Independent Living Fund

To qualify for ILF, you must:

* get at least £320 worth of support a week or £16,640 a year from social services. This support could be something like going to a day-centre or getting money from a direct payment scheme;
* get the higher rate care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA);
* be at least 16 and under 65. You must apply before your 65th birthday. The funding can continue after your 65th birthday as long as you still meet all the other conditions;
* be living in the United Kingdom (UK);
* have less than £23,000 in savings/capital (this includes any money your partner has.

In all cases, you will have to contribute half of your care component of DLA, and all of your Severe Disability Premium, if paid to you with your Income Support, towards your care costs.

At Lancashire Centre For Independent Living we employ a team of Independent Living Advisors (ILAs) who operate our Information & Advice Service. Firstly you discuss your situation with your social worker. When you have made the decision to recieve Direct Payments to meet your assessed needs, we receive a referral from your Social Worker who will also make a referral to the ILF if you are eligible.

Our advisors are here to give you all of the information and advice necessary for you to run your own care package through Direct Payments as part of a personal budget, and ILF.

This includes;

# Providing information about Lancashire's Direct Payments scheme and ILF
# Offering full advice and support relating to recruiting staff and managing staff (personal assistants)
# Assisting with budgeting for your care package,
# Providing information regarding addidtional funding for care packages.

Contact our team with any queries - 01772 250300

or Msn us at Lcil@live.co.uk