Guide to disability related expenses

Disability related expenses (DRE) are extra costs that a person may have to pay because of their disability or care need. DRE only relates to non-residential care and to people who have been assessed to contribute towards the cost of their care. If you are a self-funder, you will not be able to receive a DRE allowance as you have been assessed to pay the full cost of the care you receive. Norfolk County Council may allow these costs as part of your financial assessment for non-residential care which could reduce the amount you have to pay for your care.

Non-residential care can include:

• Home support
• Day care
• Direct payments
• Housing with care
• Supported living

We will ask five key questions when considering your claim for DRE:

1. Do you receive disability benefits?
   This includes the care component of disability living allowance, the daily living element of personal independence payments, or attendance allowance.
   DREs will not be more than the amount of benefit that Norfolk County Council include as part of your financial assessment. For example, if your disability benefit is £92.40 per week but we include £61.85, your DRE amount cannot be higher than £61.85.
2. Is the expense necessary?
   This means that the expense is a need rather than a choice and someone’s day-to-day life would be negatively affected if they did not pay for this expense. For example, if a person was socially isolated and required access to the internet for keeping in touch with their friends and family, we would consider this expense to be eligible.
3. Is the expense reasonable?
   This means that the expense is not considerably higher than that of similar expenses. For example, if a DRE claim is for something that costs £500 but something else could met your needs and costs £200, we’d say that the higher amount is not reasonable. We would allow the lower amount.
4. Is the expense directly linked to the person’s disability, medical condition, or care need?
   This means that the expense is only required because of a person’s disability, medical condition, or care need and that someone who did not have the same specific need would not have to pay for this expense. For example, a person who is not disabled or does not have a care need or a medical condition would not require a community alarm.
5. Is the expense able to be met by any other means?
   This means that the expense cannot be paid for by other means – we would check if it is included in a person’s personal budget, or if the NHS has agreed to pay it. For example, if a person is unable to maintain the cleanliness of their home and a cleaner cannot be funded from anywhere else it would be allowed as a DRE. 

We work in line with the Care Act 2014. We look at all DRE claims on an individual basis rather than take a blanket approach. This means it is not possible to have a definitive list of DREs because each person is different and will have different care needs and expenses.

However, there are some common things that people ask for as DRE. We have listed a few below and how we consider these expenses.

Community alarm

We have a list of prices for most community alarm providers in Norfolk. If you tell us the name of your provider and we agree the cost is reasonable, we will allow the weekly cost as DRE. If we do not have the information on your community alarm provider, we may ask you how much you pay and how often and compare it to others.

Increased energy/utility costs

We use the Office for National Statistics (ONS) records that show the average household spend based on income group. If your weekly spend is higher than the average, we will allow the difference as a DRE. For example, if you spend £10 per week on energy and the household average for your income level is £8 per week, we will allow £2 per week as a DRE. We would need to see your bills as proof of what you pay.

Basic domestic cleaning

If you are unable to maintain your home yourself, we will allow basic cleaning costs. For example, this could be a cleaner that comes weekly or fortnightly to clean your home or could be a yearly deep clean. We would need to see evidence of what you spend to allow this cost.

Basic gardening

If you are unable to maintain your garden yourself, we will allow basic gardening costs. We would not expect any gardening to be completed in winter months and so we only allow these costs for 40 weeks a year. We would need to see evidence of what you spend to allow this cost.

Buying disability equipment and the maintenance costs

If you need to buy any equipment related to your disability or care needs, we will consider whether you could claim these costs as DRE. We would look at the initial cost of the item, as well as any maintenance costs, such as servicing or insurance. We will only allow the DRE for the lifecycle of an item - this is normally three years. For example, if someone with diminished mobility bought a mobility scooter, we would allow the cost of buying it as a DRE over a period of three years. This means that we will divide the total cost of the item you have bought by 156 weeks to work out the weekly cost. We would also allow any annual costs such as maintenance, servicing, or insurance, for as long as the item remains in use.

Paying for something expensive

If you can't pay for an expensive item upfront, you can contact the DRE team who can explore whether there are grants available that could help you. Contact us by telephone: 01603 222133 - select Option 4, or by email: DRE@norfolk.gov.uk

Professional financial representation costs

If you are unable to manage your own finances and the Court of Protection has appointed a Deputy, we will look at any costs involved.

Care Needs Assessment or Care Review

You can discuss disability related expenses as part of your Care Needs Assessment or Care Review with someone from the Adult Social Services team you are being supported by.

Contact DRE team

You can also call or email the DRE team to find out whether you might be able to make a claim for DRE. Telephone 01603 222133 option 4 or send an email to DRE@norfolk.gov.uk.

The DRE team can send you a copy of the claim form or you can download it below.

They can also help you if you have trouble filling in the form.

Fill the form in on your computer, smart phone or tablet and then email it to the DRE team at DRE@norfolk.gov.uk. Return it with the necessary supporting evidence - this could include invoices, receipts, or bills for things that you pay for.

Download disability related expenses claim form (Word doc) [46KB]

Download easy read disability related expenses claim form (Word doc) [1MB]

We need your name and ‘Social Services Ref No.’. If the DRE team send you the form, they will fill this in; if you have downloaded the form from the website, you need to fill this in yourself.

