How To Get Funding For a New Wheelchair
We recently discussed the variety of things you need to think about and keep in mind when choosing your next wheelchair (which you can read here). But, when you are considering all of the different aspects of a wheelchair, one thing that may be swimming around in the back of your head is the price.
Well, we wanted to help put your mind at ease with that as well. So, we have put together this guide on how to get wheelchair funding to make your life that little bit easier. After all, with so many wheelchairs for sale, every little helps.
Where To Start With Wheelchair Funding
When it comes to funding your wheelchair, there are actually a number of different options out there. These change depending on what you are looking for, the age of the person who will be using it, and other facts. So, to make things a bit easier for you, rather than having to trawl through the internet, here are a few of the options available to you.
Motability Scheme
If you are in the market for a powered, electric wheelchair, then one of the best ways to get wheelchair funding is through the Motability Scheme. This scheme is designed to help you purchase electric wheelchairs and vehicles designed to make travelling that much less stressful for you.
With that in mind, utilising the Motability Scheme, you can get a worry-free method of getting all of your transportation needs sorted. The team at Motability are experienced and knowledgable, able to make sure that you get exactly what you need.
On top of this, they don’t dictate what electric wheelchair you are allowed to purchase. Instead, they give you the choice, so that you can get what you both want and need.
FUNDING FOR CHILDREN
We currently have a guide listing all of the charities in the UK that we recommend for children’s wheelchair funding in our Knowledgebase (you can see the full list here), but we wanted to showcase a handful of them here for you, which a bit of extra information to help you choose the right one for you.
STRONGBONES
Next up, we have Strongbones; a charity focused on helping families and children who scoliosis, spina bifida, brittle bone disease or any other conditions that affect the bones. They are able to offer expert, focused advice and assistance for both you and your child.
They also allow you to apply for a grant to get the mobility aids that your child needs for their everyday life.
FUNDING FOR EVERYONE
When it comes to charity-based wheelchair funding for everyone, not just children, there are still a huge amount of options available for you. The different charities are typically focused on specific disabilities or categories of disabilities, so you may need to do some extra research to find the right one.
However, we have still put together a handful of these charities in the list below.
THE MOBILITY TRUST
The Mobility Trust is a charity geared towards providing powered, electric wheelchairs to both children and adults who are severely disabled. The fact that they offer assistance and aid to you, regardless of your age or reason for disability, means that it could be a great option if you don’t go with the Motability Scheme.
SHINE
Next up on the list is Shine, the charity that focuses on providing focused support, assistance and advice for those with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. The charity is able to offer support and benefits across education, employment, mental health and more. They even provide help for carers. Therefore, you’ll be able to find the help you need to get a new wheelchair.
DTD CHARITY
Previously known as the SF Charity, the now-called DTD Charity exists with the sole purpose of offering financial assistance to disabled people of all ages, be the application a group or individual application. Interestingly, even the employees of the DTD Charity donate a portion of their salary to the charity, so you can see how much they want to be able to help you. Therefore, if you aren’t going to use the Motability Scheme, the DTD Charity may be a good alternative for you to look into.
Moving Forward with Funding for Wheelchairs
Once you have found the way in which you want to fund your wheelchair, then the next step is to apply for the funding. Whether you have chosen to go through the Motability Scheme or through charities, you will need to fill out an application form and wait for a response.
Once you’ve been accepted, then you will be in discussions with your chosen fund provider on how to use those funds to purchase your new wheelchair.
We would recommend finding a selection of wheelchairs that you would like, across a range of prices, so that you can ensure that you are able to get a wheelchair that is right for you once you find out how much funding you can have. To get the ball rolling with this, why not take a look at our selection of wheelchairs, or give us a call on 01733 342242 to discuss your options?
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