The Independent Living Fund - an introduction

The Independent Living Fund (ILF) makes payments to disabled people to help them lead a more independent life. The ILF is permanently closed to new applications.

About ILF

The ILF was set up as a national resource to enable people with disabilities to live independent lives in their community rather than in residential care.

You can use payments from the ILF to pay a care agency or employ someone to give you personal and domestic care, or both. To continue to receive funding from the ILF, in the majority of cases you must:

be living in the UK for at least 26 weeks a year
get social services support worth at least £340 a week or £17,680 a year - this can include direct payments or services like going to a day centre
get or be entitled to the highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance
have less than £23,250 in savings or capital - this includes any money your partner has, if you have a partner
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Your award

The amount you get is based on the cost of the care you need, worked out on an hourly or weekly basis.

The maximum amount the ILF can award you will depend on when you applied. Your savings, income and certain other benefits and expenses also affect how much you get.

The page 'The Independent Living Fund - how your payments are calculated' has more information.

The Independent Living Fund - how your payments are calculated

How the money is paid

Independent Living Fund payments are made directly into your account. This might be a bank, building society, Post Office or National Savings account.

When your award is reviewed, the Independent Living Fund checks the records you keep showing how you have spent your ILF money. For this reason, many people find it helpful to have a separate account for their ILF money.

You can find out more about how to use your money on the page ‘Managing and using your Independent Living Fund payment’.

Effect on benefits

Payments from the fund do not affect your benefits. This is because they are used to pay for your care and are not counted as income.

What you can use it for

You can use your ILF money to pay for support and services. You can use a care agency or employ your own personal assistant for tasks including:

toileting, bathing, washing and dressing
eating and drinking
cooking and shopping
laundry, cleaning and other household tasks

You may be able to get personal care when you are socialising or at work. The page ‘Employing a professional carer or personal assistant' has more details.

Employing a professional carer or personal assistant

What you cannot use it for

You cannot use payments from the Independent Living Fund to pay for:

care provided by a partner or relative (including in-laws) who lives with you
any care provided by social services
maintaining your home or paying bills
gardening
adaptations to your home
equipment, including wheelchairs
petrol, taxi fares and other travel expenses
holidays
childcare
private hospital or residential care home fees
hairdressing, chiropody (footcare) or physiotherapy

This is not a complete list. Please contact the Independent Living Fund to check if you are unsure about whether you can use your payment for a service.

When your money will be reviewed

After you have been getting ILF payments for six months, an assessor will visit you to check if your circumstances are still the same. They will then visit you every two years to make sure you are getting the right level of payments.

How the Independent Living Fund will review your payments

How to appeal

If you are unhappy about a decision or award made by the Independent Living Fund, you can ask for a 'decision review' within four weeks of the decision date. If you do want to appeal then you should contact the ILF.

Independent Living Fund (contacts section)

Information booklets in other formats

Information about the Independent Living Fund (ILF) is available in other formats. If you receive money from the ILF you can contact them to ask for information booklets which tell you more about how it works. These are available in large print, Braille, audio and languages other than English.