Trying, choosing and buying equipment

The right equipment can make a big difference to your ability to live independently in your home. It's a good idea to get specialist advice and try out equipment before you buy it.

Help with choosing and trying out equipment

If you're unsure what equipment you may need, the article 'Equipment for use about the home' may be a useful introduction to the types of equipment available.

Equipment for use about the home

Occupational therapists

Occupational therapists can give specific advice about individual items of disability equipment. They can also be helpful if you've recently become disabled and are unsure what equipment you may need.

You can find an occupational therapist through your local trust. They can visit you at home and help you decide what equipment is right for your lifestyle.

Trying out equipment before you buy

You should try out all equipment before you buy it. If you're considering buying an expensive item, ask to use the equipment for a trial period in your own home.

Help with buying equipment

Using direct payments to pay for equipment

If you're getting direct payments from your local trust to arrange and pay for your own care and services, you may use the money in any way you want as long, as it is to meet your assessed needs.

You may use direct payments to buy or hire disability equipment or to have equipment repaired and maintained.

If you plan to use direct payments to pay for equipment, find out whether you or your local trust will own the equipment and who will be responsible for maintaining it.

Always check with social services before you buy any large equipment, as local trusts have to make sure you're using your direct payments to meet your assessed needs at a cost that the council considers reasonable.

If you want to buy a piece of equipment that is more expensive than the one your local trust has agreed to pay for, you may be able to pay for it through a combination of direct payments and your own money. Talk to your local trust before you do this, as different councils may have different policies.

Disabled Facilities Grants

Some large equipment may be classed as adaptations which are the responsibility of the housing department of your local trust. You may be entitled to a Disabled Facilities Grant to help pay for these.

Disabled Facilities Grants

VAT relief on products and services for people with disabilities

People with disabilities don't have to pay VAT when:

they buy equipment that has been designed for disabled people
they have equipment adapted so they can use it

There are strict conditions about what types of equipment qualify for VAT relief and who can buy equipment without paying VAT. Always ask the supplier whether the equipment qualifies for VAT relief before you buy it.

Hiring equipment instead of buying

You can often hire disability equipment, either instead of buying it or as a way of deciding whether the equipment is right for you before you buy it. Some disability organisations keep a stock of equipment that they will loan out to members on a short-term basis.

Disability Action Research Project

Disability Action has been funded by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) for a three year research project running from 2008 to 2011. The project involves undertaking research in order to identify and prioritise the key issues for disabled people in relation to housing choices.