The following information aims to help you understand the different types of financial support that may be available to you. It also has details of other organisations and services that may be able to help.
Can I get financial help?
Osteoporosis itself does not cause any pain or other symptoms. This means it does not automatically qualify as a disability, or make you eligible for disability-related financial support.
But you may be able to get financial help if:
- your broken bones make it hard for you to do everyday tasks or get around
- you cannot work because of your broken bones
- you're caring for someone with broken bones.
Whether you can claim certain benefits will depend on your state pension age. This is the earliest age you can start getting your state pension.
Visit gov.ukto find out your state pension age.
You may want to use the free benefits calculator from charity Turn2Us. It can help you work out what benefits you could claim.
I'm under the state pension age – what benefits could I get?
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
This can help with living costs if you have a condition or disability that affects how much you can work.
ESA also gives you support to get back into work, if you're able to.
You can claim ESA if you have:
- worked as an employee or been self-employed,and
- paid enough National Insurance contributions.
You can find out about National Insurance, and whether you have paid enough contributions to claim ESA on gov.uk.
Visit gov.ukto find out more about ESA, including who is eligible and how to make a claim.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
This can help with extra living costs linked to daily living or mobility if you:
- are 16 or over, and under state pension age,and
- have a long-term condition or disability,and
- find it hard to do certain everyday tasks or get around because of your condition,and
- expect these difficulties to last for at least 12 months from when they started, unless you might have 12 months or less to live,and
- live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
There are two different parts of PIP - daily living and mobility. There are also two different rates. The amount you get will depend on the level of help you need.
Visit gov.ukto find out more about PIP, including who is eligible and how to make a claim.
If you live in Scotland, you'll need to apply for Adult Disability Payment instead of PIP.
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
You can get Statutory Sick Pay if you're too ill to work. It's paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks.Some employers also have their own sick pay scheme. Check your employment contract to find out.
If you're still too ill to work after 28 weeks, there may be other benefits you can get.
Visit gov.ukto find out more, including who is eligible and how to claim.
Universal Credit
This can help with living costs if you:
- are over 18,and
- are on a low income, out of work or cannot work,and
- have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments.
How much Universal Credit you get will depend on lots of things, including:
- your age
- whether you live with a partner
- whether you have a disability or health condition
- whether you care for someone for over 35 hours a week who receives a disability-related benefit.
Visit gov.ukto find out more, including who is eligible and how to make a claim.
I'm over the state pension age – what benefits could I get?
Attendance Allowance
This can help with extra living costs, if you:
- have a physical or mental disability,and
- need help caring for yourself or need someone to care for you,and
- have needed help for at least six months, unless you might have 12 months or less to live.
There are two different rates of Attendance Allowance. The rate you get will depend on the level of help you need.
Visit gov.ukto find out more, including who is eligible and how to claim.
Pension Credit
Pension Credit can help with your living and housing costs if you're on a low income.
Pension Credit is different from your State Pension.
You may be able to get more money if you're a carer or severely disabled.
Visit gov.ukto find out more, including who is eligible and how to claim.
I care for a loved one – what benefits could I get?
Carer's Allowance
You may be able to get Carer's Allowance if:
- you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week,and
- the person you care for gets certain benefits.
Visit gov.ukto find out more about Carer's Allowance, including who is eligible and how to make a claim.
If you live in Scotland, you may also be able to get Carer's Allowance Supplement.
Carer's Credit
You may be able to get Carer's Credit if you care for someone for at least 20 hours a week.
Carer's Credit is a National Insurance credit. You won't receive any money yourself – instead, it helps fill in gaps in your National Insurance record while you're not working. This means you can be a carer without it affecting your state pension entitlement.
You do not need to apply for Carer's Credit if you get Carer's Allowance – you'll automatically get credits.
Visit gov.ukto find out more.
Is there any other help available?
Blue Badge
Blue Badges help drivers with a disability or health condition park closer to their destination.
A Blue Badge is free in Wales and costs up to:
- £10 in England and Northern Ireland
- £20 in Scotland.
Blue Badges usually last up to three years.
Visit gov.ukto find out more, including who is eligible and how to claim.
Council tax reduction
You may be able to pay less council tax if you're on a low income.
Find your local councilto learn more about council tax reduction, including who is eligible and how to claim.
Food banks
Food banks may be able to support you with emergency food. You need to be referred with a food voucher. Your local food bank can tell you which local community organisations are able to refer you.
