Disability Living Allowance : UK

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a tax-free benefit for disabled children and adults to help with extra costs you may have because you're disabled. Find out more about Disability Living Allowance, including how much you can get.

Who can get Disability Living Allowance?

Already claiming DLA and want to report a change in your circumstances - find out more

• Disability Living Allowance - your circumstances

You may get Disability Living Allowance if:

• you have a physical or mental disability, or both
• your disability is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or you have walking difficulties, or both
• you are under 65 when you claim

You can get Disability Living Allowance whether or not you work.
It isn't usually affected by any savings or income you may have.
If you're aged 65 or over, you may be able to get Attendance Allowance.

• Disability Living Allowance - eligibility

• Attendance Allowance

Special rules - if you're terminally ill

If you have a progressive disease and are not expected to live for more than another six months there are special rules. The special rules are to help you get your benefit more quickly and easily.

Medical examinations

You won't usually need a medical examination when you claim Disability Living Allowance. But if you're asked to have one you can find out more from the links below.

• Disability Living Allowance - medical examination

• Disability Living Allowance medical examination - what it involves

• Disability Living Allowance medical examination - what happens next

Changes to Disability Living Allowance

From 2013 a new Personal Independence Payment will replace Disability Living Allowance for disabled people aged 16 to 64.
Use the following link to find out more about the new benefit, including what will happen if you're currently getting Disability Living Allowance.

• Personal Independence Payment

How much do you get?

Whether you can get Disability Living Allowance and the amount you get is based on your current needs and circumstances. If your needs or circumstances change, your benefit may increase, decrease or stop.
Disability Living Allowance has two parts called 'components':

• a care component - if you need help looking after yourself or supervision to keep safe
• a mobility component - if you can't walk or need help getting around

Some people will be entitled to get just one component; others may get both.
The care component and mobility component are paid at different rates depending on how your disability affects you.
It’s important that you give the Disability and Carers Service (DCS) accurate information so that you get the right amount. If any of the information you have given changes, then you must tell the DCS. They will then check that you are still receiving the correct amount.

• Disability Benefits Helpline - for Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance

How Disability Living Allowance is paid

All benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into an account. This is the safest, most convenient and efficient method of payment.

• How benefits and pensions are paid

Effect on other benefits and entitlements

If you start to get Disability Living Allowance it might increase the amount of other benefits you're entitled to, for example:

• Income Support
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Benefit
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit

Disability Living Allowance is normally ignored as income for working out these income-related benefits and tax credits.

Rates and how to claim

Claim straight away - if you delay you may lose benefit.
You can claim online or get a claim pack by:

• phoning the Benefit Enquiry Line
• downloading the form from this website

Find out more in 'Disability Living Allowance - rates and how to claim' below.

• Disability Living Allowance - rates and how to claim

Changes in your circumstances

Your entitlement to Disability Living Allowance and the amount you get is based on the information you told the Disability and Carers Service (DCS). If this information changes it is your responsibility to tell the DCS.
If you are not sure what changes you need to tell them about, please read 'Disability Living Allowance – your circumstances'.

• Disability Living Allowance - your circumstances

Student finance : UK

Apply for student finance

Apply now to make sure you get your money at the start of your course. The deadline for new full-time students is 31 May 2012. The deadline for continuing students is 29 June 2012. Part-time students can apply from early August 2012. Find out what help is available

• Full-time students apply now for 2012/13 Opens new window
• Part-time students - how and when to apply for 2012/13

Disabled Students' Allowance : UK

Government financial support for UK/EU students 2012–13

Disabled Student's Allowance 

     It is given for To help with costs incurred as a direct result of disability. Students with a disability is eligible for this. The amount given is depend on individual circumstances  Their is no need to repay it.

