Benefits, funding and grants
If you have children with special education needs and disabilities, there is different financial support available.
- Benefits calculator - available for you to work out what you may be entitled to.
- Carer's Allowance - you could get help if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get Disability Living Allowance (the middle or highest care rate) or Personal Independence Payment (daily living component).
- Council tax disability relief scheme - reduction in your council tax bill if your home has certain features that are essential (or of major importance) to the wellbeing of a disabled person who lives there.
- Disability Grants - provides information about benefits you may be entitled to.
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children - help with the extra costs of looking after a child who is under 16 and has difficulties walking or needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability.
- Family Fund - UK's largest grant-making charity for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child, on a low income.
- Free school meals - if you have children up to the age of 19 years in full-time education at a Hillingdon school, you may claim for free school meals if you receive a qualifying benefit.
- GOV.UK website - Provides helpful information on all aspects of financial support for families, including support for students with learning difficulties, health conditions, or disabilities.
- Hillingdon's care and support directory - lists a range of specialist agencies that can give help and advice on claiming benefits and dealing with appeals.
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - help with some of the extra costs for 16-year-olds and over with a long-term ill-health or disability.
- Universal Credit - a payment to help with your living costs, which you may be able to get it if you're on a low income, out of work or you cannot work (the amount of Universal Credit is not affected by PIP and Disability Living Allowance payments).