Contact, for families with disabled children

New Universal Credit videos from our Family Finance Team Our Family Finance Team has produced three new Universal Credit videos available to watch on our You tube channel or from our Universal Credit webpages. One video looks at the transitional element of Universal Credit. The transitional element is paid to some people who were at risk of being worse off when moving onto Universal […]

Our Family Finance Team has produced three new Universal Credit videos available to watch on our YouTube channel or from our Universal Credit webpages.

Take a look here 👇

This International Women’s Day, we’re recognising the women who support disabled children and young people every day.

Balancing caring, navigating complex systems, advocating for their children and supporting their whole family 💚

If you’ve used the Contact helpline, website, email or live chat, we’d really value your feedback.

The survey is anonymous and only takes a few minutes to complete 

Take the survey here 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/ylcodzsunb

Our Family Finance Team have created a new flowchart to help parents work out whether their young person is likely to qualify for Universal Credit while still in education. https://f.mtr.cool/zfpqsnydas

Listen to our podcast episode all about ARFID at 👉 bit.ly/ARFID-podcast, on Spotify 👉 bit.ly/ARFID-ep-Spotify or search for ‘The helpful podcast for families with disabled children’ on your favourite podcast platform.

If you want to have your say on the Schools White Paper, why not join a Contact focus group?

We're running a series of focus groups to find out what you think.

Your views will then inform our response to the white paper consultation.

Sign up here: https://f.mtr.cool/lkqxophypq

MPs turn a long-overdue spotlight on children’s mental health and education The Education and Health and Social Care committees have teamed up to launch a joint inquiry into children and young people’s mental health. The cross-party committees are seeking evidence from parents, young people, families and professionals. The aim is to examine how well the system is meeting mental health needs. Amanda Elliot, Contact’s health lead […]

The Education & Health and Social Care committees have teamed up to launch a joint inquiry into children and young people’s mental health.

Find out how you can respond 👇

Government announces new rights for children with SEND All schools will have to create an Individual Support Plan (ISP) for every child with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) that clearly set out the help a child will receive, the government has announced today. The support will follow a national framework and be tailored by teachers and specialists. The government says extra funding will […]

We will be closely examining the Schools White Paper and update you on the detail over the next few days.

Read more here:

Remember: the publication of a white paper does not change existing SEND law. Your child’s legal rights to support remain in place. Importantly, the government has said that no child will lose effective support already in place:

All schools will have to create an Individual Support Plan for every child with SEND that clearly set out the help a child will receive, the government has announced today. The support will follow a national framework and be tailored by teachers and specialists.

The Schools White Paper has been officially published 📝

Here's what we know so far...

Contact responds to Government’s £4 billion SEND investment Contact welcomes the government’s £4 billion investment over three years to make mainstream schools more inclusive and reduce the adversarial battles families face. If backed by a clear legal guarantee of support for every child with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities), this funding has the potential to improve the system significantly. Anna Bird, CEO […]

Contact responds to Government’s £4 billion SEND investment. Read in more detail here 👇

Further changes to Universal Credit health element rules from April The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has published new regulations this week that should increase the number of people who receive higher Universal Credit health element payments when rules change in April. What is the health element of Universal Credit? The health element is also known as the limited capability for work- and work-related […]

The DWP has published new regulations that should increase the number of people who receive higher Universal Credit health element payments when rules change in April.

Read more:

Universal Credit and young people in education: Your questions answered Our recent Facebook Q&A highlighted the widespread confusion amongst families about when it’s possible to claim Universal Credit for a young disabled person who is still in education.

Our recent Q&A highlighted the widespread confusion amongst families about when it’s possible to claim Universal Credit for a young disabled person who is still in education.

