Benefits & Funding
Benefits and Funding
If you need help and advice about benefits, the following organisations are useful to contact:
Beneft Enquiry Line (BEL) – BEL is a helpline that gives general advice and information about benefits available for disabled people, their carers and representatives. Advisers have specialist expertise in sickness and disability benefits. Contact 0800 882200 or visit their website www.dwp.gov.uk
Carers Gloucestershire – has a Parent Advice worker who can help advise on benefits, help you to complete benefit claim forms and can arrange a home visit if needed. Contact 01452 386283 or visit their website www.carersgloucestershire.org.uk.
Contact a Family – has a Freephone helpline and can advise on benefits, including benefits for young people when they reach the age of 16. 0808 808 3555 or visit their website www.cafamily.org.uk
Disabled Facilities Grant – A grant available (following an Occupational Therapy Assessment) towards the cost of providing adaptations to a property so that it is suitable for a disabled person to live in. The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is no longer means tested for children. A referral for a DFG must come through an Occupational Therapist. If you are not already in contact with an Occupational Therapist, contact the Children and Families Helpdesk on 01452 426565.
Grants and Funding – The Key Co-ordinator has access to Funderfinder (Click here for a form), which is a database of hundreds of charities and trusts. If you are looking for funding, whether it is to buy specialist equipment, to help pay for respite care, short breaks, holidays or something else, you can contact us here at The Key. We can either send you a form to complete, or ask you a few questions over the phone. We will put this information into the Funderfinder database which will produce details of organisations that might be able to help. For more details contact The Key on 08456 583857.
