Eligibility - who can apply?

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.

Applications are also subject to prioritisation.  We give priority to applicants who fall into the following goups.

Our first priority group is:

• If you are in work or self employed for at least 16 hours per week your application will be accepted so long as you meet the rules about who can apply to the ILF

Our second priority is:

• If you are in receipt of Income Support, Pension Guarantee Credit, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance, Income Related Employment and Support Allowance or have an income similar to Income Support level* even though you do not receive the benefit AND have a total care package which is expected to add up to at least the minimum package cost currently fixed at £500 per week**.

* Only once the financial information form is completed and returned to us, will we be able to tell if your income is close enough to Income Support levels for your application to be accepted. From 31 March 2009 people with income no more than 25% above income support level will be prioritised.

**£500 refers to the total cost of the care package, including Social Services and ILF funding and any personal contribution.

If you are not in one of the groups listed above, it is unlikely your application will be successful.

If you meet the eligibility criteria and wish to apply you can download an application form.  Click here for more information.