Grants

Display published date: Yes

The MS Society can give grants towards items you may need as a result of your MS, if there is no health or social services funding available.

We can help with things like:

home and car adaptations
mobility aids, wheelchairs and other specialised equipment
driving lessons for a person with MS or their carer
short breaks and respite care
activities for adult carers, including hobbies or courses
grants for young carers to help with things like music lessons, school trips and sports equipment

To find out more about financial assistance from the MS Society, contact your local branch or the grants team at the MS Society’s national office in London on 020 8438 0700.

If you live in Scotland, contact the grants team in Edinburgh on 0131 335 4050.

Who is eligible?

For regular grants:

If you have more than £16,000 in savings, we can’t offer you a grant. If you have more than £8,000 in savings we’ll ask you to contribute towards the cost of the item.

Your spouse or partner’s savings are included in these limits.

For a short break or activity grant:

If you have more than £23,000 in savings, we can’t offer you a grant.

How to apply for a grant

Send your application form and supporting information to your local branch, where trained volunteers will look at your application confidentially.

If the branch can’t give a grant for the full amount, and you can’t make up the difference yourself, they may send your application to the grants teams in London or Edinburgh. They will consider a top-up grant.

The teams can also advise you on other sources of funding that may be available to you.

Will I get a grant?

This depends on whether you meet the eligibility requirements, on the item you need and the amount you need.

There are certain things we can’t help with, including:

something you’ve already paid for, booked or ordered
any ongoing or long-term costs, including living costs and bills
help paying for treatments
costs associated with debt (it may be possible to for us to help with Bankruptcy and Debt Relief Order fees in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but not in Scotland)

If you have any doubt whether you are eligible for a grant, or any questions, please contact your local branch or the grants teams in London or Edinburgh.

Grants for holidays and respite care

The MS Society’s new Short Breaks and Activities fund enables people affected by MS to access the sort of break they choose, whatever that may be.

We will consider grants for:

Respite care, either in the home or at a care centre or similar
An activity (or series of activities), short break or holiday for someone with MS and/ or their carer/ family
Salary costs for a professional carer needed to help someone with MS, or their carer, have a break either in their home or elsewhere
Travel, accommodation and disability equipment hire costs linked to having a break
Some alternative or complementary therapies

For more information and to apply, get in touch with the team in London on 020 8438 0700 (if you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland) or Edinburgh on 0131 335 4050 (if you live in Scotland).

Page tagged with: