Disabled People and Carers

Your money

Ensuring that you are receiving all the relevant financial entitlements can be a complicated process. Social Services are not necessarily the best people to help in this situation and they do not provide money or financial benefits. You can however get information and advice from a number of sources:

Advice and Information on financial support - the DirectGov website provides lots of information about the different benefits available, such as Disability Living Allowance, and their entitlements. www.direct.gov.uk/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/fs/en

Benefit Enquiry Line -  provides advice and information for disabled people on the range of benefits available and can give you general advice.  Opening hours Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 6.30 pm, Saturday 9.00 am to 1.00 pm.
Freephone 0800 882 355
Text phone 0800 243 355.

Citizens Advice Bureau and Age Concern Westminster - can provide you with advice about your individual situation. www.citizensadvice.org.uk and www.acwestminster.org.uk

Council Tax and Housing Benefits - Housing Benefit can help you meet the cost of your rent. You may qualify for benefit if you are on low income and your savings are below a certain level. Council Tax Benefit could help pay towards some, or all, of your Council Tax bill if you are on a low income, even if you own your own home.

Independent Living Fund - the Independent Living Funds (ILF) are financed by UK central government. They are a national resource dedicated to the financial support of disabled people needing very high levels of care support, enabling them to choose to live in the community rather than residential care. www.ilf.org.uk/home/index.html

Paying for Care - information about contributing to the cost of care services provided by Westminster City Council.