Independent Living Funds (ILF)

The Independent Living Fund provide discretionary cash payments directly to disabled people so they can purchase care from an agency or pay the wages of a privately employed Personal Assistant (PA). This support enables disabled people to choose to live in the community rather than in residential care.

Awards are made in the form of regular four-weekly payments to individuals, which are used
to buy personal care and domestic assistance. Recipients may use care agencies or employ
personal assistants, but may not employ relatives who live in the same house.

The ILF was originally established in 1988, intended to run for 5 years. When the original
Fund closed in 1993, two new Funds were created. The Extension Fund was created to administer the payments of people who applied between 1988 and March 1993 and
who continued to receive awards under the old rules. The 1993 Fund was created with slightly
different rules - mainly, the condition that Social Services should provide a weekly financial
contribution - to take on new applications.

At the time of going to print (March 2013) we understand that the Independent Living Fund (ILF) is well underway with developing its plans to transfer support for ILF users into the mainstream care and support system.

The Independent Living Fund changed their priorities from 1 May 2010 and will now no longer be accepting applications from people who are unemployed or work less than 16 hours per week. In order to safeguard existing users’ awards, the ILF will not be accepting any new applications.
At the time of going to print (March 2013) we understand that the Independent Living Fund (ILF) is well underway with developing its plans to transfer support for ILF users into the mainstream care and support system.

The Government announced in December 2012 that funding and responsibility for ILF users’ care and support would be passed to local authorities in England and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland from April 2015. In response to the announcement, the ILF has already written to inform its users and their representatives of the decision and commenced a wide programme of engagement to co-produce its plans with stakeholders.

For further information contact:

Independent Living Fund
Equinox House
Island Business Quarter
City Link
Nottingham NG2 4LA
Tel: 0845 601 8815 or 0115 945 0700
For general enquiries email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.dwp.gov.uk/ilf/