DfE funding available to support low income families with disabled and critically ill children
The Dept for Education is providing £37.3 million for the Family Fund in 2020-21, including £10 million specifically in response to COVID-19, to support low income families with disabled and critically ill children. This includes helping to buy specialist equipment and devices.
See letter attached; more details on how to apply for the Family Fund can be found at: https://www.familyfund.org.uk/
Families must meet the following eligibility criteria:
You live in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales
You are the parent or carer of a disabled or seriously ill child or young person aged 0-17 who lives with you
You are currently living in the UK and done so for at least six months, or three months if your child is less than six months old. You are eligible to work and apply for public funds
Your child is not in Local Authority care
You have evidence of entitlement to any one of the following:
Universal Credit
Child Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Income Related Employment Support Allowance
Income Support
Housing Benefit
Pension Credit.
Your child or young person has a high level of additional support needs arising from a long term disability or disabling condition or a serious or life limiting illness. By long term we mean lasting or likely to last 12 months or more.
More details about the criteria can be found here: https://www.familyfund.org.uk/.