits, housing, legal, discrimination, employment, immigration and other problems.

• Ealing Carers Centre can advise you if you are unsure about the benefits you should be receiving. Advisors can help you complete benefit forms and offer advice about how to manage finances and/or debt.

Help with Transport and Getting Around

Having access to suitable and affordable transport can make a big difference to someone with additional needs.  

Visit Travel Assistance |  Ealing Directory (ealingfamiliesdirectory.org.uk) for information on helping with travel costs as well as details of travel training and assistance. 

RADAR KEY

The National Key Scheme (NKS) offers disabled people independent access to locked public toilets around the country

Find out more or purchase a RADAR key 

 

Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Tax Support

There are a range of social benefits that you can search and apply for including: Housing Benefit, Council Tax support, Universal Credit. 

Please visit the Gov.uk website for the full range of benefits available, to check eligibility criteria and to download claim forms.

Other Financial Help

Grants and charities

Charitable funding for equipment

You may find that equipment and/or adaptations for your child cannot be funded by statutory services and are therefore seeking alternative funding means - particularly charitable funding. To assist you in these situations, we have listed a range of national charities.

Before you seek charitable funding (or buy) equipment for your child, we would advise you to seek specialist advice. This will help you plan for both immediate and long term needs, will increase awareness of the alternatives on the market, and to check whether the equipment you need can be provided by the statutory services e.g from your Local Authority (if this hasn't already been investigated).

Note: Most applications require the support of a professional such as a health professional or social worker. Speak to a professional supporting you and your family for advice.

Family Fund - Largest UK fund provider for grants for a wide range of needs and equipment, including holidays.

Newlife - charity that supplies equipment and expertise as well as grants towards the purchase of specific equipment such as car seats

Turn2us - searches a large database of grants

Disability Grants - various grants available for those with a disability or additional needs.

Buttle UK- Buttle UK is a charitable organisation that provides a small grants programme providing  essential items for children and young people whose health, safety and well-being are at risk. The charity offers basic household items, such as a bed or a cooker, to children or isolated young people living in extreme circumstances.

LHH (Linking Help with Hope)- a national charity providing financial assistance to people who are in hardship due to illness or disability. This includes physical and mental health problems, learning disabilities and people caring for an adult or child with a disability. 

Support with applications and forms

It is highly recommended that you get support when completing application forms for financial help. Make sure you keep a copy before you send it back.

There are several independent organisations in Ealing that can help you identify and claim financial support and provide advice on managing money.

Click into each highlighted service below to find out more. 

 Ealing Advice Service offers free, impartial and confidential information and advice on a wide range of topics, including: benefits, housing, legal, discrimination, employment, immigration and other problems.
• Ealing Carers Centre can advise you if you are unsure about the benefits you should be receiving. Advisors can help you complete benefit forms and offer advice about how to manage finances and/or debt.
• Ealing Centre for Independent Living offers disabled people support around welfare benefits, can advise on money issues as well help with form filling.
• Contact Ealing has comprehensive information about disability benefits and tax credits that you may be entitled to, including what financial help your child may be eligible to claim once they reach 16.  Staff can also support with completing forms.
• Ealing  Specialist Advice Service (ESAS) is specifically for adults with additional needs, offering advice and practical help with forms in the following areas: housing, benefits, equipment, aids and adaptations, employment (e.g. Access to Work, adjustments to the workplace), transport and travel (e.g. blue badge, motability and freedom pass applications), health and social care, personal budgets and disability rights.
• Ealing Community Benefits Team is a council run team providing advice and assistance on benefits for Ealing residents. The team provides advice, assistance, and advocacy relating to welfare benefits. The service is primarily for vulnerable groups such as people with mental health needs.

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