Managing disability and illness

Get additional support by arranging a care needs assessment from your local authority. Support may include:

• Carrying out daily activities like washing, dressing, or moving around your home
• Minor aids and adaptations for maintaining independence
• Small or large equipment to help with day-to-day life

Assessments are free, but a specialist will just need to check if you’re eligible for free home care or if you’ll need to pay towards it:

• You may be entitled to a means-tested disabled facilities grant, providing major adaptations
• Small equipment may be provided free without the need for a financial assessment
• If you do need to pay for support, it’ll be based on your income and where you live

Read more about what a needs assessment entails.

Use our helpful benefits calculator to see what you might be entitled to, and explore our guide to benefits and grants for the financial support that may be available for your specific needs.

You may also be entitled to other benefits to help make life easier:

• A Blue Badge for parking in accessible parking bays. Apply here if you live in England or Wales, here in Scotland and here in Northern Ireland
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to help fund a specialist vehicle through a motability scheme
• A Radar Key to open accessible public toilets found in shopping centres, pubs, cafés, department stores, bus and train stations and more
• A ‘can’t wait’ charity card to help you use the bathroom in places like bars or restaurants
• A Disabled Person’s Railcard for £20 a year, with 33% off train fares for you and a friend
• A disabled person’s bus pass from your local council
• A community transport scheme, supporting door-to-door transport and trips to shopping centres
• A CEA Card to get a free ticket for someone to join you at the cinema
• A prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) if you’re not eligible for free prescriptions. It’s a cost-saving ‘season ticket’ for more than 11 prescriptions per year

Find out if you’re eligible for a charitable grant, designed to help with everything from education to household essentials and respite for carers. Explore the guide to our grants, or visit Disability Grants to search for grants specific to conditions or situations.

Share your experiences with those around you to get emotional support when and where you need it most. From friends and family, to colleagues or support groups. A helping hand is never too far away:

• Find a charity that supports your specific condition and join it. Some even have online forums for digital support. You may have to pay a small fee, but they’ll provide guidance and advice around dealing with your condition. Try starting with:
  • Sense for disabilities support
  • Tenovus if you’re concerned about cancer
  • Diabetes UK for guidance on diabetes
• Talk through your health with your line manager at work to help you cope with juggling your condition and your day-to-day responsibilities. If you have a disability, you may even be able to join an employee network, or request awareness training for your whole team through HR
• If you just need someone to talk to, or immediate support, PAM Wellbeing’s emotional support line counsellors are also available 24/7. The PAM Assist wellbeing app also provides digital support at your fingertips, with practical advice and a webchat service

Speak to your line manager or HR if your condition is affecting how you do your job. They may be able to help with reasonable adjustments or flexible working, especially if you have a qualifying condition under the Equality Act.

They may also help you get back to work if your condition has meant you’ve been away, with an ‘access to work’ grant to ease you back into travel and work conditions.

If you’re worried about having the conversation, give us a call first and we’ll figure it out together.

Explore support from the NHS if you’re struggling with pain because of a disability or long-term illness, or visit The British Pain Society.

Make a few small lifestyle changes to help improve your physical and mental wellbeing. The healthier you are, the more likely you’ll respond well to treatment:

• Plan and stick to a healthy diet. The NHS has some helpful advice, plus a useful healthy weight calculator
• Quit smoking with help from Smokefree
• Drink less alcohol with support from friends, family and the NHS
• Start being more active with help from the NHS
• Attend screening appointments when they arrive in the post
• Speak to your GP as soon as you notice any physical changes
• Stay safe when you’re out in the sun with guidance from Tenovus
• Explore our mental wellbeing guides for adults and children to help manage any overwhelming feelings

Book an appointment with your GP if you’re unsure about any changes with your body, both mental and physical. Before you go, think about:

• Writing a list of what you want to ask
• Requesting a double appointment if you’re hard of hearing or speak a little slower
• Taking a friend or family member with you for support, or to note down what your doctor says