more information is available from the Directgov website

Disabled Drivers’ and Disabled Passengers’ Tax Concessions Scheme

Current Arrangements under the Scheme

1. The present Scheme provides for a range of tax-related benefits for the purchase and operation of vehicles for -
• qualifying individual disabled drivers,
• qualifying individual disabled passengers, and
• charitable organisations catering for the disabled persons.
2 The scheme targets - what are very costly tax reliefs - at those who qualify, namely, certain severely and permanently disabled persons with regard to physical mobility.
(a) The benefits are essentially that a new car may be purchased free of VRT (up to 30%) and VAT (@ 21%) every two years. The maximum VRT/VAT relief for a qualifying disabled driver is £7,500 and for a qualifying disabled passenger, it is £12,500.
(b) The refund of fuel excise may amount to £800 per person per year.
(c) The scheme also provides exemption from the payment of annual road tax, say £200 per annum, per vehicle.
The cost of the reliefs, excluding the annual road tax costs, in 1998 was approx. £14.4 million, as compared to £4 million as recently as 1994 . The cost in 1999 is estimated to be £17 million approx.
The current number of beneficiaries under the scheme is approximately 5,400. The cost of any possible extension even to one small group is therefore potentially very large. Relatively little use is made of the shared vehicle for use by charitable organisations t ax concession. The scheme is predominantly availed of by individuals.
3 The Disabled Drivers’ and Disabled Passengers’ Tax Concession Scheme is not means tested and once admitted to the scheme, benefits are likely to continue for life.
Background 4 Section 43 of the Finance Act, 1968 introduced an exemption from road tax for vehicles adapted or constructed for and used by disabled persons, who in the main would have been confined to wheelchairs. The scheme was later extended to allow for relief from VAT and vehicle excise duty (this was replaced by Vehicle Registration Tax with effect from 1 January 1993) on the acquisition of a vehicle and from excise duty on the fuel used. Medical certification was by the disabled person's own doctor and required that the person be "wholly or almost wholly without the use of each of his (her) legs".
5 The limited medical criteria applying under the scheme were seen as being excessively restrictive and, in addition, the piecemeal fashion in which the scheme developed, in response to external demands, gave rise to a number of anomalies and abuses. Therefore a framework for a new consolidated scheme of reliefs was provided for under Section 92 of the Finance Act, 1989. The regulations, made under that Act, set out criteria for eligibility for the reliefs as well as specifying their scope and various procedures to be complied with in order to qualify for benefit. The resultant Disabled Drivers (Tax Concessions) Regulations, 1989 came into operation on 21 December, 1989.
Review of the Scheme in 1994 6 A comprehensive review of the workings of the provisions set out in the 1989 scheme was carried out in 1993/94 and resulted in the adoption of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994. Six different types of disability are listed under the regulations and a qualifying person must satisfy one or more of these. Essentially those without the use of limbs - as distinct from those who are just weak in the limbs - will qualify. These regulations were drawn up following wide ranging consultation with the Departments of Health, Environment and Justice, the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, the Revenue Commissioners, opposition spokespersons for Finance and organisations catering for the disabled. Medical certification is by the Senior Area Medical Officer in the local Health Board and there is an independent Medical Board of Appeal. The medical criteria are listed below.

MEDICAL CRITERIA FOR DISABLED DRIVERS AND DISABLED PASSENGERS SCHEME (S.I. No 353 of 1994)

