Disability Grants UK 2025: Complete Funding Guide for Disabled People & Carers
Why This Guide Matters
Over 14 million people in the UK are disabled, yet many are unaware of the extensive grant funding available to support independent living, employment, education, and daily life. This comprehensive guide reveals every major disability grant available in 2025, from government schemes to charity funding, helping you access the financial support you deserve to live with dignity and achieve your goals.
Employment & Career Support Grants
Access to Work scheme is the UK's flagship disability employment support programme, providing over £150 million annually to help disabled people overcome work-related barriers. Combined with other employment initiatives, these grants can cover everything from assistive technology to workplace modifications and personal support.
Access to Work Scheme
Up to £66,000/year • Employment Support
Covered Support
- • Assistive technology and software
- • Workplace equipment and furniture
- • Support workers and interpreters
- • Job coaching and mentoring
- • Workplace accessibility modifications
- • Travel assistance and transport
- • Mental health workplace support
Eligibility Criteria
- • In paid employment or self-employed
- • Starting new job within 3 months
- • Disabled person or long-term health condition
- • Work at least 16 hours per week
- • Earn minimum wage or above
- • Usually work in England, Scotland or Wales
Financial Limits
- • New job: 100% funding for first 6 weeks
- • Established job: Varies by earnings
- • Support workers: Up to £66,000/year
- • Equipment: Usually full funding
- • Travel: Up to £1,500/year
- • No upper limit for many support types
Application Strategy: Apply as soon as you know you'll need support - the scheme can provide funding retrospectively for up to 6 weeks, but earlier applications ensure faster support delivery.
Work Choice Programme
Intensive Employment Support
- • 18 months of personalized support
- • Job search assistance and applications
- • Skills development and training
- • Workplace adjustments negotiation
- • Ongoing in-work support
Eligibility Focus
- • Most significantly disabled people
- • Complex barriers to employment
- • Unable to work without specialist support
- • Referred through Jobcentre Plus
Disability Employment Advisers
Free Specialist Guidance
- • One-to-one employment advice
- • Access to Work application support
- • Employer liaison and negotiation
- • Career development planning
- • Connection to specialist services
Additional Services
- • Work preparation courses
- • Confidence building programmes
- • Employer engagement events
- • Sector-specific job fairs
Employer Incentive Schemes
Kickstart Scheme
Job placements for disabled young people with wage subsidies
Disability Confident
Employer certification programme with recruitment commitments
Apprenticeship Support
Enhanced funding rates for disabled apprentices
Self-Employment Support
New Enterprise Allowance
- • £1,274 over 26 weeks support
- • Business mentoring and guidance
- • Start-up loan access
- • Disability-specific business support
Access to Work for Self-Employed
- • Equipment and technology support
- • Support worker funding
- • Business premises adaptations
- • Professional development costs
Independent Living & Daily Support
Independent living grants help disabled people maintain autonomy and dignity in their daily lives. From personal independence payments to specialized equipment funding, these programmes provide essential financial support for the additional costs of living with a disability.
Independent Living Fund (ILF)
Up to £1,000+/week • Personal Care Support
Funding Purpose
- • Personal care assistants
- • Support workers for daily activities
- • Equipment and adaptations
- • Emergency care arrangements
- • Holiday and respite support
- • Transition support services
Eligibility Criteria
- • Disabled person living in Scotland
- • Age 16-65 at application
- • Require significant personal care
- • Living independently or wish to
- • Not in residential care
- • Financial assessment applies
Application Process
- • Initial enquiry and screening
- • Detailed assessment meeting
- • Support plan development
- • Financial means testing
- • Approval and implementation
- • Regular review and monitoring
Scottish Advantage: ILF Scotland provides more generous funding than equivalent English schemes, with greater flexibility in how support is delivered and less restrictive eligibility criteria.
Assistive Technology Grants
Communication Aids
- • Speech generating devices
- • Computer access software
- • Environmental control systems
- • Smart home technology
- • Mobile communication apps
Daily Living Equipment
- • Mobility aids and wheelchairs
- • Bathroom and kitchen adaptations
- • Hearing and visual aids
- • Sensory support equipment
- • Emergency alert systems
Local Authority Support
Community Equipment Services
- • Free equipment loan schemes
- • Assessment and fitting services
- • Maintenance and repairs
- • Equipment recycling programmes
- • Emergency replacement services
Direct Payment Support
- • Personal budgets for care
- • Individual service funds
- • Support plan development
- • Financial management assistance
- • Quality monitoring and review
Education & Skills Development Funding
Educational support for disabled students extends far beyond standard student loans. Disabled Students' Allowances, specialist equipment funding, and additional support grants ensure that disability doesn't become a barrier to educational achievement and career development.
Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA)
Up to £25,000+/year • Higher Education
Available Support
- • Specialist equipment (up to £5,849/course)
- • Non-medical helper allowance (£25,000+/year)
- • General allowance (up to £1,954/year)
- • Travel allowance for study costs
- • Study needs assessment
- • Technology training and support
Eligibility Requirements
- • Studying undergraduate or postgraduate
- • UK resident for 3+ years
- • Disability, long-term health condition
- • Mental health condition or SpLD
- • Attending eligible UK institution
- • Not means tested on household income
Application Process
- • Apply through Student Finance
- • Evidence of disability required
- • Study needs assessment booking
- • Assessment report and recommendations
- • Equipment and support procurement
- • Annual review and continuation
Key Benefit: DSA is not means-tested and doesn't count towards student loan limits. It's additional funding specifically for disability-related study costs, available for both full-time and part-time students.
Further Education Support
Learner Support Funding
- • Course-related costs support
- • Equipment and materials funding
- • Transport and childcare assistance
- • Examination access arrangements
- • Additional learning support hours
Residential Bursary Fund
- • Accommodation costs for specialist colleges
- • Up to £3,458 per year available
- • Independent specialist colleges
- • Students aged 16-25
Skills Development Programmes
Adult Education Budget
- • Free courses for disabled learners
- • Basic skills and English/Maths
- • First Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications
- • Additional learning support funding
- • Progression to higher levels
Apprenticeship Support
- • Enhanced funding for disabled apprentices
- • Additional support costs covered
- • Flexible delivery arrangements
- • Workplace adjustment funding
Professional Development
Career Development Loans
Government-backed loans for professional courses with enhanced terms for disabled learners
Individual Learning Accounts
Regional schemes providing course funding, with priority for disabled learners
Union Learning Fund
Trade union supported learning programmes with accessibility focus
Postgraduate Support
Postgraduate Disability Premium
- • Additional loans for disabled students
- • Enhanced maintenance support
- • Doctoral loan supplements
- • Research council adjustments
University Hardship Funds
- • Emergency financial assistance
- • Disability-related additional costs
- • Equipment replacement funds
- • Conference and research travel
Mobility & Transportation Funding
Transportation often presents the greatest barrier to disabled people's independence. Motability schemes, blue badge provisions, and specialized transport grants help ensure that mobility limitations don't restrict access to employment, education, and community participation.
Motability Scheme
Vehicle Hire & Purchase • Using Mobility Allowances
Vehicle Options
- • New and nearly-new cars
- • Wheelchair accessible vehicles
- • Scooters and powered wheelchairs
- • Adaptations and modifications
- • Insurance and maintenance included
- • Breakdown assistance coverage
Eligibility Requirements
- • Receiving Higher Rate Mobility DLA
- • Enhanced Rate Mobility PIP
- • Armed Forces Independence Payment
- • War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement
- • At least 12 months award remaining
- • Valid UK driving licence or nominated driver
Financial Benefits
- • Use entire mobility allowance
- • No deposit required (most vehicles)
- • All-inclusive pricing structure
- • VAT exemption eligibility
- • Adaptations funding available
- • End-of-agreement options
Motability Advantage: The scheme serves over 640,000 disabled people, offering access to reliable transport without the worry of maintenance, insurance, or breakdown costs - all covered in the monthly allowance payment.
