Support at Home
Health Support
The Children’s Outreach Nursing Team at the Great Western Hospital is able to provide a range of care-at-home services to children with specific needs e.g. babies and children on oxygen. For children requiring palliative care, the team liaises with local hospices to provide 24-hour support.
The social care Occupational Therapists based at the Salt Way Children’s Centre are involved with the assessment and prescription of equipment and adaptations within the home to meet the needs of children with disabilities.
Educational Support
For children who are absent from school because of ongoing medical treatment for complex and chronic illnesses, the Children’s Unit at the Great Western Hospital has a dedicated schoolroom with teaching staff so that children don’t miss out educationally.
Housing and Financial Support
If your child has a disability, you may be entitled to financial support.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Disability Living Allowance is being gradually replaced by a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment (PIP), so it is closed to new claims from people aged 16 to 64.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
People aged 16 to 64 who need help with daily living or mobility as a result of a long term health condition or disability may be entitled to claim a Personal Independence Payment.
Housing Benefit
If your pay rent, more of it may be covered if someone in your household has a disability.
Housing Benefit will gradually be replaced with Universal Credit.
If you are already claiming Housing Benefit, you may also be entitled to a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP), which is given to claimants who need extra help to pay their rent. This might be because the benefit you receive does not cover the entire rent, or you require help with rent deposits.
Cold Weather Payment
You may be entitled to a Cold Weather Payment if you are in receipt of certain benefits, or if you have a child who is disabled. If you are eligible, you should receive it automatically, so don’t need to apply. If you think you should have received a Cold Weather Payment but haven’t, contact your Jobcentre Plus office.
Carer’s Allowance
If you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for a child who receives the middle or higher rate care component of Disability Living Allowance, or either rate of the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment, you may be entitled to receive Carer’s Allowance.
Links
Short Breaks
Respite
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) checker: Use this tool to check if PIP affects you, when your Disability Living Allowance may be affected and when you can make a new claim for PIP.
Apply for Housing Benefit: The online claim form has a “save” facility to enable you to complete it at your own pace.
Apply for Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)