The medical criteria which must be complied with for entry to the scheme are as follows:
(a) the applicant is wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs;
(b) the applicant is wholly without the use of one leg and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that the applicant is severely restricted as to movement of the lower limbs;
(c) the applicant is without both hands or without both arms;
(d) the applicant is without one or both legs;
(e) the applicant is wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg;
(f) the applicant has the medical condition of dwarfism and has serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs.
Requests to broaden the medical criteria 7 The principal issue of concern expressed in connection with the reliefs was (and still is) in relation to the medical criteria. Arguably, the continual pressure to extend the scheme is driven by its valuable reliefs, giving access to tax free cars and motor fuel, in effect for life. The qualifying disability criteria set out in the Regulations relate essentially to persons who have severe and permanent physical mobility problems. Requests are received continually for the medical criteria to be relaxed so as to extend the range of qualifying disabilities to include other categories, notably those suffering from, among other ailments, -
cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, blindness/visual impairment, the effects of stroke, hip operations, heart ailments, cerebral palsy and epilepsy, renal failure, diabetes, autism, spina bifida, club foot and foot drop, persons with only one arm, etc.
There are regular representations and parliamentary questions seeking extension for both permanent and possibly temporary medical conditions. In addition, there are demands to give a tax free vehicle to a family member of a disabled person (either parent or child) who is not resident with the family member. The number of potential beneficiaries of extending the scheme beyond its present target group is unclear. According to lobbyists for the disabled, there are up to 350,000 persons in Ireland who could be regarded as disabled to some degree. Of course not all would/could use any widened scheme but the very attractive tax benefits makes for considerable interest in the scheme.
8 The medical criteria seek to ensure that the reliefs provided under the scheme are targeted at those who are most severely and permanently disabled - essentially those without the use of limbs. Although the number of people who suffer from, say, cystic fibrosis may not be large, to include such a particular medical condition under the Scheme, rather than base eligibility on categories of disability, would both undermine the nature of the scheme and lead to considerable pressure for the inclusion in the scheme of those who are suffering from other debilitating circumstances. The current medical criteria are designed so that people who qualify for the scheme do so, irrespective of the original cause of their disability, or their financial circumstances. A move to listing particular disabilities as automatically giving access to the scheme would change the nature of the scheme from one based on a specific disability in itself to a scheme giving reliefs in respect of particular medical conditions, and not based on a degree of medical impairment and/or mobility. For example, deaf persons could be considered as disabled, should all be eligible for tax free vehicles?
9 The issue of the medical criteria for qualification was looked at in considerable detail in 1993/94, bearing in mind the various representations which had been received seeking the extension of the benefits of the scheme to other medical categories. The review recommended that the existing specific medical criteria should remain broadly unchanged.
Representations from those suffering from blindness/visual impairment 10 During the past year, there has been a sustained campaign from the Blind Car Owners’ and Users’ Association for admittance to the scheme of those who are suffering from blindness or from visual impairment. The Association was formed to promote the extension of the scheme to the blind/visually impaired. The Association states that the condition of blindness is a factor crucial to mobility. Representations on behalf of the Association were received from Dail Deputies, Senators, MEPs and Councillors. In addition, the Minister answered numerous questions in the House requesting that the blind/visually impaired be admitted. An adjournment debate in the House on 2 March 1999 dealt comprehensively with the issue. The Association stated that while it has 70 members, there are approximately 6,000 persons’ names entered in the blind register that is held by the National Council for the Blind. In 1998, 2,358 persons were in receipt of the Blind Persons Pension, payable by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. However, unlike the disabled drivers’ and disabled passengers’ scheme, this pension is means tested. As the benefits under the disabled scheme are generous, presumably a very much large number of the estimated 6,000 blind/visually impaired persons would apply for benefit, as passengers, should blindness/visual impairment be added to the list of qualifying medical criteria.
Present Medical Criteria 11 The present scheme is tightly structured. Admittance is dependant on meeting very strict criteria of disability with regard to physical mobility. A person suffering from one of the illnesses mentioned in paragraph 6 may qualify if he (she) is severely disabled as a result of his (her) condition, but not otherwise. It is considered that including specific medical conditions under the terms of the scheme would widen the scheme to a very considerable degree and would make it no longer appropriate for a tax relief scheme. It would be impossible to restrict entry of other large groups if any one new claimant group were admitted.
12 Consideration of the future of the scheme would have to balance any proposed extension with possible reductions in its benefits, especially the very generous provision allowing qualifying persons to change cars every two years, with no tax consequences when a tax free vehicle is sold on, (about 85% of beneficiaries seem to change their cars - bought tax free - after two years at market prices) but perhaps also including initial means-testing of applicants and/or ongoing means/medical assessments of beneficiaries. As revenue from motor tax receipts is now remitted to the Local Authorities, the continued exemption from that tax is a matter to be considered by the LAs. The whole issue of the tax based expenditure aspect of the scheme would also come up for review.
EU Aspect 13 Certain EU taxes including VAT and fuel excises are subject to EU rules, including rules relating to scope. In reviewing excise exemptions under EU Directive 92/81/EEC, the EU Commission proposed that Ireland eliminate this unique tax based concession and replace it with an expenditure scheme. While the Commission argued that it was anomalous and non-transparent to structure a scheme in this way, it did not pursue us on this topic. They will, however, return to this theme the next time the excise exemptions are being reviewed possibly in November this year. Ireland is the only Member State that has such an extensive tax concession.
 Review Groups examining the Scheme
14 The Revenue Commissioners have carried out a wide ranging technical review of the operation of the scheme and their report is to be submitted to the Department of Finance and to the review group chaired by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Revenue Commissioners’ review addresses mainly technical problems with the scheme as currently constituted and makes recommendations on how to make it operate in a more effective and cost-efficient manner for its present target group. It does not address such wider issues as the extension of the scheme to cover additional categories of disability.
15. A review group, under the chair of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, has also been set up but no proposals have, as yet, emerged from that group regarding the scheme. Both Finance and the Revenue Commissioners are represented on this group. The task of this group is to identify whether and to what extent the scheme should be modified to remove the existing anomalies, including consideration of alternative schemes. It is understood that that group will now examine the technical review prepared by the Revenue Commissioners as one part of their wider deliberations and th eir current aim is to produce a report before the end of the year.
16. Those who made representations on behalf of the Blind Car Owners’ and Users’ Association have been advised to make a detailed submission to that review group. It is probable that other interest groups will also wish to meet with the group. The group is also seeking information on measures in other countries but, to date, little has suggested that a tax based scheme is in use elsewhere. Most countries seem to offer vehicle loans or grants to persons.
Options for consideration 17 The options, therefore, would appear to be:-
(a) to retain the present scheme in its current form restricted to a specific class of the physically disabled. The upside of this is the limitation of the cost of the scheme (although growing in expansiveness) and its focus on those most physically afflicted. The downside is the fact that considerable benefits are confined to a certain set of the disabled persons without any means test.
(b) to add further categories in the certain knowledge that it will be hard to draw the line at particular medical conditions or disability. This would meet the demand for relief for particular groups or individuals. The cost however would escalate with significant relief provided to a substantial number of persons without any assessment as to means.
(c) to convert the scheme to a grant type expenditure relief operated by the Health Authorities on a means-related basis. This would be a fairer and focused measure but could be very costly as it would inevitably operate on a demand-led basis. It would also be almost impossible to terminate the existing scheme for those already in possession of the relief. These would have to be "grand-fathered" in some way.
The working group may propose an additional solution but on current information this seems unlikely.