Trussell Trust can help you find your local food bank.
Free or discounted TV licence
You can get a free TV licence if you are over 75 and you:
- get Pension Credit,or
- live with your partner who gets Pension Credit.
You can get a discounted TV licence if you live in a residential care home, supported or sheltered housing and you are:
- over 60 and retired,or
- disabled.
Visit gov.ukto find out more, including who is eligible and how to apply.
Grants
Charities and trusts may be able to support you with a grant. You might receive money, products or services. You don't need to pay them back.
Each grant-giving fund will have its own rules for who can apply.
Turn2Us have agrants search to help you find local grants and schemes you might be able to apply for.
Help with energy bills
Your energy supplier may be able to support you with paying your energy bills. You might be able to agree a payment plan or get 'emergency credit' if you use a prepayment meter.
Contact your energy supplier to learn more about the support they offer.
Ofgem has information on how to find your gas or electricity supplier.
Housing Benefit
Housing Benefit can help with your housing costs if you are out of work, on a low income or getting benefits. It is being replaced by Universal Credit. But you can still make a claim if you:
- have reached state pension age,or
- are in supported, sheltered or temporary housing.
Visit gov.ukto find out more, including who is eligible and how to make a claim.
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB)
You may be able to get Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit if you become ill or disabled because of an accident or disease at work.
The amount of money you get depends on your situation.
Visit gov.ukto find out more.
Motability Scheme
The Motability Scheme lets people use their mobility allowance to lease a car, wheelchair-accessible vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair.
You will only be eligible if you receive a mobility allowance as part of certain benefits.
Visit Motability to find out more.
National Databank
The National Databank provides free mobile data, texts and calls. You may be eligible if you are over 18 and on a low income.
You also need to:
- have little or no internet access at home,or
- have little or no internet access when you're away from home, or
- be unable to afford your existing monthly contract or top-up.
Visit Good Things Foundationto find out more.
Social Fund
The Social Fund is a government scheme. It helps people with costs that are hard to meet on a low income.
Social Fund benefits include:
- budgeting loans to help pay for things like furniture or household items, clothes or footwear, rent in advance, costs linked to moving house, travelling costs, and maintenance, improvements or security for your home
- cold weather payments if the temperature in your area is – or is likely to be – zero degrees or below for seven days in a row
- funeral expenses payments if you're arranging a funeral
- winter fuel payments to help pay your heating bills if you've reached state pension age
- Sure Start Maternity Grant to help towards the costs of having a child.
Value Added Tax (VAT) Relief
You usually pay a tax when you buy goods or services. This tax is called Value Added Tax (VAT).
You may not have to pay VAT when you buy or hire certain things because of your disability. These items include:
- equipmentsuch as medical appliances, wheelchairs, mobility scooters, hearing aids, vision aids, specialist beds and chairs, stairlifts, lifting equipment, and computer equipment, parts and accessories
- telecare such as emergency alarm call systems
- goods that are designed only for disabledpeople.
You won't receive any money yourself and you won't be able to claim a VAT refund - instead, the supplier will not charge you VAT.
Visit gov.ukto find out more about VAT relief.
Top tips for claiming benefits
- Do your research and have all documents ready before you apply. Each benefit has its own process and rules you need to meet. You may have to show evidence of your identity, income and savings. You will also need your National Insurance number.
- Keep a diary of how your broken bones affect your day-to-day life if you're claiming a disability-related benefit such as Personal Independence Payment or Attendance Allowance. You'll need to give lots of detail on the form so the assessor can understand your needs. For example, it may be helpful to make a note of all your hospital visits or the activities you can't do because of your condition.
- Benefit claim forms can be long and complicated. If you need help filling out your form, it is worth checking for any local advice services that can help. Citizens Advice has a 'Help to Claim' line, which can help you apply for Universal Credit. You can also apply for Pension Credit over the phone.
- Check if your claim can be backdated and, if so, by how long.
- If your benefits claim is refused, you may be able to challenge the decision by asking for an explanation, having the decision looked at again, or appealing against it. Contact a benefits adviser if you need advice. Advice Local can help you find a benefits adviser.
- Report any change of circ*mstances while you're on benefits because it may affect your entitlement.
Content reviewed: April 2023
Useful contacts
We have included the main types of financial help that may be particularly relevant for people with osteoporosis. You can find full details of the support available on gov.uk.
We've also created a list of other organisations and websites that may have useful information or services.
