Financial help if you're disabled or have a health condition

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work:

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Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

A Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability, and have difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around. You can get PIP even if you're working, have savings or are getting most other benefits:

Video: PIP - an overview

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Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

The Disability Living Allowance for children may help you with the extra costs of looking after a child who is under 16 who has difficulty walking, or needs more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability:

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Attendance Allowance

This is a tax-free benefit if you are State Pension age or over, and need someone to help look after you:

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Support for carers

Carer's Allowance could help you look after someone with substantial care needs:

You could get Carer's Credit if you're caring for someone for at least 20 hours a week:

Carers Support West Sussex gives unpaid carers information and guidance alongside practical and emotional support:

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NHS prescriptions

Can you save money with a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC)?

A PPC could save you money if you pay for regular prescriptions. As the NHS website explains:

  • The certificate covers all your NHS prescriptions for a set price
  • A prescription costs £9.65 per item, but prepaying for an unlimited number of prescriptions is:
    • £31.25 for 3 months
    • £111.60 for 12 months (or 10 Direct Debit instalments of £10.81)
  • It may be cheaper to buy a PPC if you need more than four items in three months, or 12 items in 12 months

For further details about the certificate, and how to purchase it, see:

Before buying a PPC, check if you're entitled to free NHS prescriptions and other help with health costs using the NHS eligibility checker:

People with certain medical conditions can get free NHS prescriptions, to find out more see:

If you've been prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT):

You can get an HRT prescription prepayment certificate (HRT PPC) from the NHS if you've been prescribed an eligible hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medicine.

What you'll get:

  • The HRT PPC costs £19.30 for 12 months
  • It will cover all your eligible HRT prescriptions for that period, no matter how many different medicines you need
  • There's no limit on the number of HRT prescription items you can get with it while it's valid
  • You'll save money if you're going to buy more than two prescription items in 12 months

If you have prescriptions for medicines that are not eligible:

  • If you have other prescriptions that are not for eligible HRT medicines, you may save more with a three or 12 month standard PPC.
  • A standard PPC will save you more than an HRT PPC if you get:
    • four or more items in a three-month period and at least two are not for eligible HRT medication
    • 12 or more items in a 12-month period and at least 10 are not for eligible HRT medication

How to buy:

If you need help:

NHS Business Services Authority can help you with your HRT PPC application:

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Travel discounts

You may be eligible for a bus pass or discounts on train fares if you have a disability - information about this is available from West Sussex County Council (WSCC):

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Page last updated: 21 December 2023

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