for more details visit Disabled Drivers' and Disabled Passengers’ Tax Concessions Scheme

Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP)

Program Description

The objective of DVOP is to develop jobs and job training opportunities for disabled and other veterans.

General Program Requirements

In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must have completed at least 24 continuous months of active duty service in the military.

Your Next Steps

The following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.

Application Process

For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.

Program Contact Information

Headquarters Office:
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training, Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue
NW., Room S-1316
Washington, DC 20210

Contact: Pam Langley 202-693-4708 

also visit  Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP)

Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC)

Program Description

The Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) program was enacted by Congress on 2 December 2002. The CRSC program provides compensation for eligible MILITARY retirees with combat-related disabilities. The Army CRSC program is operated by the Army Human Resources Command (HRC) under the direction of the United States Army Physical Disability Agency. Since the programs launch (June, 2003), 30 percent of eligible retired Soldiers have applied for CRSC and 55 percent of claims have been approved. 238,000 retired Soldiers are eligible for CRSC (as of 02/27/06) with an increase of 2,500 eligible annually. CRSC provides a monthly tax-free compensation (full concurrent receipt option) that supplements Veterans Administration (VA) disability and military retired payments. To apply for CRSC, claimants must first meet ALL four of the following criteria AND have at least one VA rated injury determined to have been combat-related:

• Active, Reserve, or Medically retired with at least 20 years of service
• Receiving retired pay
• Retired pay is OFFSET by VA payments and
• Have 10 percent or greater VA rated injury.

Combat-related injuries are those incurred with documented proof and fall into the following four categories:

• Training that simulates war
• Hazardous duty
• Instrumentality of war, or
• Armed conflict

General Program Requirements

In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a military retiree active, reserve duty, or medically retired with at least 20 qualifying years. You must also be drawing retirement pay as well as VA compensation, and you must have a VA disability rating of 10 percent or more. You must also have at least one VA rated disability that is combat-related. Combat-related disabilities are those that were incurred while in the performance of duty under conditions simulating war, while engaged in hazardous service, through an instrumentality of war, or as a direct result of armed conflict.

Your Next Steps

The following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.

Application Process

For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.

Program Contact Information

For more information, please visit:
https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/crsc/index.html Or call us at:
1-866-281-3254
You may also email us at:

CRSC.info@us.army.mil

Send correspondence to: U.S. Army Physical Disabilities Agency/Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) 200 Stovall Street Alexandria VA 

 

also visit  Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC)

Coal Mine Workers' Compensation USA

Program Description

The Black Lung Benefits Act provides monthly cash benefits and medical benefits to coal miners who have become totally disabled due to pneumoconiosis, and monthly cash benefits to widows and other surviving dependents of miners who have died from the disease.

General Program Requirements

In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be or have been a coal miner, who now suffers from an illness caused by Pneumoconiosis (Black Lung Disease), or you must be a widow or widower whose spouse died due to a work-related illness caused by Pneumoconiosis.

Your Next Steps

The following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.

Application Process

For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.

Program Contact Information

A listing of addresses and toll-free telephone numbers for each of the nine district offices and the geographical area covered by each office can be found at: http://www.dol.gov/owcp/dcmwc/blcontac.htm

For more information on the Coal Mine Workers' Compensation Program, visit: http://www.dol.gov/owcp/dcmwc/index.htm

You may apply for benefits at one of the U.S. Department of Labor's nine district offices or at any Social Security office.

