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Disability equipment

Older woman in wheelchair with carer

This factsheet gives information about sources of funding and providers of disability equipment. It should be read in conjunction with our other factsheets on health and social care provision and funding.

It includes information on:

  • What to consider when choosing equipment
  • Social Services and NHS provision
  • Where to buy equipment privately
  • What to do if you have problems with getting equipment 
  • What to do if you have problems with equipment you have purchased
  • Sources of funding
  • Loans of equipment

The main providers of disability equipment are local authorities (councils), following an assessment of needs.

You can contact your local authority to request an assessment if you are having difficulty managing at home with any of your daily personal care tasks such as washing, dressing, food preparation or moving around.

Disability related equipment provided by health and social care is generally free of charge. This contrasts with adaptations to your home, which can be carried out by a local authority or a related service but may be subject to a means test.        

The information given is correct for the period April 2009 - March 2010 but rules and figures sometimes change during the year.

You can download the factsheet Disability equipment and how to get it from the box on the right.

opens link in new window Download the Disability equipment and how to get it factsheet (PDF 248 KB)

opens link in new window Download the Finding help at home factsheet (PDF 246 KB)

opens link in new window Download the LA assessment for community care services factsheet (PDF, 337 KB)

Your Age UK

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Age UK Advice:
0800 169 6565

Useful information to download

  • This factsheet explains who pays for and who provides disability equipment.

  • A factsheet on local authority assessment for community care services.

  • The factsheet provides information and advice on finding help at home. 

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    We have made every effort to make our PDFs accessible to screen readers. Here is an overview of your accessibility options available in Acrobat Reader. Please ensure that you have downloaded the latest version of Acrobat Reader from the Adobe Reader website to ensure that they are included in your version of the programme.

    You can use Adobe Reader to read a PDF out loud with the following shortcut keys:

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    You can convert a PDF document into a text file for use with other software and hardware such as Braille printers by opening the PDF and choosing ‘Save as text’ from the File menu.

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