Benefits support
DC Action is part of an alliance of charities called Better Together for Healthy Marrow.
Thanks to National Lottery funding, we are able to provide our communities with access to a Benefits Advisor. This support is free for DC / TBD patients (and their families/carers) and is completely free of charge. Please note, one of our partner charities (The Aplastic Anaemia Trust) kindly hosts the registration pages for these services, just to reassure you that you are in the right place when you click through to make a booking.
You can find out more here https://super-rare.org/get-support/
Financial support
TBD patients may be able to access government and charity funding to help with travel costs associated with having the condition. You can find more information on this below.
Help with travel costs for NHS treatment
Depending on your income, you can get essential travel costs paid to and from a place where you receive certain types of NHS treatment. You may be entitled to this financial support if you are:
- Getting Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or the guarantee credit part of Pension Credit.
- If you are getting Working Tax Credit and/or Child Tax Credit, you may also be entitled to help, depending on your income.
You can read more about help with travel costs on the NHS Choices website here:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/healthcare-travel-costs-scheme-htcs/
If you need someone to travel with you for medical reasons, you can get their travel costs paid as well.
You can claim a refund of your travel costs by filling in form HC5 and giving it to the place you go to for NHS treatment. If you can’t afford to pay your travel costs in advance, you can ask for an advance payment. Alternatively, you may be able to get help from your local authority.
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/
If you are not in one of the categories listed above, you might still be able to get help with your travel costs on the grounds of low income. More information on this can be found here:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/nhs-low-income-scheme-lis/
Grants from Family Fund
Family Fund is a children’s charity for disabled children and their families. They provide grants for hospital transport.
You can find out more on their website: https://www.familyfund.org.uk/
Healthwatch
Healthwatch is an organisation that helps people get the best out of the NHS and other healthcare services. Their website has useful advice and information on funding to help with travel costs:
https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/advice-and-information/2024-11-18/do-you-need-help-travelling-nhs-services