 

also visit  Coal Mine Workers' Compensation USA

Assistance in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam

Program Description

The Adult Programs in the Territories provide monthly cash payments eligible to financially deprived aged, blind and disabled persons in Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. These payments help with food, shelter, clothing, and other daily living needs. The individual or couple must also be within applicable income and resource limits.

General Program Requirements

In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must live in Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands or Guam, and you must be one of the following: 1) over the age of 64 years, 2) disabled and over the age of 17 years, or 3) blind.

Your Next Steps

The following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.

Application Process

For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.

Program Contact Information

To find out whether you are eligible to receive benefits, please contact your local public assistance office.

You may also direct questions to the appropriate Federal Regional Office. Guam-ACF/OFA Regional Office in San Francisco, California at: 415-437-8400

US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico-ACF/OFA Regional Office in New York City, New York at: 212-264-2890 

 

for more details visit Assistance in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam 

Assistance for Indian Children with Severe Disabilities

Program Description

The purpose of the program is to provide special education and related services to Native American children with severe disabilities, in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

General Program Requirements

In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a Native American/American Indian, your child(ren) must have a disability, and you or your family member must be enrolled in a Federally recognized American Indian tribe or Alaska Native village.

Your Next Steps

The following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.

Application Process

For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.

Program Contact Information

Please write to us at:
Special Education Programs
Division of Performance & Accountability
Bureau of Indian Education
1011 Indian School Road, NW
Suite 332
Albuquerque, NM 87104

Please call us at:
505-563-5264

 

for more details visit Assistance for Indian Children with Severe Disabilities 

Disability parking permit Australia

Australian disability parking permits are issued in South Australia for people with disability and organisations that provide transport services.  


What is the new Australian disability parking scheme? 
Who can apply? 
How to apply - individuals
How to apply - organisations 
Renewing permits 
Replacement permits 
Disability parking permit conditions 
Parking concessions 
Displaying the permit   
Misuse of the permit
Cancelling the permit 

What is the new Australian disability parking scheme?

The current disabled person's parking permit will be recognised as a valid permit until 31 March 2011 and only the new Australian disability parking permit will be recognised after this date.

For more information see Australian disability parking scheme  on the Department of Families Housing Community Services and Indigenous Affairs website. 

 

Who can apply?

You can apply for an Australian disability parking permit in South Australia if you are:

• a person whose ability to use public transport is significantly impeded by a physical impairment that significantly restricts speed of movement and use of public transport 
• an organisation that provides transport services to at least four persons with disabilities.

A temporary Australian disability parking permit may be issued to a person whose disability is likely to last for more than six months but is not permanent.

How to apply - individuals 

Step 1: Complete the application for an Australian disability parking permit  (PDF 338KB).

Step 2: Ask a medical practitioner to complete and sign the relevant parts of the application.

Step 3: Return the application to a Service SA customer service centre with the required fee.

How to apply - organisations

Step 1: Complete the application for an organisation requiring an Australian disability parking permit  (PDF 338KB).

Step 2: Declare that the permit will only be used when transporting persons who fit the above definition.

Step 3: Return the application to a Service SA customer service centre with the required fee.

Renewing permits

To remind permit holders that their permit is due to expire - an invitation to renew is sent to the holder (who hold a five year permit) six weeks prior to the expiry of their permit.

The applicant is required to complete this form and either personally attend, or post the invitation (with the appropriate fee) to your nearest Service SA customer service centre or directly to the Australian disability parking permit clerk at GPO Box 1533 Adelaide 5001.

The physical permit will not be forwarded until payment is received. The turnaround time for permits to be renewed is two weeks. To allow for the turnaround period, clients should renew their permit within two weeks of expiry.

Replacement permits

If a permit is lost or stolen or damaged, a letter with a brief outline of the reason a replacement is needed will need to be completed and addressed to the Australian disability parking permit clerk.

The letter can either be faxed or mailed or you can personally attend your nearest Service SA customer service centre where a customer service officer will forward your letter to the Australian disability parking permit clerk. The information must include:

• full name of the applicant
• date of birth
• current address 
• permit number (if known).

Fax: 8402 1977

Mail to: Department of Transport Energy and Infrastructure
Australian disability parking permit clerk
GPO Box 1533
Adelaide SA 5001

The turnaround time for a replacement permit to be mailed out is two weeks.

Disability parking permit conditions

An Australian disability parking permit can be issued for up to five years.

A temporary Australian disability parking permit cannot be issued for more than one year. The permit:

• is valid if the vehicle is being used to transport the permit holder
• allows the vehicle to be parked in parking spaces which are signposted and have the people with disabilities symbol painted on the road surface.

