Family Fund definition of severe disability

As the Family Fund has limited funding, and is unable to help all families caring for a disabled child or young person it has its own definition of severe disability.

To meet the Family Fund definition of severe disability, children and young people must have additional complex needs, or have a serious or life threatening illness.

AND
There must be evidence that the child’s additional needs impact on family’s choices and their opportunity to enjoy ordinary life; and the degree of planning and support required to meet their needs is much greater than that usually required to meet the needs of children and young people.

AND
They must require a high level of support in three or more of the following areas:

• The physical environment
• Education
• Communication
• Access to social activities
• Personal care, supervision and vigilance
• Specialist resources, including Information and Communications Technology, required
• Medical or therapeutic treatment and condition management

AND
The child’s condition must be long term or life limiting. By long term we mean lasting or likely to last 12 months or more.

If you are in doubt as to whether your child or young person would meet the Fund's definition, please do complete an application form for us to review.

When we receive an application, we check that it meets all our eligibility criteria. Apply now!

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