Disability related expenses (DREs)
Disability Related Expenditure (DRE) is money you spend because of your disability or health condition.
These are extra costs that you would not have if you did not have your disability.
When the Council looks at how much you can afford to pay towards your care, we may take these extra costs into account.
Why we ask about DRE
People with disabilities often have higher living costs.
The Care Act 2014 says people should be able to use their disability benefits to meet disability-related needs.
This means we will ask about any extra costs you have when we complete a financial assessment.
Evidence we need
We will ask for proof of the costs, such as:
- receipts
- bills
- invoices
- bank statements
If the cost happens regularly, we will need enough evidence to show it is ongoing.
Examples of DRE
The following costs may be considered:
- community alarms or telecare services
- specialist equipment linked to your disability
- day or night care not provided by the Council or NHS
- specialist washing products
- extra food costs because of a medical condition
- special clothing or footwear
- extra bedding because of a health condition
- higher heating or water bills caused by your disability
- help with cleaning, housework or gardening where needed because of your disability
- repairs, maintenance or hire of disability equipment
This is not a full list. We may consider other reasonable costs if they are directly related to your disability.
Who can get DRE?
We normally look at DRE if you receive:
- Attendance Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) daily living component
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) care component
To be included, the cost must:
- be paid by you
- be more than a normal everyday cost
- be needed because of your disability
Costs we do not normally include. These are usually treated as normal living costs:
- food and drink
- everyday clothing and shoes
- rent or mortgage payments
- home insurance
- standard gas, electricity and water bills
- furniture and carpets
- household appliances
- bedding, crockery and kitchen equipment
- normal car costs such as fuel, tax and insurance
- TV, phone and internet services
- pet costs
- holidays and short breaks
Special circumstances
Sometimes we may allow extra DRE if it would help prevent serious financial hardship or reduce the risk of harm to you or your carer.
If you disagree with the decision
If you think we have not included the right amount of DRE, you can ask for a review.
Write to your Finance Officer and explain:
- why you think the decision is wrong
- what costs should be included
- any evidence that supports your request
In summary
DRE is the extra money you spend because of your disability. If you can show evidence of these costs, we may take them into account when calculating how much you pay towards your care.