If a sign indicates that a time limit applies to disability parking space there is no additional time allowed.

Parking concessions

In addition to the new permit, national minimum parking concessions have been introduced in South Australia. The new concessions are:
If the time limit on the parking sign is:

• less than 30 minutes, the time limit for a disability parking permit holder will be 30 minutes; or
• 30 minutes or more but less than one hour, the time limit for a disability parking permit holder will be two hours; or
• more than one hour, the time limit for a disability parking permit holder will be twice the period indicated on the sign.

[top of page]

Displaying the permit

• Permits must only be used when the vehicle is being used to transport the permit holder.
• The permit only needs to be displayed when parking under the above conditions.
• Permits must be clearly displayed so the permit number and expiry date are visible from the exterior of the vehicle.
• Hook permits must be removed from display before the vehicle is driven. This is to ensure the permit does not obscure the vision of the driver.
  

Misuse of the permit

A person must not display or allow a permit to be displayed other than to transport the holder of the permit, or if the permit is issued to an organisation, for the transport of a person with a disability to whom the organisation provides services.

Cancelling the permit

An Australian disability parking permit may be cancelled if the holder of the permit is no longer eligible for the permit or if the holder of the permit is convicted of misuse.

Whom to send applications for disability benefits in Florida

             The Division of Disability Determinations (DDD) is responsible for making decisions regarding the medical eligibility of Florida citizens applying for disability benefits under the federal Social Security and Supplemental Security Income programs, and the state Medically Needy program.

              It is also responsible for conducting reviews of existing beneficiaries under the federal programs and determining continuing eligibility.  Annual budget is approximately $89 million with 972 positions assigned to offices located in Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, Miami and Pensacola. Florida is the fourth largest state disability determinations service in the nation, processing approximately 6% of the national workload each year.
              During fiscal year 2002-03, Florida DDD completed decisions on 253,988 federal and 10,432 Medically Needy claims.

             Applications for disability benefits are filed at the claimants local Social Security field office when the claimant is seeking disability benefits under the Social Security Act, or at a local office of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) when benefits are being sought under the Medically Needy program.

              In both cases the application is forwarded to DDD for a determination of medical eligibility. The claim is then returned to either SSA or DCF for a final determination of non-medical eligibility and effectuation of any benefits due the claimant. 

for more details visit Division of Disability Determination

Disability Planner: Social Security Protection If You Become Disabled USA

          Disability is a subject you may read about in the newspaper, but not think of as something that might actually happen to you. But your chances of becoming disabled are probably greater than you realize. 

          Studies show that a 20-year-old worker has a 3-in-10 chance of becoming disabled before reaching retirement age.

         While we spend a great deal of time working to succeed in our jobs and careers, few of us think about ensuring that we have a safety net to fall back on should we become disabled. This is an area where Social Security can provide valuable help to you. 

for more details visit

Disability Planner: Social Security Protection If You Become Disabled

Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants : British Coouncil

          Provision of this information is voluntary and will assist the Britsh Council in its commitment to a policy of equal opportunity and the development of positive policies to promote equal opportunity in employment.  We welcome applications from all sections of the community as we believe that a diverse workforce gives added depth to our work. 

          We aim to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the basis of gender including transgender, marital status or civil partnership, sexual identity, religion and belief, political opinion, race, colour, nationality or ethnic origin, work pattern, age, disability or HIV/AIDS status, socio-economic background, spent convictions, trade union activity or membership, on the basis of having or not having dependants, or any other irrelevant grounds. 

          We monitor all stages of our recruitment and selection process to ensure there is no potential for unjustified discrimination on irrelevant grounds.  Our monitoring data is externally analysed each year, and recommendations are published and acted upon.

           All information supplied will be treated in strict confidence and no identifying details will be attached to it.  It will help us to monitor and evaluate the success and application of our equal opportunity policy and diversity strategy and to compile anonymised statistics which will be included within our formal reporting structures.

Application form

 

Nine technology-based assistive tools for disabled people freely available in Hong kong

             The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) in Hong Kong announced Friday that nine technology-based assistive tools for disabled people, funded by the Office's Development of Assistive Technology for Persons with Disabilities Fund, are available for free download and for distribution to needy groups.

              These nine deliverables cater for the special needs of persons with different kinds of disabilities, ranging from the development of computer software, input and control assistance devices, smartphone applications, to web-based services and rehabilitation tools.

              OGCIO also launched a four-day exhibition in Hong Kong Central Library to introduce these products to the public.

