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Help with choosing and trying out equipment

If you're unsure what equipment you may need, the article 'Equipment for use about the home' may be a useful introduction to the types of equipment available.

• Equipment for use about the home

Occupational therapists

Occupational therapists can give specific advice about individual items of disability equipment. They can also be helpful if you've recently become disabled and are unsure what equipment you may need.

You can find an occupational therapist through the social services department of your local council. They can visit you at home and help you decide what equipment is right for your lifestyle.

• Occupational therapy
• Local councils

Trying out equipment before you buy

You should try out all equipment before you buy it. If you're considering buying an expensive item, ask to use the equipment for a trial period in your own home.

Help from the Disabled Living Foundation

The Disabled Living Foundation helps older and disabled people find equipment to enable them to live independently in their own homes. Their services include:

The foundation has also launched an online service to help choosing products around the bathroom, incuding baths, showers and items linked to personal care. The 'Bathing made easy' website provides free, impartial information on all products available in the UK.

• Disabled Living Foundation website Opens new window
• Bathing made easy website Opens new window

Help from Disabled Living Centres

Disabled Living Centres offer disabled people the chance to try out a wide range of equipment. They also offer free, independent advice about what products are available, how much they cost and where to get them.

Assist UK, which leads the UK-wide network of Disabled Living Centres, can give you up-to-date information about your nearest centre. The Assist UK website has an online search facility, or you can contact them by phone/textphone.

Telephone: 0870 770 2866

Textphone: 0870 770 5813

• Disabled Living Centres details - Assist UK website Opens new window

Help with buying equipment

Using direct payments to pay for equipment

If you're getting direct payments from your local council to arrange and pay for your own care and services, you may use the money in any way you want as long as it is to meet your assessed needs.

You may use direct payments to buy or hire disability equipment or to have equipment repaired and maintained.

If you plan to use direct payments to pay for equipment, find out whether you or the social services department of your local council will own the equipment and who will be responsible for maintaining it.

Always check with social services before you buy any large equipment, as local councils have to make sure you're using your direct payments to meet your assessed needs at a cost that the council considers reasonable.

If you want to buy a piece of equipment that is more expensive than the one your local council has agreed to pay for, you may be able to pay for it through a combination of direct payments and your own money. Talk to your local council before you do this, as different councils may have different policies.

• Direct payments - arranging your own care and services
• Local councils

Disabled Facilities Grants

Some large equipment may be classed as adaptations, which are the responsibility of the housing department of your local council. You may be entitled to a Disabled Facilities Grant to help pay for these.

• Disabled Facilities Grants - introduction

VAT relief on products and services for disabled people

Disabled people don't have to pay VAT when they buy equipment that has been designed for disabled people or when they have equipment adapted so they can use it.

There are strict conditions about what types of equipment qualify for VAT relief and who can buy equipment without paying VAT. Always ask the supplier whether the equipment qualifies for VAT relief before you buy it.

• VAT relief on products and services for disabled people

Hiring equipment instead of buying

You can often hire disability equipment, either instead of buying it or as a way of deciding whether the equipment is right for you before you buy it.

Some disability organisations keep a stock of equipment that they will loan out to members on a short-term basis.

• Specific needs contacts