Government Benefits
Once you have a diagnosis, your child will be eligible for certain benefits. These include:
- The PIP (Personal Independence Payment), previously known as the DLA (Disability Living Allowance). The higher rate rate component is approximately £80+ a week. When your child is three or older, they will become eligible for the mobility component (the higher care mobility component is approximately £60+ a week).
- If you have given up your job to care for your child, you are eligible for the Carers Allowance. Approximately £60+ a week.
- Blue Badge for access to disability parking.
- Most medications, basic therapies, specialist supportive equipment and doctors appointments should be free to you on the NHS. This should include: a metabolic consultant (to manage NKH), a neurodisability consultant (for any seizure activity) and possibly but not necessarily a respiratory consultant (for breathing/suction/oxygen needs), an ophthalmologist (for eyes) and a palliative care consultant. Your therapy team is likely to include: a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, a speech and language therapist, a dietician and a wheelchair services contact.
Additional funding
We know the NHS is underfunded, and often the need for equipment or therapy that would drastically improve your child’s quality of life is not covered. In this case, we suggest you apply for charity funding to make up the difference where possible. Below are list of charities that fund equipment/therapy in the UK.
- Action for kids
They provide grants for mobility equipment. Apply here. - The Boparan Charitable Trust
They fund specialist and sensory equipment, and therapy. Apply here. - Caudwell Children‘s Charity fund specialist equipment for UK children from families who earn less than £45k a year. Apply Here
- Cerebra
They provide a free library service (books and toys) for children with sensory needs. They also provide a free, bespoke one-off solution to direct requests from parents and carers struggling to find the right piece of equipment to make their child’s life easier, more inclusive, and more fun. More information, here. - Childrens Today
They fund sensory or specialist equipment. Apply here. - Colchester Catalyst Charity
Provides grants for those in North East Essex. - The Elifar Foundation
They fund sensory or specialist equipment (wheelchairs/trikes etc), with grants of up to £3k. Apply here. - Family Fund
The fund smaller grants for additional therapy, and equipment. Essentially things that will drastically improve quality of life. Apply here. - Florance Nightingale Aid in Sickness Trust fund specialist or sensory equipment. Apply Here
- Handicapped Childrens Action Group, they fund specialist equipment for children with disability across the UK. Apply Here
- Independence At Home
They offer grants to help towards specialist equipment, home adaptations/equipment and holidays/respite. Side note: you’ll need someone to apply on your behalf, as they don’t accept self refferals Apply here. - Life Line 4 Kids funds specialist equipment. Apply Here.
- Make-a-wish Foundation UK
Provides wishes! - Newlife Foundation
Funds specialist equipment, Apply Here. Also provides emergency mobility loans. - The Sequal Trust funds communication aids only. Apply Here
- Variety The Childrens Charity
They fund equipment, wheelchairs, transport, and days out. Apply here. - Whizz Kidz
Funds mobility equipment. Find out more here.
Special Needs Holidays
There is a large number of facilities and charities to help with holidays in the UK. For a list, please see the UK Experiences Page.