Extra help with costs - A Guide for Carers
Disability allowance (for the person you care for)
This is a weekly payment for people who have regular, ongoing costs because of a disability or health condition, such as visits to the doctor or hospital, or purchasing medicines, extra clothing, or arranging travel.
To get this payment, the person must have a disability or health condition likely to last at least six months, and have regular, ongoing costs because of the disability or health condition that aren’t fully covered by another agency or by another payment the person is getting.
This payment can help pay for a number of things, as long as the person’s health practitioner tells them that they need it because of their disability or health condition. Examples are doctor’s or specialist’s fees, travel costs to your doctor, specialist or hospital, heating (over and above what is normally used), medical alarms, or continence products.
Getting this payment depends on how much money the person is applying, and their partner, earns.
To find out more and how to apply
- visit the Disability Allowance page on the Work and Income website, or
- contact Work and Income.
