Should I apply to the Family Fund?

[MiladyDeScorchio]

Ds is three and has autism. We've moved house and the garden is very unsafe. Big concrete steps and a sloping lawn.

We have enough saved to make the steps safe with fencing and a gate soon but it will cost £350.

Do the FF help with this sort of thing and if I hang onto receipts might I be able to claim it back? I know it takes a while for an assessment to be made.

It's still unclear whether or not they count housing benefit and council tax benefit as income. And helpfully, mine as been suspended as the council heard from my HA that I was going to do a mutual exchange and I won't be able to sort that out until Monday.

I'd appreciate any help really. The entire house need fixing, can't put cupboard locks in the kitchen, sharp badly-laid laminate, filthy sinks and bathrooms etc but I have heard that gardens may be one thing the FF can assist with

We were just over the limit as well, DH works FT but only gets £12k a year but we don't get HB or CTB, we're not entitled to that either. Its CTC and CA that increases it greatly. I can't understand the logic in it personally, especially as there are a lot of people who need things like the FF to get items they so desperately need.

it is a bit strange how they work it out, we are in scotland, rents are cheaper but the FF income allowance is higher, surely it should be higher where rents are more expensive and people get higher HB?

its exactly like lou031205 says our rent every 4 weeks is £260 so even with child maintenance, CA, CTC, HB and CTB we are still well under the limit at £17,595

God it's disgraceful what we all have to manage on compared to outsourcing the caring we do to the taxpayer.

Dh works really hard but people just aren't spending money these days plus he puts in so much time and effort helping with ds...

I don't even claim Carer's because we're on maximum tax credits and housing benefit so it would just be deducted from both benefits anyway and I wouldn't see it.

I shouldn't have moaned all last night really - at least we're in social housing and for that I'm truly grateful. Funny, when I left University I bought a house on one starting salary and now look at me.

Wouldn't change my family for the world though

Don't forget you can also approach other charities to see if they can fund any of the things you need, they will have certain criteria - like a particular disability, or perhaps limit on the disabled child's needs.

But do get in touch with the Rotary or Lions Club, or the national Cerebra charity who may give some funding towards equipment.

Also try your local library for a book on funding.

You might also have a carers' centre or disability centre in your Borough that provides information and support to disabled people or carers like yourself and can point you in the direction of some funding or any local charities.

Have a look on the internet for funding.

And ask about Funder Finder, maybe your carers' centre or council for voluntary services has one, you can put in all your details and the Funder Finder will generate several addresses that might be useful - you then write them a letter requesting some funding. Takes a bit of time, but you never know. I have previously managed to get £500 in total from about 4 charities towards music therapy for my son! So never say never!

Good luck.