Financial help if you’re disabled

Armed forces compensation

Overview

There is a wide range of disability-related financial support, including benefits, payments, grants and concessions.

Some benefits you might get are:

Universal Credit

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Attendance Allowance

New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Depending on your circumstances, you might also be able to get:

Industrial Injuries Benefit if you’re disabled as a result of work

Constant Attendance Allowance if you need daily care and attention because of a disability

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Vehicles and transport

If you’re disabled you can apply for the following:

exemption from paying vehicle tax

parking benefits – Blue Badge

disabled persons bus pass or Disabled Persons Railcard

help to buy or lease a car from the Motability Scheme

Home and housing

If you’ve been assessed by your local council as needing care and support services, you can get:

Direct payments – allowing you to buy in and arrange help yourself instead of getting it directly from social services

Disabled Facilities Grants – which is money towards the costs of home adaptations to enable you to continue living there

If you’re on a low income

You may be eligible for Universal Credit and could get help with housing costs.

If not, check if you’re eligible for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction from your local council.

Help if you’re employed

You may be able to top up a low salary by claiming Universal Credit.

You also might be able to get an Access to Work grant to pay for:

special equipment, adaptations or support worker services to help you do things like answer the phone or go to meetings

help getting to and from work

mental health support

communication support at a job interview (for example, a British Sign Language interpreter or a lipspeaker)

VAT relief on certain goods and services

You do not have to pay VAT on certain goods and services if they’re just for your own use and you’re disabled or have a long term illness.

Armed forces compensation

You may be able to get compensation if you’ve been injured or disabled while serving in the armed forces.