A personal wheelchair budget is an amount of funding available so that you can chose your own wheelchair which suits your own personal circumstances.
Ross Care can support you with a personal wheelchair budget, more information can be found on their personal budget information page (opens link in new window)
There are three options available:
1. Notional Personal Wheelchair Budget (standard NHS provision). This enables you to have a basic wheelchair that will meet your identified needs. This also offers the option for personal contributions to the personal wheelchair budget, enhancing your choice of wheelchair and equipment. This may come from funding support such as education, social care, a voluntary or charity organisation, or through self-pay.
2. Notional Personal Wheelchair Budget with a contribution. This option allows you or another agency such as a voluntary/charitable organisation to contribute to your PWB to either have a higher specification NHS wheelchair or add additional features.
3. Third-Party Personal Wheelchair Budget. In discussion with your wheelchair therapist, if it is clinically appropriate, you can choose to use your PWB as a contribution to buying a wheelchair from an independent retailer (such as Ross Care) outside of the NHS*
*Option 2 and Option 3 PWB payments last for 5 years for adults and 3 years for children other than in exceptional circumstances.
Ross Care can advise you further on these three options.
With a personal wheelchair budget, wheelchair users should expect to have:
- a personalised assessment where they are supported to identify the health and wellbeing outcomes they wish to achieve
- a care plan which captures the health and wellbeing outcomes identified, which may be part of any wider care plans the person requires for their care, for example an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan
- care that is better integrated, meaning that different agencies work together to support their postural and mobility needs and achieve their health and wellbeing outcomes
- information provided upfront about the amount of money available in their personal wheelchair budget and the options available to them locally to use it
- information about the repair and maintenance of wheelchairs, if the option to purchase a wheelchair outside of the NHS commissioned service is taken.
The NHS has an information page about Personal wheelchair budgets (opens link in new window)