NAFAO guide to Disability Related Expenditure 2024-25
Heating allowances
Annual inflationary update based on RPI Fuel index for November 2023. At this date fuel prices had decreased by 23.1% in the last 12 months.
The figures are obtained from Consumer price inflation tables - Office for National Statistics from the download "consumer price inflation detailed reference tables”. The figures are found in Table 41 detailed reference tables - % change over 12 months.
| Figures for 2024-2025 | Standard | N East / E Midlands | N West / W Midlands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single person - Flat/Terrace | £2,123.77 | £2,302.16 | £2,571.57 |
| Couple – Flat/Terrace | £2,801.99 | £3,034.24 | £3,389.15 |
| Single person – Semi Detached | £2,255.73 | £2,445.22 | £2,731.39 |
| Couples – Semi Detached | £2,977.92 | £3,220.12 | £3,597.26 |
| Single – Detached | £2,744.38 | £2,972.95 | £3,325.97 |
| Couples – Detached | £3,617.69 | £3,919.77 | £4,379.51 |
Alternative Heating allowance
Ofgem published annual estimates of average energy usage by house size, which can then be extrapolated to find the average energy bills by house size.
The estimate is calculated by multiplying the kWh use by the current average unit rates and adding in the current average standing charges (correct at 23 February 2024 - Rates effective 1 April 2024)
- Gas 6.04p per kWh
- Gas 31.43p per day (£114.72 per annum) standing charge
- Electricity 24.5p per kWh
- Electricity 60.1 per day (£219.37 per annum) standing charge
| Number of bedrooms | Gas usage (kWh) | Electricity usage (kWh) | Estimated average annual dual fuel energy bill | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 1 – 2 | 7,500 | 1,800 | £1228.09 |
| Medium | 3 – 4 | 11,500 | 2,700 | £1762.19 |
| High | 5+ | 17,000 | 4,100 | £2437.39 |
Income / disregards
Mandatory minimum income disregards for non-residential care and support are published in the Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) Regulations 2014, replacing fairer charging allowances. Rates for 2024/25 can be found at www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-care-charging-for-local-authorities-2024-to-2025/social-care-charging-for-care-and-support-local-authority-circular
Residential care
Personal Expenses Allowance - £30.15
Single Adults
| Allowance | 18 to 24 | 25 to Pension Age | Pension Age | Lone Parent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not entitled to any premium | £87.65 | £110.60 | £228.70 | £110.60 |
| Entitled to CP | £140.00 | £162.95 | £281.05 | £162.95 |
| Entitled to DP | £136.45 | £159.40 | N/A | £159.40 |
| Entitled to DP + CP | £188.80 | £211.75 | N/A | £211.75 |
| Entitled to DP + EDP | £160.30 | £183.25 | N/A | £183.25 |
| Entitled to DP + EDP + CP | £212.65 | £235.60 | N/A | £235.60 |
Couples
| Allowance | Under Pension Age | Pension Age * |
|---|---|---|
| Not entitled to any premium | £86.85 | £174.60 |
| Entitled to CP | £139.20 | £226.95 |
| Entitled to DP | £121.65 | N/A |
| Entitled to DP + CP | £174.00 | N/A |
| Entitled to DP + EDP | £138.80 | N/A |
| Entitled to DP + EDP + CP | £191.15 | N/A |
** Where one partner is over state pension credit age the Pension Age MIG applies whether the person being assessed is under or over that age.
Children
For each child the adult is responsible for that is a member of the same household an additional allowance of £101.25
Non means tested disability benefits
Attendance Allowance - High £108.55 - Lower £72.65
DLA Care - High £108.55 - Middle £72.65 - Lower £28.70
PiP (Daily Living Costs) - Enhanced £108.55 - Standard £72.65
If local policy on DLA/AA disregard applies on higher rate DLA/AA, disregard difference between higher and lower rate £35.90, unless in receipt of both day and night care.
DLA or PiP Mobility Components - Disregard fully
Armed forces and war pension payments to veterans
War pensions and Guaranteed Income Payments under the War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation schemes are disregarded in full apart from constant attendance allowance.
Armed forces and war pension payments to war widows and widowers
£10 a week disregard of War Widows and War Widowers pension, survivors Guaranteed Income Payments from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, Civilian War Injury pension, any War Disablement pension paid to non-veterans and payments to victims of National Socialist persecution (paid under German or Austrian law)
Assets
Capital below £14,250 fully disregarded.
Tariff Income of: £1 per week for every £250 (or part of £250) above £14,250 and up to £23,250 (if the upper capital limit is applied.). N.B. These are the minimum limits required by guidance and councils can set higher.
Expenses
Mortgage payments/Rent - allow full amount less any means tested benefit paid
Council Tax - allow full amount less any Local Council Tax reduction applied
Costs of disability
Figures were only attached to fuel costs in the FC Guidance and the following are recommended allowances for possible identified items and examples of reasonable evidence requirements prepared by NAFAO. A 3.9% uplift has been applied based on the November 2023 CPI rate.
| Item | Amount | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Community Alarm System | Actual cost , if reasonable | Bills from or payments to provider |
| Privately arranged care Private domestic support | Actual cost where this is not provided as part of the care plan but the amount is reasonable and necessary for their care and support | Evidence of employment arrangement and/or legally correct payments to an employee under UK employment and tax law. Where agency arranged evidence of billing and payment. |
| Specialist washing powder or laundry | £4.74 per week | The assessment or care and support plan may identify a need. If not evidence from other sources and consideration of the nature and impact of any health problem or disability may provide a guide. Identify more than 4 loads per week |
| Special clothing or footwear/additional wear and tear to clothing and footwear. Additional cost for bedding |
Reasonable amount for extra cost caused by disability | The assessment or care and support plan may identify a need. If not evidence from other sources, which may include medical evidence, and consideration of the nature and the impact of any health problem or disability may provide a guide. Evidence of purchase and payment. |
| Internet access | Reasonable amount for additional cost due to disability | Evidence that costs are higher due to disability. Evidence of purchase and payment. |
| Transport costs necessitated by illness or disability | Reasonable amounts over and above the mobility component of PiP or DLA. Where support with costs are available from other sources but have not been used this can be taken into account in considering reasonableness. For example transport to hospital appointments or council provided transport to a day centre. |
Evidence of payment and purchase |
| Special dietary needs | Reasonable amount where demonstrated above average dietary costs | The assessment or care and support plan may identify a need. If not evidence from other sources, which may include medical evidence, and consideration of the nature and the impact of any health problem or disability may provide a guide. Details of special purchases, including evidence of payment |
| Gardening | Based on individual costs of garden maintenance | As privately arranged care |
| Wheelchair | £4.94 per week manual £12.00 per week powered |
Evidence of purchase. No allowance if equipment provided free of charge |
| Powered bed | Actual cost divided by 500 (10 yr life) up to a maximum of £5.46 per week | Evidence of purchase if available |
| Turning bed | Actual cost divided by 500 up to a maximum of £9.55 per week | Evidence of purchase if available |
| Powered reclining chair | Actual cost divided by 500 up to a maximum of £4.33 per week | Evidence of purchase if available |
| Stair-lift | Actual cost divided by 500 up to a maximum of £7.71 per week | Evidence of purchase without DFG input |
| Hoist | Actual cost divided by 500 up to a maximum of £3.79 per week | Evidence of purchase without DFG input |