              Addressing the opening ceremony of the exhibition, the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Elizabeth Tse, said, with technological advancement, assistive tools and applications developed with information and communications technology (ICT) can help persons with disabilities cope with their daily needs and lead a more independent life.

 

              These tools make it easier for them to access online information and public services and to communicate with friends, thereby improving their quality of life and facilitating their integration into the community.

               She hoped that through showcasing the achievements of the funded projects, the exhibition could raise public awareness of ICT adoption among persons with disabilities and encourage the development of more ICT-based assistive tools and applications.

               OGCIO has launched the Funding Scheme in January 2011 with a one-off funding of 3.6 million HK dollars to support the development of assistive and applications of ICT for the disabled persons. Of the total of 39 project proposals received, nine have been selected for funding support.

Grant for disable people : UK

Disabled Facilities Grant

A Disabled Facilities Grant is a local council grant to help towards the cost of adapting your home to enable you to continue to live there.

A grant is paid when the council considers that changes are necessary to meet your needs, and that the work is reasonable and practical.

More information about Disabled Facilities Grants is available on the DirectGov website, please see the Disabled People > Home and Housing Options information.

 

Grants in Worcestershire

The Grants service is provided by your city, district or borough council. The web links below will take you to the disabled facilities grant information on your local authority website

• Bromsgrove District Council
• Worcester City Council
• Malvern Hills District Council
• Redditch Borough Council
• Wychavon District Council 
• Wyreforest District Council

Contact your local Hub centre for further information, contact details can be found at:
www.whub.org.uk/cms/Customer-Service-Centres.aspx

Facilities for Disabled People : UK

Shopping services

Social Services may be able to arrange a weekly shopping service for you. For more information please phone 020 8547 6008. Some supermarkets now provide a home service. Details of many of the services provided by supermarkets are now available on the Internet, so go to the popular search engine, Google (link at the bottom of the page), to locate your local supermarket and find out if they are offering a service in your area.

Community Library Service

The Community Library
Ewell Road
Surbiton
KT6 6AG Tel no: 020 8547 6451
Fax: 020 8547 6454
Email : community.library@rbk.kingston.gov.uk
Kingston Libraries provide a free service to all residents of  The Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames who for whatever reason would otherwise find it difficult to visit their local library.
Staff call once every four weeks bringing a box of books pre-selected to each individual's tastes. Readers can choose from one to twelve books from their selection box per visit. There is a free request service.
For readers who have difficulty seeing ordinary print there is a wide selection of large print books.
There is also an extensive collection of Books on Tape available to those who are visually impaired or anyone who has difficulty reading ordinary or large print. You do not need to be registered blind to receive this service.
We can also supply videos, DVD’s, language and music tapes free of any hire charges, together with wool or jigsaw puzzles donated by the public.
Regular deliveries are made to residential homes, sheltered accommodation and day centres.  A selection of up to 60 Large and Ordinary print books can be supplied every twelve weeks.
Enquiries are welcome from all groups and individuals who would otherwise find it difficult getting to their local library. Please phone to discuss how we can best meet your needs.
To arrange a home visit or register a residential home or group, telephone 020 8547 6451. Out of normal office hours (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.00pm) there is an answerphone service.
To browse the library catalogue, go to Kingston Libraries Catalogue.

Transport

Please see theTransport section of this site for more information about transport for disabled people.

Public conveniences

Many larger shops provide toilets for public use. Public toilets are currently available at:

• Cattle Market car park, Fairfield, Kingston
• Bath Passage, Kingston
• Tolworth Close, Tolworth
• Claremont Road, Surbiton
• The Plough, Worcester Park
• The Bittoms multi-storey car park, Kingston
• The Rose multi-storey car park, Kingston
• Blagdon Road multi-storey car park, New Malden
• Churchfields Recreation Ground, Chessington
• King Edward's Recreation Ground, Chessington
• King George's Recreation Ground, Chessington
• Athelstan Recreation Ground, Kingston
• Fairfield Recreation Ground, Kingston
• Kingston Road Recreation Ground, Kingston/New Malden
• Queens Promenade, Portsmouth Road, Kingston
• Beverley Park, New Malden
• Manor Park, Old Malden
• Latchmere Recreation Ground, Kingston
• Alexandra Recreation Ground, Surbiton
• Victoria Park, Surbiton

Independent Living

Kingston Centre for Independent living (KCIL) have their own site at linked at the end of this page with information about how disabled people in Kingston can lead more independent lives. Equipment for people with disabilities is available from the Council Resource Centres at
Hobkirk House
109 Blagdon Road
New Malden.
and
Newent House
Browns Road
Surbiton
Telephone: 020 8547 6845.
For people with hearing or visual impairment, contact
Crescent Resource Centre
Blagdon Road
New Malden
Telephone: 020 8547 6558.
The local Red Cross may also be able to assist with the loan of wheelchairs, walking frames etc.
Kingston Voluntary Care Scheme is a local charity which can offer help with shopping, collecting prescriptions, transport to appointments etc. Please phone 020 8549 6000 for information.

