Disability related expenses (DREs)

Find out how to claim for extra costs you have to pay because of a disability or ill health.

Find out if you can claim for disability related costs

Disability Related Expenses (DREs) may be claimed where you have to pay for items that are closely related to your disability. In being able to claim for these and where agreed by the Council as ‘reasonable’, DREs can reduce the contribution you would  otherwise need to make towards the costs of your care and support.

Am I eligible to claim for a Disability Related Expense?

If your income is made up of a disability related benefit, you might be able to claim for extra costs resulting from your disability.

These benefits will be one of the following:

  • Disability living allowance (DLA)
  • Personal Independence Payment (PiP)
  • Attendance Allowance

If you are not currently receiving one of these benefits, you will not be eligible for  Disability Related Expenses

How it works 

We look at extra costs you have because of your disability. This helps us make sure you have enough money to pay for things you need that we are not already providing.

This list is not exhaustive and reflects the national guidelines outlined in the Care Act. 

Here are some examples of disability-related expenses that can  be considered when assessing how much you will  pay towards the cost of your care.

Care and support costs

  • money for a community alarm system
  • costs for private care services you arrange, including short breaks for carers (respite care)
  • payments for day or night care that the council is not arranging for you
  • costs for personal assistants and any household or other necessary costs that come with that help

Special items and daily needs

  • special washing powders or extra laundry costs.
  • extra costs for special diets needed because of illness or disability (we might ask to check with your doctor as confirmation).
  • special clothing or footwear, like items that need to be custom-made, or if your disability causes your clothes and shoes to wear out faster.
  • extra bedding costs, for example, if you have incontinence

Household costs

  • Higher heating costs or higher water costs than average for your area, if this is due to your age, medical condition, or disability
  • Reasonable costs for basic garden work, cleaning, or help around the house, if your disability makes it necessary and social services are not covering it

Equipment and technology

  • buying, looking after, and fixing disability-related equipment. This can include equipment or transport needed for work.
  • internet costs - if your disability makes them necessary

Transport costs

  • Other transport costs needed because of your illness or disability. This can include travel to day centres, beyond any money you may get from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for mobility, if you get those benefits Importantly, if a suitable, cheaper transport option (like transport to day centres provided by our council) was available but you didn't use it, we might not include your claimed transport costs

Other things to consider

Your care plan can be a good place to start when thinking about these costs .

We might decide not to allow for items if a reasonable and cheaper alternative is available. For example, we might not cover the cost of private continence pads if you can get them for free from the NHS.

You will need to show invoices and receipts as evidence for all your proposed DREs.

As part of your financial assessment you will have the opportunity to discuss your circumstances with a council officer.  Talking your circumstances through can be helpful as  we  can also help to signpost you to other benefits that you may be entitled to claim.

Please contact the Financial Assessment Team to request an easy read version of this  information. Call 020 8770 5280 (24 hour answerphone) or email  FAPD@sutton.gov.uk