Setting the record straight on Personal Travel Budgets Over the last couple of days, there have been news reports about parents of disabled children ‘getting paid’ to transport their children to school in England. Contact is concerned that this completely misrepresents the situation and risks fuelling resentment. Strict criteria Anna Bird, Chief Executive of Contact, said: “We know through our helpline and support […]

Contact's CEO Anna Bird sets the record straight on Personal Travel Budgets 🚗 

Read more:

We unlocked £17k for one family - can you help us unlock more? Our Family Finance parent adviser Polly explains how with your support this winter, we can make a transformation difference to families.

Our Family Finance parent adviser Polly explains how with your support this winter, we can make a transformational difference to families with disabled children.

The Government has launched the Milburn Review into why so many 16–24‑year‑olds are not in education, employment or training. Disabled young people must be part of this conversation.

They are calling for evidence until 30 January 2026. 

Share your views: 📩 youngpeopleandwork.report@dwp.gov.uk

Help with heating cost as temperatures drop With more heavy snow expected today across the UK, many of us will be relying on central heating more than usual to get through the colder days.

With energy costs still high, this puts even more pressure on families with disabled children facing higher than average bills.

At the below link we explain what help you might be entitled to 👇

The Government has launched the Milburn Review into why so many 16–24‑year‑olds are not in education, employment or training. Disabled young people must be part of this conversation.

They are calling for evidence until 30 January 2026. 

Share your views: 📩 youngpeopleandwork.report@dwp.gov.uk

Happy New Year from all of us at Contact! ✨💫

Here’s to a year filled with more understanding, more support, and more moments of calm.

Whatever 2026 brings, you won’t face it alone. Our helpline will be open again at 9.30am on 2nd January 2026 💚

Merry Christmas from all of us at Contact 🎄💚

Today, we’re thinking of every family in our community, those celebrating, those resting, those navigating challenges, and those finding their own unique ways to make Christmas work.

Thank you for being part of a community that lifts each other up 💚

The Government has launched the Milburn Review into why so many 16–24‑year‑olds are not in education, employment or training. Disabled young people must be part of this conversation.

They are calling for evidence until 30 January 2026. 

Share your views: 📩 youngpeopleandwork.report@dwp.gov.uk

Christmas opening hours for our advice and information helpline services Contact's helpline will close at 2pm on Christmas Eve, Wednesday 24 December and will re-open at 9.30am on Friday 2 January 2026.

You can still find advice on our website at any time, and Charlie the chatbot is available 24/7 to help you find information.

Find out where you can access support here 👇

Our UK-wide advice and information helpline will close at 2pm on Christmas Eve (24 December) and reopen at 9.30am on Friday 2 January 2026.

While we’re closed, our emails, web forms, live chat and social media pages will be unmoderated. We’ll respond as soon as we can once we reopen.

Can you help more families afford the essentials this winter? 👉 contact.org.uk/stickers

Donate £10 or more to fund Contact’s life-changing support – and as a thank you’ll receive a special gift.

"...This will make such a difference to my family. It’s amazing. For once I won’t need to worry about how I’ll be able to afford all the things my disabled son needs.”

Contact’s expert advice transformed Sonia’s family’s financial situation:

“I had no idea that I was missing out on a carer element. Your advice not only helped me get extra £200 Universal Credit each month, but I also got a lump sum payment of £3,400 to cover what I’d missed out on...

Sonia is a lone parent who juggles part-time work while caring for her severely disabled son and two other children.

When we talked, it became clear how much unpaid time she had to take off work – and how hard it was to keep up with the bills.

Join our next webinar on mental capacity and finances This event is for families in England and Wales only. If you are the parent to a 14-23 year old, they are likely to have a government issued Child Trust Fund. If they are younger, you (or wider family) might be saving via schemes such as a Junior ISA. At Contact, we know that many […]

We are once again partnering with Renaissance Legal to offer a free, one hour webinar about mental capacity and how this might impact your loved one’s savings.   

Book your place here 👇

However, if a young person lacks mental capacity or needs support in managing money, the process to access their savings at 18 can feel quite daunting. Many of you tell us that the mental capacity process as a whole feels confusing and overwhelming.