Your Social Services Ref No. can be found on any correspondence you receive from Norfolk County Council. This could include letters from Finance, any invoices you receive, or your Care & Support plan.

In the first column, 'What would you like to claim for?' please tell us what you are claiming for. This could be a specific item, such as a community alarm or a piece of equipment, or a general expense, such as gas, electric or water.

In the second column, 'Why do you think this is a DRE?' please tell us in your own words why you are claiming the expense. For example, if the expense being claimed is electricity costs, you could say the reason you are claiming the expense is because you need to have the heating on more frequently because your disability or illness means you feel the cold more than someone who does not have your disability or illness.

In the third column, 'How much do you pay and how often do you pay for it?' please tell us how much and how often you pay for the expense that you are claiming for. For example, if you are providing a utility bill as the evidence, please tell us how often you receive a bill. If you are providing a receipt as evidence, you should tell us whether you buy the amount on a weekly, monthly or other basis.

Please make sure that you have evidence of what you spend as we may not be able to allow any expenses if you have not provided enough.

The DRE team will assess your claim. They will write to you to explain what your DRE amount is and why the expenses have been included. If some of the expenses that you claimed are not included in your DRE amount, they will explain the reasons why.

You will not physically receive any money paid to you if your DRE claim is successful but the amount you pay to Norfolk County Council each week for your care will be reduced. For example, if you have been assessed to pay £100 per week for your non-residential care, and your DRE allowance amount has been calculated at £10 per week, you will only be charged £90 per week from the date you made your claim.

You have the right to request a review of any DRE decision. You must request a review in writing. 

Email: fabreviews@norfolk.gov.uk

Or send a letter to:

Financial Assessment Team
Norfolk County Council
Finance Exchequer Services
County Hall, Martineau Lane
Norwich
NR1 2UE

Stage 1 review

There are two types of review. The first is called a 'stage 1 review' and this is when the DRE team leader will look at your claim. They may decide to agree with the original decision made by a member of the DRE team or they may decide to change the decision. You will receive the outcome of this review in writing within 14 working days.

Stage 2 review

If you are unhappy with the outcome of the stage 1 review, you can request a 'stage 2 review'. This is when a group of team managers in the finance department will review your claim. You will receive the outcome of this review in writing within 14 working days.

Formal complaint

If you are still not satisfied with the decisions made after stage 2, you can make a formal complaint. 

Why must I receive disability benefits to claim DRE?

You must be receiving disability benefits before claiming DRE as this is what the Care Act 2014 (opens new window) says: "Where disability-related benefits are taken into account, the local authority should make an assessment and allow the person to keep enough benefit to pay for necessary disability-related expenditure to meet any needs which are not being met by the local authority." Disability benefits are paid to people who have disabilities or illnesses and need extra help that people without disabilities do not need. You receive the benefit to help you pay for the cost of receiving any extra help. This could include a person who helps you, or an expense that you pay for because of your disability, such as the examples mentioned in.

What makes an expense necessary?

An expense is necessary if it is something you need to pay for rather than something that you want to pay for. If it something that is your choice to pay for, for example, buying specific types of food when you have no dietary requirement for it, the expense would not be necessary.

What makes an expense reasonable?

An expense is reasonable when it is a fair price. For example, if specialised shoes were something you needed, and you could buy these for £30 but you had submitted a DRE claim for a pair you bought for £100, this cost would not be reasonable. However, the £30 would be allowed.

My friend has been allowed an expense as DRE but I haven't. Why is this?

The Care Act 2014 (opens new window) says that DRE should be person-centred and looked at on an individual basis. This is because every person is different and can have different disabilities, illnesses, and care needs. No two people are the same and therefore, no two DRE claims will be the same.

How can I get help with completing the form or gathering evidence?

If you need any help completing the form or getting evidence, you can contact the DRE team on 01603 222133 option 4 or by emailing DRE@norfolk.gov.uk. We can then arrange for a member of our Money Support Service to visit you. They will fill in the form for you and they can also help you to contact any of your providers so you can get evidence, such as bills or invoices. The Money Support Service will also be able to look at whether you could receive any grants or other financial assistance that could help you.

My practitioner did not mention DRE as part of my care review, what do I do?

You can contact the DRE team directly on 01603 222133 option 4 or by emailing DRE@norfolk.gov.uk to start your DRE journey. The team will be able to talk about what DRE means and what things you have to pay for could be looked at as part of your DRE claim. If you need further help, they can arrange this for you.

Mr Jones is a 75-year-old man who lives on his own in his bungalow which he rents from a local housing association. Mr Jones has mobility issues; he is prone to falls and he is sometimes unable get himself out of his armchair. He is incontinent and he washes his clothes and bedding frequently. Mr Jones has not been seen by the Incontinence Clinic yet. Although Mr Jones lives alone, he has an active social life by attending day services and regularly meeting friends and family. He receives Attendance Allowance and his total weekly income is £350.

