A Personal Wheelchair Budget is a resource available to give you more choice over your wheelchair equipment. They give you more control, so that your postural and mobility needs can be included in your wider care planning. You can access your PWB whenever you require a new wheelchair, either because your clinical needs have changed, or if your existing wheelchair is no longer fit for purpose.
If you meet the eligibility criteria for the service, we will invite you to visit us for a personalised assessment. During this assessment, our wheelchair therapists will support you to identify your health and wellbeing goals and desired outcomes. We will co-design a care plan that supports these outcomes, as well as any wider care plans you have. We will discuss your equipment options with you, explain what a PWB is, and how it can help meet your needs. It is important to remember that a PWB will not be right for everyone.
Two of our service users, Adam and Alex, spoke to us about how important PWBs had been for them.
How can I use a Personal Wheelchair Budget?
There are four key ways you can manage your PWB through the Wheelchair Service:
Option 1: A Notional Personal Wheelchair Budget
Under this option, one of our wheelchair therapists will prescribe a wheelchair that meets the needs identified during the assessment.
The wheelchair service will spend your budget on your behalf. The wheelchair will remain the property of the wheelchair service, and we will repair and maintain it for you.
The value of your Personal Wheelchair Budget is based on the cost of providing Option 1 to you.
Option 2: A Top-Up PWB
If the wheelchair prescribed by our therapist does not meet all of your needs, you can choose to make a contribution towards adding features or accessories to your equipment. Some examples of how this is used include:
- Trays for feeding
- Headrests for transport
- Sun canopies
- Rain covers for buggies
- Spoke guards
- Powered elevating legrests
- Powered recline
- Powered seat riser
Contributions can be made personally, or by another agency (such as a voluntary or charitable organisation). We may be able to connect you to a charity or association that can help you, depending on your condition and needs.
Under this option, the wheelchair service spends your PWB and your contribution on your behalf. The wheelchair will remain the property of the wheelchair service, and we will repair and maintain it for you (except for the replacement of any additional features chosen).
Option 3: An Alternative Chair PWB
This is similar to Option 2, but your contribution is put towards a different wheelchair from the service’s approved range. The wheelchair must still be suitable for your needs.
Under this option, the wheelchair service spends your PWB and your contribution on your behalf. The wheelchair will remain the property of the wheelchair service, and we will repair and maintain it for you.
Option 4: A Third Party PWB
This option allows you to put your personal budget towards buying a wheelchair from an independent retailer. The wheelchair you choose must be clinically appropriate, and your wheelchair therapist must agree this is the most suitable option available to you. If the wheelchair you choose is more expensive than the amount of your PWB, you will need to pay the difference. This can be paid personally, or by another agency (such as a voluntary or charitable organisation).
Under this option, the chair will be your property, and you will be responsible for repairing and maintaining it. Your budget will be equal to the cost of providing Option 1, plus a contribution towards repairs and maintenance. The PWB amount will be paid directly to the third party retailer.