Vehicle Adaptation Grants
Motability Charitable Fund
- • Grants for adaptations and extras
- • Advanced payments assistance
- • Financial hardship support
- • Driving lesson funding
- • Emergency vehicle replacement
Access to Work Transport
- • Work-related travel costs
- • Taxi and specialist transport
- • Public transport assistance
- • Driving lessons and assessment
- • Vehicle adaptation for employment
Public Transport Support
Concessionary Travel
- • Free bus travel (England)
- • Disabled person's railcard
- • Companion card schemes
- • Regional transport concessions
- • Airport assistance services
Specialized Transport
- • Dial-a-ride services
- • Community transport schemes
- • Hospital transport assistance
- • Social services transport
- • Volunteer driver schemes
Independent Travel Training
Mobility Training Programmes
Orientation and mobility skills for blind and visually impaired people
Travel Training Services
Public transport confidence building for learning disabled people
Driving Assessment Centres
Professional assessment of driving ability and required adaptations
Blue Badge & Parking
Blue Badge Scheme
- • Free or reduced parking charges
- • Extended time limits
- • Access to restricted areas
- • UK-wide recognition
- • Automatic and discretionary awards
Workplace Parking
- • Reserved disabled parking spaces
- • Workplace levy exemptions
- • Closer proximity parking
- • Covered parking provision
Charity & Trust Grant Funding
Thousands of charities and trusts provide grants specifically for disabled people, often filling gaps left by statutory funding. From condition-specific support to general hardship grants, these organizations collectively distribute hundreds of millions of pounds annually to disabled people and their families.
Major National Grant-Makers
Family Fund
>£2,000+ grants for disabled children and their families
Equipment, holidays, household items, family wellbeing
Turn2us
Grant finder service and direct hardship funding
Emergency support, white goods, disability equipment
Variety Club
Equipment and mobility aids for disabled children
Wheelchairs, communication aids, specialist equipment
Elizabeth Finn Care
Professional people experiencing hardship
Financial support, equipment funding, career transition
Condition-Specific Support
Physical Disabilities
- • Spinal Injuries Association grants
- • MS Society welfare grants
- • Muscular Dystrophy UK support
- • Stroke Association recovery grants
- • Scope independent living fund
Sensory Impairments
- • RNIB technology and independence grants
- • Action for Blind People support
- • RNID hearing aid and equipment funding
- • Deafblind UK specialist support
- • Sense family support grants
Learning Disabilities & Autism
- • Mencap grants and support scheme
- • National Autistic Society funding
- • Dimensions charity support
- • United Response community grants
- • Special Olympics participation support
Trust & Foundation Grants
Major Trusts Supporting Disability
- • Garfield Weston Foundation
- • Henry Smith Charity
- • BBC Children in Need
- • Comic Relief/Sport Relief
- • Big Lottery Community Fund
- • Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Application Strategies
- • Research funder priorities and criteria
- • Demonstrate clear need and impact
- • Provide detailed financial breakdown
- • Include supporting evidence and quotes
- • Apply early in funding cycles
- • Build relationships with fund managers
Need help with your application? Read our Complete Grant Application Guide for expert tips.
Local & Regional Charity Support
Community Foundations
Local grant-making based on geographical area and community need
Local Disability Organizations
Direct support and advocacy specific to local disabled communities
Faith-Based Support
Religious organizations providing practical and financial assistance
Support for Carers & Families
Over 6.5 million people in the UK provide unpaid care for disabled family members or friends. Carers' grants, respite funding, and family support schemes recognize the crucial role carers play while ensuring they receive the financial and practical support they need to maintain their own wellbeing.
Carers' Financial Support
Carer's Allowance & Credits
- • £81.90/week Carer's Allowance
- • Carer's Credit for National Insurance
- • Council Tax discounts and exemptions
- • Blue Badge eligibility extensions
- • Priority housing applications
Emergency Support Grants
- • Carers UK hardship grants
- • Local authority crisis support
- • Charity emergency funding
- • Family Fund crisis grants
- • Energy supplier trust funds
Respite & Break Funding
Short Breaks & Respite Care
- • Local authority respite services
- • Charity-funded holiday breaks
- • Peer support and sitting services
- • Day centre and activities funding
- • Overnight respite accommodation
Family Support Services
- • Counselling and therapy support
- • Peer mentoring programmes
- • Information and advocacy services
- • Training and skills development
- • Employment support and flexibility
Young Carers Support
Educational Support
Special provision for young carers in schools including exam flexibility and additional support
Activities & Development
Funded activities, trips, and development opportunities specifically for young carers
Transition Support
Additional support for young carers transitioning to adult services and independence
Parent & Family Grants
Disabled Children Support
- • Family Fund equipment grants
- • BBC Children in Need funding
- • Make-A-Wish experiences
- • Variety Club mobility equipment
- • Local children's charity support
Whole Family Support
- • Home adaptation funding
- • Vehicle and transport grants
- • Holiday and leisure funding
- • Household equipment support
- • Sibling support programmes
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