Mr Jones has claimed the following items and amounts:

1. Community alarm - £4.48 per week
2. Electricity costs - £13 per week
3. Incontinence items - £3.75 per week
4. Domestic cleaner - £30 per month
5. Gardener - £250 per year
6. Water costs - £130 per quarter
7. Mobile telephone - £10 per month

This is how the DRE Team calculated his DRE amount:

1. Mr Jones provided the name of his community alarm provider and we checked our records to find the weekly cost. £4.48 per week has been allowed as DRE.
2. The average household cost of electricity for someone with Mr Jones' weekly income is £11.40 per week. As Mr Jones pays more than this, the difference is allowed. £13 minus £11.40 equals £1.60. £1.60 per week has been allowed as DRE.
3. Mr Jones has not been seen by the Incontinence Clinic but he has been referred. £3.75 per week has been allowed as DRE but only for 6 months while he is waiting to be seen.
4. The DRE Team first work out what the weekly cost of Mr Jones' domestic cleaner is. £30 per month times by 12 months equals £360 per year. £360 divided by 52 equals £6.92. £6.92 per week has been allowed as DRE.
5. The DRE Team will allow a weekly cost for Mr Jones' gardener in the same way the weekly cost of the cleaner was calculated. £250 per year divided by 52 weeks equals £4.81 per week.
6. The DRE Team first work out how much Mr Jones pays for his water per week. £150 per quarter times by 4 quarters equals £600 per year. £600 per year divided by 52 weeks equals £11.54 per week. The average household cost for someone with Mr Jones' level of income is £9 per week and as this is lower than what Mr Jones pays, the difference can be included. £11.54 minus £9 equals £2.54. £2.54 per week has been allowed as DRE.
7. As Mr Jones is not socially isolated, the DRE Team would not class the mobile phone costs as DRE because it is a choice to own a mobile phone and someone would have to pay for it whether they had a disability or not.

This means that Mr Jones DRE amount is:

• Community Alarm - £4.48 per week
• Electricity costs - £1.60 per week
• Incontinence items - £3.75 per week
• Domestic cleaner - £6.92 per week
• Gardener - £4.81 per week
• Water - £2.54 per week
• Mobile telephone - £0 per week

Total DRE amount allowed - £24.10 per week

Ms Smith is a 42-year-old woman who lives alone in a privately rented flat. She has mental health issues including bipolar disorder and anxiety. She can have both depressed and manic episodes and has a pendant alarm which she can use if she becomes overwhelmed. Because of her anxiety, she does not leave the house often and her family do not live locally.

Ms Smith maintains contact with her family by using her smart phone to video-call with them regularly.

Ms Smith receives Personal Independence Payments and has a weekly income of £275. Ms Smith has claimed for the following items and amounts:

1. Pendant alarm - £185 per year
2. Electricity costs - £65 per month
3. Water costs - £90 per quarter
4. Mobile phone - £25 per month

This is how the DRE Team calculated her DRE amount.

1. Ms Smith’s pendant alarm provider is not based in Norfolk so does not appear on our records. However, she supplied the annual invoice which allowed the DRE Team to work out the weekly cost. £185 per year divided by 52 weeks equals £3.56 per week. £3.56 per week allowed as DRE.
2. The DRE Team first work out the weekly cost of electricity that Ms Smith pays. £65 per month times by 12 months equals £780 per year. £780 per year divided by 52 weeks equals £15 per week. The average weekly cost of electricity for someone with Ms Smith’s income level is £11.20 and because this is lower than what Ms Smith pays, the difference can be allowed. £15 minus £11.20 equals £3.80. £3.80 per week allowed as DRE.
3. The DRE Team must first work out the weekly cost of water that Ms Smith pays. £90 per quarter times by 4 quarters equals £360 per year. £360 pear year divided by 52 weeks equals £6.92. The average weekly cost of water for someone with Ms Smith’s income level is £8.50 per week and as this is higher than what Ms Smith pays, there is no amount to be allowed as DRE.
4. Mobile phone costs would not normally be allowed as DRE but because Ms Smith is socially isolated, the DRE Team could contact a social worker to see if the cost of the mobile phone could be included as part of the package of care. The social worker may agree that the SIM for the mobile phone could be met as part of Ms Smith’s package of care through a Direct Payment. This means that although the amount that Ms Smith pays for her mobile phone is not included as a DRE, Norfolk County Council could pay her the amount through a Direct Payment as it meets her care needs of reducing social isolation.

This means that Ms Smith’s DRE amount is:

• Pendant alarm - £3.56 per week
• Electricity costs - £3.80 per week
• Water costs - £0.00 per week
• Mobile phone costs - £0.00 per week

Total DRE amount allowed - £7.36 per week

If you have any questions about DRE or would like to have a further discussion with a member of the team, please contact the DRE Team on:

Telephone: 01603 222133 option 4

Email: DRE@norfolk.gov.uk

If you have any questions about financial assessments or the financing of social care, please contact the Financial Assessment Team on:

Telephone: 01603 222133 option 2

Email: FAB@norfolk.gov.uk

If you have any questions about social care or would like to speak to a social worker or practitioner, please contact Adult Social Services via 0344 800 8020.