Disability Related Expenditure (DRE)
Families are telling us that the costs that their relatives incur due to their disability are increasing. This resource can be used to help make sure that these costs are being considered when your Local Authority calculate how much your relative contributes towards their care and support.
If you feel that your relative’s disability related costs have increased you can request a disability related expenditure assessment to update these costs. There is a template letter for this included in this resource.
Click here to read the resource
Information
This section contains resources about understanding and managing costs of living.
Mencap information and easy read guides
Mencap have a range of information including easy read guides on getting help with the cost of living, advice on saving energy, and the Priority Services Register.
Learning Disability England cost of living hub
Learning Disability England provide links to a range of resources to help with the cost of living written by their members and partners.
Contact cost of living advice
Contact have a range of information on help with household bills, benefits, grants and managing debt.
Disability Cost of Living Payments easy read guide
An easy read resource is available to help explain Disability Cost of Living Payments which are available to some people who receive benefits.
Tips on saving money
This section contains resources which give tips on how to save money on household bills, food, energy and transport costs.
16 tips to save on your energy bills
Carers UK have collected tips to help save money on energy bills.
Tips to save money easy read guide
Dimensions have produced an easy read guide of tips to save money on energy, food, transport and more.
Taking charge easy read guides and workshops
Community Integrated Care launched the Taking Charge campaign to help people who work in social care help the people support save money on energy bills.
Smart meters are for me
Speak Up has a video and an easy read guide on the benefits of having a smart meter.
Support and advice
This section contains links to help you get in contact with expert advisers who can support you with concerns related to the costs of living.
Mencap cost of living advisers
Mencap have specialist Cost of Living Advisers as part of their Learning Disability Helpline. They can be contacted by phone or email, and provide advice specific to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Mencap’s Cost of Living Advisers also run weekly webinars on Wednesdays at 1pm. These are for people with a learning disability, family members, or other carers. You can sign up to attend these on Eventbrite.
Next session (1pm Wednesday 12th July)
Scope energy and water expert advisers
Scope have expert advisers who offer advice to disabled people to help them manage energy and water needs. Their telephone appointments can help talk you through understanding your bills, contacting your supplier and managing debt.