If you receive disability-related benefits, you may be able to get extra help with costs caused by your disability as part of your social care financial assessment. This is called Disability Related Expenditure (DRE).
This is only for costs that the Council does not already pay for.
DRE only applies to non-residential financial assessments for people receiving a community care service, such as:
- Day care
- Home care
- Direct Payments
DRE does not apply if you are in residential care.
DRE may be included in your financial assessment if:
- The cost is needed to meet your specific disability related or medical need
- That need is not being met by the Council
- The cost is not similar to what most people would pay
- The cost can be verified - receipts for any costs for DRE will be requested at the time of your financial assessment
We may ask you to provide evidence, such as:
- Receipts
- Invoices
- Other proof of the cost.
Providing evidence helps us make sure the allowance is fair and accurate.
Wigan Council has developed DRE guide amounts, as shown in the table below, to help you understand some of the more recognised DRE items, with associated indications of reasonable costs. This is used to help us work out DRE allowances in your financial assessment.
These are example costs we may allow. Youcan still tell us about your own costs.
Home and daily living
| Item | Additional information | Evidence | Amount |
|---|
| Basic gardening |
Based on average costs over the year (taking into account different seasons) |
Receipts, bank statements, or bills |
Up to a maximum of £6.74 |
| Private domestic help (e.g. cleaner) |
We will allow up to 3 hours per week, or the actual weekly cost – whichever is lower. If you live as a couple, we will count half of the cost |
Receipts or bills |
£12.71 per hour |
| Private help with shopping/ online shopping |
|
Receipts or bills |
Up to a maximum of £5.62 |
| Hair washing |
Actual costs of washing and drying where you are unable to wash your own hair |
Receipts or bills |
Up to a maximum of £5.62 |
Health and personal care
| Item | Additional Information | Evidence | Weekly Amount |
|---|
| Additional bedding |
Additional costs for frequent replacement (e.g. incontinence), averaged over one year |
Receipts |
Up to a maximum of £2.05 |
| Additional clothing and footwear |
Additional clothing/ footwear and frequent replacements due to additional wear and tear caused by disability |
Receipts |
Up to a maximum of £5.62 |
| Additional laundry |
If you need to wash clothes more often because of your condition |
Receipts |
£5.62 |
| Incontinence protection products |
NHS Incontinence pads are provided by the NHS |
Receipts
In cases of doubt, SW/OT to confirm if these costs can be taken into account |
Gloves £2.24
Kylie Sheets £7.85 |
| Replacement mattress |
Based on actual cost, averaged over 12 to 24 months depending on cost |
Receipts |
Actual Cost |
Equipment
| Item | Additional Information | Evidence | Weekly Amount |
|---|
| Community alarm system |
Only included if this is paid for privately |
Bills or bank statements |
Actual cost up to a maximum of £5.93 |
| Equipment |
Equipment examples include stair lift, specialist chair, wheelchair, powered bed, turning bed |
Receipts Support Plan or confirmation from SW/OT
In cases of doubt, SW/OT to confirm if disability related requirement |
Equipment costs under £100, averaged over 1 year. £100 - £1999, purchased over previous 12 months, averaged over 2 years
£2000 +, purchased over previous 5 years, averaged over 5 years |
| Equipment maintenance |
Only applicable if not maintained by Adult Social Care or Health Equipment maintenance would be relevant to the items listed above |
Receipts, bank statements, or bills |
Actual cost |
Travel and utilities
| Item | Additional information | Evidence | Weekly amount |
|---|
Communication
needs |
Telephony is considered an everyday living expense, unless this can be proven linked to a disability and is detailed on the Support Plan or verified by SW/OT |
Receipts or bills
Support Plan or confirmation from SW / OT |
|
Transport /
Fuel costs |
Transport costs can be considered if costs are not being met by the Council and expenditure is in excess of the mobility component of DLA / PIP Any additional costs above everyday expenditure or the mobility element would need to be evidenced over a 2-month period, be related to a disability and verified in the Support Plan/confirmed by your SW / OT. The full amount may not be considered if transport can be arranged cheaper |
Minimum of 4 receipts over a 2-month period
Confirmation of appointments and/or costs detailed on Support Plan, or confirmation from SW/OT |
|
Additional heating
or water |
If using Oxygen, your electricity provider will offer a discounted rate heating costs, or metered costs of water, compared against average costs for the area and housing type. See the table below for further information on the national guidelines for heating costs |
Bills covering the previous 12 months |
Actual costs averaged over 1 year, minus the annual average amounts |
Heating costs
If your energy bills are higher than the average, because of your disability, we may count the extra amount. Average costs are shown in the table below:
Heating costs
| Figures for 2026/2027 | Estimated average annual dual fuel energy bill |
|---|
| Low: 1-2 bedrooms |
£1,271.09 |
| Medium: 3-4 bedrooms |
£1,757.50 |
| High: 5 plus bedrooms |
£2,471.31 |
If you can show that your costs are higher than the average costs because of your situation, we may include them.
A manager will review your case and decide if the extra costs can be allowed.
In more complex cases, a senior manager may need to make the final decision.
A DRE will not be made for the following:
- General items or services required for daily living, which would be used by most people
- Holidays
- Lifestyle choices (e.g. Sky TV, meals out)
- Loans including hire purchase and catalogue debts
- Normal food and shopping bills including meals at home and meals at day centres
- Normal household expenses e.g. standard utility bills, telephone bills, TV licence
- Items purchased privately that are available for free on the NHS
- Medical/chemist items (such as vitamins and supplements) which are prescribed by a GP, and can be obtained for free on prescription
- The difference between the actual cost and the lower cost alternative where we consider the lower cost alternative is reasonable. For example, if we consider it reasonable for an item to have been purchased at a lower cost than the actual cost of purchase, we will take into account the lower cost as a DRE
- Equipment purchased through a Disabled Facilities Grant or provided free of charge through Adult Services or the NHS
- Home improvements and replacement furniture due to wear and tear
- Privately arranged care not deemed as required by your Social Worker or Occupational Therapist and in addition to the care arranged in your support plan.
The above guide indicates what form of evidence you should keep when claiming allowances for disability related items or services. For most items, you will be expected to keep receipts as proof of purchase, or bills for services such as utilities (e.g. gas, electricity).
If you are unable to produce receipts for items of DRE you wish to claim as an allowance in your financial assessment, we will use our discretion to determine the reasonableness of the expenditure.
If you require further information, please contact:
Wigan Council Financial Assessments Team