Financial
Personal Grants
Dealing with a condition can have so many consequences. It can impact on your finances so further adding to the worry and stress. Maybe it’s simply extra fuel bills or parking costs from all the hospital visits or it could be having to buy special equipment to facilitate life at home. It all adds up and at a time when you may not be able to work. We have a grant that is specifically for these purposes. To find out if you are eligible, fill in the form below.
​
Personal grants can be applied for by residents in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland however, we are unable to accept applications from overseas.
Requests for a personal grant will only be considered if the hardship is due to, or has been aggravated by GBS, CIDP or an associated inflammatory neuropathy. Grants are not awarded where the support can be obtained through a statutory body or process. Grants can be made up of smaller grants paid over a period of time or as a one off payment.
Some examples of grants:
-
Medical or other equipment (possibly on loan) – such electric wheelchairs or adaptable toilet seats
-
Adaptations to homes – such as railings, or a shower grab rail
-
payment of travelling expenses – such as parking charges for visiting patients in hospital, or train tickets
Where the grant is for the provision of equipment, the equipment would become the property of the applicant rather than the charity. The applicant is responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the equipment and any problems should be taken up with the supplier/manufacturer.
Recurring household bills or debts cannot be considered – for these you should seek help from your local Social Services, Citizens’ Advice Bureau, Citizens’ Advice Scotland, Citizens’ Information Republic of Ireland, the consumer Credit Counselling Service or the National Debtline.
How to apply
Please complete this Application form (which also includes guidance notes)
​​​
All information supplied by you will be treated by Inflammatory Neuropathies UK in confidence.
If the application form is a little daunting, don’t worry.
Either email us directly on hello@inflammatoryneuropathies.uk or fill in the contact form at the bottom of the page and we can provide help.
Completed Application Forms should be sent to:
​
Inflammatory Neuropathies UK
Glennys Sanders House,
Pride Parkway,
Sleaford
NG34 8GL
For any queries please email hello@inflammatoryneuropathies.uk​
Benefits and Welfare
Worried about money? Well we’re here to help. Dealing with a health condition is hard enough, but changes in health can often lead to financial issues, when you can’t work, or extra costs mount up. We can’t fix everything, but please don’t struggle alone. Reach out to us and we’ll do what we can to support you.
​
Illness and health conditions can have a huge adverse impact on our financial wellbeing. Very few of us know anything about dealing with debts or benefits until we’re forced to seek help, so it’s extremely important that you get professional advice and support as soon as possible as this can make a big difference to your circumstances.
​
You can reach out to us for help, or take a look through this page to see what you can do yourself or what other help is available. If it is all too much, you can always come back to us and ask us to help.
Book a meeting with an advisor
​
How we can help
We don’t know everything, but we can provide some advice and support. If we don’t know the answer then we can help you find someone who does. Please read the information below, and follow the steps for money advice, grants, and budgeting support. There are also some links to information on benefits you may be entitled to.
​
The steps to take to get the right financial support
If you’re unwell through a disability or long-term health condition then follow this handy step by step guide.
​
1. Complete a budget (this is an excellent one from the Money Advice Trust - CLICK HERE​
If you have any emergencies or priority debts please get help with these first (and urgently). Priority debts are:
-
Rent, mortgage and secured loan arrears
-
Magistrates or other court fines
-
Council tax arrears
-
Utility bill arrears
-
Phone and internet arrears
-
Unpaid income tax, VAT
-
Tax credit overpayment and/or child maintenance arrears
-
TV licence arrears
-
Hire purchase payments
Get all the paperwork you have for these.
​
Credit cards, overdrafts, loans or other forms of credit are NOT priority debts but it’s good to get as much paperwork as you can for all of these too.
​
For free, professional confidential telephone based help and advice you can call National Debtline on 0808 808 4000, or the Help through Hardship Helpline on 0808 208 2138. If you prefer local advice and support then follow try Turn2Us - CLICK HERE
​​2. Maximise your income – check your benefits
Always check what benefits you may be entitled to. You may be surprised at what is available!
First, if you’re employed, check that you are receiving the statutory or enhanced sick pay you’re entitled to, and whether or not you have critical illness cover on your insurance, through work, or through a private healthcare scheme.
​
Next, take a look at the wide range of benefits available, including ones like Universal Credit (if you are under pension age) or Pension Credit (if you are over pension age).
Some benefits are means tested. This means that you might not be able to get them if your household income and savings is too high, Other benefits are based on your circumstances, such as health or mobility issues.
​
PIP (personal independence payment) is not means tested and is designed to cover the additional costs associated with having a long-term health problem. There is an excellent site full of information from Turn2Us on all welfare benefits and grants including PIP, with a step-by-step guide to claiming - CLICK HERE
​
Other forms of income maximisation include applying for all the grants, payments, and financial support available to you, as well as reducing your unnecessary outgoings or payments. To search for a grant or other payment based on your circumstances, use this grant search tool - CLICK HERE
​
If you are unsure about your eligibility for these please seek advice from us. We will be more than happy to help you.
3. We’re here to help
While it’s good to use the steps and tools above if you can, sometimes it can feel overwhelming, or be too complex to work through. This is where we come in.
​
We can offer you free, confidential support with money worries as well as basic benefits information. We can then refer you to further expert help if needed. To book an appointment with our adviser please email hello@inflammatoryneuropathies.uk
​
However please note that these appointments are limited, and offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so if your situation is urgent, or you have debts that are unmanageable, please don’t wait. Seek advice from one of the organisations listed below. Whatever your circumstances, help is always available.
​
Sources of help and advice
Below you will find a number of specialist organisations and websites that can help.
​
Turn2Us - CLICK HERE
(benefits calculator, grant search and PIP claims help)
​
Citizens Advice - CLICK HERE
(free confidential advice and information on a wide range of topics)
​
Help Through Hardship - CLICK HERE
(free, confidential advice and emergency support for people living in England and Wales.)
​
National Debtline - CLICK HERE
​
Disability Rights UK - CLICK HERE
(two Helplines that provide information on a variety of issues)
​
Age UK Advice Line - CLICK HERE
(for over 55’s and their families and carers)
​
Coram Child Law Advice - CLICK HERE
(for children’s rights re health & education)
Care Needs Assessment/ Continuing Healthcare
Some people with long-term complex health needs qualify for free health and social care arranged and funded by the NHS.
​
The results of this can include funding carers, funding accessible adaptions, or, if your family is supporting you, allowing you to use the funds that would normally be spent on carers on day to day expenses.
In Scotland, personal and nursing care is free for eligible individuals, but you may still need to perform a Care Needs Assessment.
​
Learn more about these assessments via the NHS
​
The criteria can be quite complex, so we also recommend reading more via the link below. They break down Continuing Healthcare, preparing for an assessment, and challenging an assessment in easy to read detail - it's a brilliant resource:
beaconchc.co.uk
​
It's important to note, to qualify for funding requires significant impairment and many of our community may not qualify. It can be really hard hearing a support path is closed to you when you feel you qualify. If you'd like to chat about it, please reach out to us. We may not be able to overturn a decision, but we're here to chat about what happened, and where possible, sign post you to other options.