The Independent Living Fund (ILF) is a discretionary scheme, financed by the government, to help fund care packages for people with severe disabilities living in the community, rather than residential care.
The scheme has now closed to new applications. People already getting ILF funding will continue to get it until 2015. The government has not committed to funding the ILF in its current form after that. The government plans to consult people on how people who currently get ILF funding should be supported in future.
The scheme works with local authorities in areas where the local authority provides, or intends to provide, packages of care. The eligibility criteria and application process are outlined below for those currently receiving ILF funding.
Who is eligible?
The person you're looking after must meet all the following conditions:
- They must be so severely disabled that they need extensive help with personal care or household duties to maintain an independent life in the community.
- They must be at least 16 but under 65 years old.
- They must receive the high rate care component of the Disability Living Allowance.
- They must receive (or expect to receive) a care package from social services with a value of at least £340 per week. The care package could be in the form of actual services or a direct payment to buy those services.
- Their care needs must average no more than £785 per week.
- They must be living alone or with people who cannot fully meet their care needs.
Financial assessment
A means-tested financial assessment is carried out to determine whether the person you're looking after has to make a contribution. In this assessment, half the care component of the Disability Living Allowance is taken into account; earnings are disregarded and their capital must be less than £23,000. This includes any capital their partner has, but doesn't include the value of the property they live in.
If they receive Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, the severe disability premium is taken into account as part of their income.
How the ILF can help
The ILF can pay up to £475 per week on top of the funding from social services and any contribution that has to be made by the person you're looking after.
Challenging a decision
If the person you're looking after isn't satisfied with social services' decision about their care package, they can use the social services statutory complaints system. If they want to dispute a decision made by the ILF, they can ask for a review of the decision by phoning the complaints and review manager on 0845 601 8815, or sending an email to: Complaints.Review@ilf.org.uk.