Day Centres

There are day centres for older people at: Raleigh House
(Age Concern) 14 Nelson Road
New Malden 020 8942 8256, Email dcadmin@ageconcernkingston.org
Newent House
(Age Concern) 8-10 Browns Road
Surbiton 020 8942 8256
Murray House
Acre Road
Kingston KT2 6EE  020 8547 2887
Milaap, Murray House
Acre Road
Kingston KT2 6EE  020 8547 2887
Riverside Club 33-35 Uxbridge Road
Kingston 020 8398 0828
Alfriston Berrylands Road
Berrylands 020 8399 4289
Hobkirk
(Social Services) 109 Blagdon Road
New Malden 020 8547 6558
Newent
(Social Services) Newent House
Browns Road
Surbiton 020 8547 6845
The Bradbury Active Age Centre (Age Concern)
37b Grange Road
Kingston upon Thames KT1 2RA
Tel 020 8549 1230, Email bradbury@ageconcernkingston.org

for more details visit Facilities for Disabled People

Famous people : Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt ( October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919) was the 26th President of the United States of America (1901–1909). He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity.^[3] He was a leader of the Republican Party and founder of the short-lived Progressive ("Bull Moose") Party of 1912. Before becoming President, he held offices at the city, state, and federal levels. Roosevelt's achievements as a naturalist, explorer, hunter, author, and soldier are as much a part of his fame as any office he held as a politician.
Born into a wealthy family in New York City, Roosevelt was a sickly child who suffered from asthma and stayed at home studying natural history. To compensate for his physical weakness, he embraced a strenuous life. Home-schooled, he became an eager student of nature. He attended Harvard College, where he studied biology, boxed and developed an interest in naval affairs. In 1881, one year out of Harvard, he was elected to the New York State Assembly, where he became a leader of the reform faction of his Republican party (the "GOP"). His The Naval War of 1812 (1882) established his professional reputation as a serious historian; he wrote numerous books on hunting, the outdoors, and current political issues, as well as frontier history. In 1884, his wife and his mother died on the same day. He left politics and went to the frontier, becoming a rancher in the "Badlands" in the Dakotas. Returning home, he ran for mayor in 1886, finishing third with 60,000 votes. He later gained fame by taking vigorous charge of the city police. At the national level, he was a leader in civil service reform. The Spanish–American War broke out in 1898 while Roosevelt was, effectively, running the Department of the Navy. He promptly resigned and formed the Rough Riders – a volunteer cavalry regiment that fought in Cuba. The war hero was elected governor in 1898 and in 1900 was nominated for vice president. He successfully energized the GOP base as a highly visible campaigner to reelect President William McKinley on a platform of high tariffs, the gold standard, imperialism, prosperity at home and victory abroad.
In 1901, President William McKinley was assassinated and Roosevelt became President at the age of 42; he remains the youngest president.^[4] Roosevelt attempted to move the Republican Party (GOP) toward Progressivism, including trust busting and increased regulation of businesses. Roosevelt coined the phrase "Square Deal" to describe his domestic agenda, emphasizing that the average citizen would get a fair share under his policies. As an outdoorsman and naturalist, he promoted the conservation movement. On the world stage, Roosevelt's policies were characterized by his slogan, "Speak softly and carry a big stick". Roosevelt was the force behind the completion of the Panama Canal; sent the Great White Fleet on a world tour to demonstrate American power; and negotiated an end to the Russo-Japanese War, for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize.^[5]
Roosevelt promoted his friend William Howard Taft for the 1908 nomination. He toured Africa and Europe. On his return in 1910 he broke bitterly with President Taft on issues of progressivism and personalities. In the 1912 election Roosevelt tried and failed to block Taft's renomination. He launched the Bull Moose Party that called for far-reaching progressive reforms. He lost to Democrat Woodrow Wilson, as the Taft conservatives gained control of the Republican party for decades to come. Roosevelt led a major expedition to the Amazon jungles but contracted diseases which ruined his health. He died relatively young at the age of 60. Roosevelt has consistently been ranked by scholars as one of the greatest U.S. Presidents.