Welcome to Independent Living
Providing free information and advice for over 23 years.
Independent Living – the place for impartial information about products and services to help with mobility and independence.
Whoever you are – OT, physio or other health professional, family carer, individual with a disability, Independent Living can provide the advice you need.
Keep up-to-date with the latest information by subscribing for our free weekly newsletter. You can read the latest issue online here, and sign up for your own copy here.
If you are looking for products, the drop-down menu above will take you to a full range of aids to daily living, mobility and independence, grouped together in categories. Products for professional users, such as care home furniture, hoists, postural and pressure management systems, are similarly grouped. Just follow the links under “Independent Living Buyers Guide” or “Professional Buyers Guide”
News Centre
The newscentre, also linked from the menu above, includes case studies, new product focus, industry news, podcasts, guest blogs, and our newsletter archives. For advice on various aspects of living with a disability or caring for someone who cannot live independently, including information on benefits; legislation; keeping warm and well; fall prevention; and generally coping with being a carer, the Advice Centre is the place to look.
Independent Living Newsletter
Our weekly roundup of news highlights the latest developments of interest to health and social care professionals, family carers and disabled individuals, including new products and services, changes in legislation, etc. You can read the current and archived issues online here, and sign up to receive your own copy by email here
What's New
New WHILL R scooter extends TGA range For 35 years, TGA has been committed to providing mobility products of the highest standard to help their customers not just get by, [...]
Do Not Attempt Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Compassion in Dying has launched a new report, What people need from a DNACPR decision and discussion. Do Not Attempt Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) [...]
First-ever workforce strategy for occupational therapists A shortage of OTs is contributing to long waiting times for mobility equipment and home adaptations. So it is timely that the Royal College [...]
A study examining what people really want from digital care services and devices has identified the nine things they value most, but don’t always get. Social policy researcher, Dr Sarah [...]
DHSC supports innovation through Accelerating Reform Fund Users of adult social care services and unpaid carers will benefit from a £20 million boost, with the first allocation of money from [...]
What damage is being caused by plastic pollution? A new study into the effects of plastic pollution on mitochondria has just been published by Cambridge University Press. The meta-study reviewed [...]
Motability funding for SIA travel project SIA (Spinal Injuries Association) has been awarded a grant of £800,000 from the Motability Foundation to fund their ‘SCI Travel Confidence Project’. The two-year [...]
Mastering seating assessments for children and paediatric patients Independent Living subscriber Vivid Care has a useful webinar coming up next Tuesday, 26th March. Mastering Seating Assessments for children and paediatric [...]
Moving CP up the agenda in an election year Sadly, it remains the case that while children with cerebral palsy are relatively well supported, for adults the situation is much [...]
A growing need for new ways of working This post has been contributed by TACT (Trusted Assessor and Care Training) Many older and disabled people across the UK experience delays [...]
Carer’s Credit is an important benefit for any carer, as it helps fill gaps in the National Insurance record which come about when caring responsibilities prevent full-time work. It has [...]
Please note that new claims for Severe Disablement Allowance are not accepted – it has been replaced by Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). This page is for information purposes for [...]
Disabled Students Allowance – help with extra costs Students with a disability, mental or physical; long-term condition; or learning difficulty can apply for a Disabled Students’ Allowance to help with [...]
Widowed Parent’s Allowance has been replaced for new claimants by Bereavement Support Payment This benefit is dealt with by Job Centre Plus – you can find your local office here The [...]
Your social services department can arrange a short stay in a residential care or nursing home if it will help you or someone who cares for you. This may be [...]
What is Statutory Sick Pay? This benefit is paid by your employer. Any disputes are handled by HMRC. If you think you have been wrongly refused SSP, or the amount [...]
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is the benefit paid to people between 16 and 64 to help with the extra costs of living with a disability or long-term health condition. PIP [...]
Pension credit tops up low incomes for older people It is estimated that 850,000 pensioner households are not claiming the Pension Credit they are entitled to. According to the Department [...]
This benefit is dealt with by The Pension Service. What is the Over 80 Pension? This is for people aged 80 or over with little or no state pension. Can [...]
Jobseeker’s Allowance is dealt with by Job Centre Plus or Job Centre – you can find your local office here. There is a lot of information in this section. Use these quick [...]
