Alternative Guide to NAFAO Disability Related Expenditure

 

Alternative to NAFAO calculations on DRE

 

Most people who have or need Social Care should be aware of disability related expenditure (DRE). You can find more info in our blog here: https://haloabletec.blogspot.com/2022/05/disability-related-expenditure-updated.html

 

People may be aware that a lot of DREs and what you are awarded, relies on calculations made by an organisation called National Association of Financial Assessment Officers. They provide guidance which is used by about 300 local authorities on what to give to people claiming DREs. Most of their calculations especially with regard to utilities are based on averages, and potentially outdated information.

 

Unfortunately, though a number of people have tried to contact them, they are locked up tighter than MI6, who at least have a free phone number. They do now have a leave message service on their website. Any one received a response?

 

The issue is for most people, is that the annual document they produce is not consulted, nor views of people taken into consideration.

 

Through this blog I want to go through some of the figures they use and why these aren't appropriate for people who use the care system these days.

 

Gas and Electric

NAFAO use national statistics charts to work out an average for prices. The issue here is there are only 818, 000 people use the care system, and a lot of those people  are in care homes so have no need of DRE.  For those who actually are claiming, are such a small number. There are 67.33 million people living in the UK. This number will hugely affect the national statistics and give a much higher average cost.  It should instead work out an average of the lowest percentile of usage to be more accurate. Taking into consideration costs of disability as identified by Scope: https://www.scope.org.uk/campaigns/extra-costs/disability-price-tag-2023/

 

One of the other issues I see is that there have been many recent judicial reviews, where the judges have repeatedly criticised and ruled against policies that do not look at individual circumstances and create general policies which authorities then stick to and won't budge on.

 

Here are just three such cases which I've summarised for easy reference:

 

Royal Borough of Windsor & Reading

https://haloabletec.blogspot.com/2024/03/disability-related-expenditure-case.html

 

Suffolk - https://haloabletec.blogspot.com/2022/07/simplifid-read-of-pre-judicial-review.html

 

Norfolk - https://haloabletec.blogspot.com/2020/12/lessons-from-norfolk-social-care.html

 

In this last case, many authorities have supposedly had alternative advice saying the case is wrongly decided and not adhering to its findings because it only applies in Norfolk.

 

Both these arguments, in my view, are wrong. All judicial reviews set what is known as precedent at a national level. This means other judges will follow this ruling until a much higher court has ruled differently. As this hasn't occurred, the decision  to whether you think it is right or wrong or what advice you've received is moot , the case still stands and can be used for argument purposes as correct at this time.

 

Personally and for most the cost of heating is a serious issue. I am non ambulant; I can just move my hands to type. This means I do not generate heat from moving, and for me, cold makes me susceptible to chest infections. My heating is on generally throughout winter at 18 Deg C. This isn't guesswork but based on advice from the government. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keep-warm-keep-well-leaflet-gives-advice-on-staying-healthy-in-cold-weather/top-tips-for-keeping-warm-and-well-this-winter

 

This states:

 

“Keep your home warm

 

You should heat your home to a temperature that is comfortable for you. Low indoor temperatures can have a serious impact on your health, especially if you have medical conditions or are older.

 

Simple changes can help to keep you and your home warm. These include:

 

• Try to heat rooms you spend a lot of time in, such as the living room or bedroom, to at least 18°C”

 

My advice would be contact your local suppliers and ask them what the local minimum cost is to heat your property is. Use this as a figure or calculate what the cost of heating your home would be for, say at least, eight months at the government's own advised temperature and ask for that information. 

 

Then add the additional bits below. I say local as we all know usage in the far north could be much higher than those living in the south. Temperature variations can make a big difference to your heating costs.

 

We keep hearing how health and care should be using technology more. It's no different here,  there are a number of sites now available such as below which will work out individual costs of items for you. Also available is the power usage and cost of any additional health and care equipment. For general usage see: https://smartmoneytools.co.uk/tools/energy-cost-calculator/ or

 

https://www.sust-it.net/energy-calculator.php, both of which are pretty simple to use.

 

Wet appliances

Washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers account for 14% of a typical

energy bill.

 

Using the above will give a clearer cost per wash, which you can use to say well due to my disabilities it costs say 12p per use for bed sheets and clothes x 52. This will give you a more accurate figure to claim.

 

Electric wheelchairs/ Mobility Scooters

For a large battery, for example at 24 volts and 50Ah, the costs come to a weekly charge of £0.58, monthly: £2.35, and annually: £28.22. 

https://www.surewise.com

 

Don't forget to ask for cost for servicing.  if purchased independently  add battery usage and maintenance costs via receipts.

 

NAFAO guide calculates wheelchair costs on a ten year basis, whereas the NHS own website says it lasts five years. Advice from the independent living page states- The wheelchair is expected to last five years, but if your clinical needs change in the meantime, you can ask to be reassessed.

 

 

CPAP

A CPAP machine which uses 40 watts of power and runs eight hours each night would consume: 40 watts x 8 hours, or 320 watt hours each day. So based on my usage for 12 hours a day;

Calculator available from RapidTables.com

 

Here's an article on the subject.

 

Running a CPAP used to cost approximately £5-a-month according to founder Kath's estimates. But as energy bills rise, it's thought this has risen to around £10-a-month in the past 12 months - an extra £60 a year which some people will struggle to find. 

 

1 Jun 2022 https://www.independent.co.uk Woman 'forced to switch off life- saving ventilator' due to soaring energy bills - independent news June 2022

 

For other items see list below:

 

https://www.medequip-uk search cost of living.

 

Hoists

A HP is roughly 750 watts. So if your 750W Hoist is operating at maximum load for 1 minute, it will be using 0.75*(1/60) KWh of electricity, this works out at 0.0125 KWh.

 

29 Jun 2020 https://www.quora.com > How-much. How much electricity is consumed by a

hoist of 1 HP? - Quora

 

I've tried to cover as many different items as possible here, obviously there will be others, why not look them up and provide these as evidence.

 

Finally one last option, items such as shown below are easily available for around £10 (don't forget to add this as disability related expenditure) and give you accurate figures to use for claims and are simple to use.

 

This blog post has been written to allow people and local authorities ideas which will relate to more practical & individual claims being made for Disability Related Expenditure.

Links to specific sites are for information only and as a guide. No payment has been received nor are we promoting any other particular organisations.