Beyond the ordinary

What are Direct Payments?

Direct Payments are funds provided by your local authority under the Care Act 2014. They enable disabled people to arrange and manage their own support, rather than receiving services arranged by the council.

Who is eligible?

You may be eligible if you:

• Have a physical, neurological, psychiatric, sensory, or medical disability

• Have an assessed need identified through a Care Act assessment

• Already receive Direct Payments, or could request them from your local authority

How to apply

1. During your Care Act assessment, explain clearly:

   • How your disability affects your day-to-day life

   • The specific tasks an assistance dog would be trained to perform

2. Link the training to the outcomes it could help you achieve, such as:

   • “I can leave the house safely and independently.”

   • “I need fewer hours of support.”

3. Submit:

   • A written quote for the training

   • A brief explanation of why the training is necessary

   • Good Karma Assistance Dogs CIC can provide both a quote and a supporting letter explaining your needs.

If your application is approved, you may be able to use Direct Payments to fund the training.

What is a Personal Health Budget?

A Personal Health Budget (PHB) is NHS funding for people with ongoing health needs. It is managed by your local Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Who may be eligible?

You may be eligible if you:

• Have a long-term medical condition

• Need ongoing care, management, or monitoring

• Could benefit from preventative or supportive interventions

A PHB may be particularly suitable for funding:

• Medical alert dogs

• Seizure alert and response dogs

• Assistance dogs for conditions such as POTS, dysautonomia, diabetes, or PTSD

How to apply

• Speak to your GP, consultant, or care coordinator

• Request a PHB assessment

• Provide evidence that assistance dog training can:

  • Improve health outcomes

  • Reduce crisis events or reliance on hospital care

PHB funding is flexible and may cover assistance dog training in part or in full.

For children and young people, assistance dog training may be funded through education or disability-related support.

Possible routes include:

• Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

• Disability support budgets

• Local authority children’s services

This is most common where an assistance dog supports:

• Autism

• ADHD

• Epilepsy

• Emotional regulation or safety awareness

The key is demonstrating how the dog supports:

• Access to education

• Emotional regulation in school settings

• Reduced risk and increased independence

While not guaranteed, some clients successfully combine grants with other funding routes.

Possible sources include:

• Disability-focused charities

• Condition-specific charities

• Local community trusts

• Employer or union support funds

These often work best:

• Alongside Direct Payments or PHBs

• For partial funding or specific training phases