The Independent Living Fund (I.L.F.) will help if you need extra help to do activities, care during the night, or support in your own home.

What is Independent Living Fund (I.L.F.)?
The Independent Living Fund is a national resource giving financial support to enable people with disabilities to choose to live in the community rather than in residential care.

The Independent Living Fund awards are in the form of regular four-weekly payments to individuals, which are used to buy personal care in the community. Those people eligible for I.L.F. may use care agencies or employ personal assistants, but may not employ relatives who live in the same house.

How can I receive I.L.F.?
As a guide, to qualify for the Independent Living (2006) Fund, you must:

• be in paid employment of 16hrs or more.
• be over 16 and under 65 years old.
• be receiving the care component of the Disability Living Allowance at the highest rate.
• live alone or with people who cannot fully meet your care needs.
  you and/or your partner must have savings/capital of less than £23,000.
• receive at least £340 net worth of services and/or cash from your local authority each week
• be capable of independent living with support in the community for at least six months

How will I use I.L.F.?
Any award from the Independent Living (2006) Fund must be used to employ one or more people as care assistants, a care agency of your choice or a combination of both.

The money cannot be used:

• To pay for things such as home adaptations, equipment or transport
• to pay for the wages of a personal assistant who lives in the same house as you.