Benefits

The Department for Work and Pensions has a series of helpful videos on YouTube to help parents and carers wanting to find out more about claiming DLA for a child.

Click here to view the video.

More information on DLA rates, eligibility, how to claim and post 16 is available on the gov.uk website.

Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) are used to pay for work that is needed to help a disabled person live more independently in their own home.  The grant is not means tested if the application is for adaptions for a disabled child.

For more information please visit your local offer website.

The Local Offer website has an up to date list of organisations that offer grants or funding for both individuals and groups that can be used towards short breaks, experiences, equipment and other things.

Organisations available to help you in understanding and applying for benefits include:

• Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA)

You can contact the Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA)’s Benefits Advisor, if you have any questions, concerns, or just need some help regarding benefits.

• Citizens Advice 

Citizens Advice are experts in all kinds of benefits and have lots of useful information on their website.  They will advocate on your behalf with authorities to help sort out benefits and other financial issues.

There are Citizens Advice centres locally:

• Citizens Advice Richmond
• Citizens Advice Kingston

Further information is available on your local offer.

• Kingston Carers’ Network (KCN) is a local registered charity, providing independent information, advice, advocacy and support to people who care for someone living in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.
• Richmond Carers Centre supports unpaid carers( including young carers) in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. They offer advice, information and emotional support to carers over the phone, by email and in person at the centre.
• 21&Co is a local registered charity run by parents. Formed to help children with Down’s syndrome and also their parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents and other family members and friends.
• Carers in Mind support children, teenagers and adults who are supporting a person of any age with a mental health problem, either diagnosed or not diagnosed Either carer or the person who is cared for must live in the borough of Richmond.
• Crossroads Care Richmond and Kingston Home and community respite services to carers and the people they care for.
• Kingston Centre for Independent Living (KCIL) – KCIL’s mission is to provide information, advice and support to all disabled people living in the Royal Borough of Kingston and the surrounding areas and to empower them to have a voice, take control of their lives, and be treated equally. KCIL provide the SEND Personal Budget Brokerage Service for children and young people in Kingston and Richmond.
• Kingston Mencap is a local registered charity which support adults with a learning disability, and their families and carers.
• Skylarks provides a supportive and active community for children with disabilities and additional needs. They care for the whole family, providing opportunities to join in, develop and feel empowered.
• Richmond AID  is a charity run by and for disabled people in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and surrounding areas. They support people of all ages with all disabilities, including physical and sensory impairments, mental health issues and learning difficulties.  They aim is to support disabled people to live independent lives and to have the same opportunities as non-disabled people. They also support parent/carers with services such as counselling.
• Richmond Borough Mind runs Carers in Mind to provide support for people of all ages caring for someone with mental health issues, living in the borough of Richmond.
• Richmond Mencap is a local registered charity which supports children, young people and adults with a learning disability, social communication conditions and additional needs (including ADHD) and their families and carers.
• Ruils is a local charity that supports children and adults with disabilities to live independently, be part of their community and to live life to the full. They provide information, advice, befriending and activities.

A more comprehensive list of local organisations is available on the local offer. 

• Carers UK is the national organisation that provides information advice and support for carers. They campaign nationally and raise awareness of carers issues. They have an active online forum which is a warm and welcoming community and is a place where you can share what’s on your mind, day and night.
• Jointly is an app developed by Carers UK which combines group messaging and to-do lists with other useful features, including medication lists, calendar and more.  Jointly makes communication and coordination between those who share the care as easy as a text message.
• Carers Trust They work to improve support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring, unpaid, for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems.
• Contact is a charity for families providing support, advice and information to families with disabled children.  Their freephone helpline can put you in touch with other families in the same situation, local or national support groups and give you medical information about your child’s disability.
• Down’s Syndrome Association offer you information, support and advice on any question or concern you have related to Down’s syndrome.
• Kinship is the leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We work with all kinship carers – the grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and family friends – who are caring for children when their parents can’t.
• SWAN UK (syndromes without a name), is the only specialist support network available in the UK for families of children and young adults affected by a syndrome without a name.