Disability Support Portal
A broad starting point for disability support, rights, services and public information.
OPEN GUIDEFind the disability information you need
Start with one of the key guides below, or browse the support areas further down the page.
local council complaints help: Disability Rights & Support
People with disabilities and additional support needs should be able to access public services fairly, safely and with dignity. Understanding disability rights, council responsibilities and available support can sometimes be difficult, especially when services do not meet individual needs.
Right First Time UK provides accessible information to help disabled people, families and carers understand their rights, identify relevant services and find appropriate routes for resolving problems. If you are looking for local council complaints help, this information hub can guide you towards relevant complaints procedures, disability rights information and official sources of assistance.
Understanding Disability Rights and Support
Our Disability Support hub brings together practical information about the services and protections that can make daily life easier:
- Disability benefits: Information about Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Attendance Allowance and other financial support.
- Council services and social care: Understanding assessments, care and support needs, eligibility decisions and local authority services.
- Reasonable adjustments: Information about the Equality Act 2010, accessible communication, physical access and disability discrimination.
- Housing and accessibility: Guidance about housing adaptations, unsuitable accommodation and disability-related housing needs.
- Education and SEND: Information about special educational needs, Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), school support and council responsibilities.
- Carers and families: Information for people supporting disabled children, adults and family members.
When Council Services Do Not Meet Your Needs
Local authorities have duties under relevant legislation, including the Equality Act 2010 and, for adult social care in England, the Care Act 2014. Different laws and processes can apply in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and the correct route depends on the service involved.
If you experience unreasonable delays, inaccessible communication, unsuitable assessments or problems receiving support, you may be able to request an explanation, ask for a decision to be reviewed or submit a formal complaint. Keeping copies of letters, assessments, decisions and supporting evidence can help you explain what happened and the outcome you are seeking.
Finding the Right Complaints Procedure
Seeking local council complaints help can be important when problems affect essential care, disability support, housing, education or everyday independence. Some decisions require a statutory appeal or specialist review rather than an ordinary council complaint, so checking the correct procedure and deadline matters.
Right First Time UK provides independent public information, practical guidance and signposting. You can explore our advocacy, complaints and legal support guide and our appeals and complaints guide for additional starting points. Our resources do not replace local authorities, specialist advisers, regulated legal professionals or emergency services.
Understanding Disability & Additional Needs
General information about disability, additional needs, inclusion and support.
OPEN GUIDEBenefits & Financial Support
Information about disability benefits, financial support and related help.
OPEN GUIDEReasonable Adjustments & Equality Rights
Information about equality rights, access needs and reasonable adjustments.
OPEN GUIDENo matching guide was found. Try a shorter search term.
Start Here & Key Disability Support
Understanding Disability: Rights & Support Guide
Disability can affect mobility, communication, learning, sensory processing, emotional wellbeing, health, independence, work, finances and access to services.
OPEN GUIDEDisability UK: Public Access & Support Portal
These GOV.UK sections are useful starting points for disability benefits, rights, practical support, care, transport and workplace help.
OPEN GUIDEComprehensive UK Disability Support Directory
Emergency: call 999 NHS urgent health help: call 111 or use NHS 111 online. Urgent mental health crisis: call 111 and choose the mental health option . Samaritans: 116 123 Shout…
OPEN GUIDEGuide to Reasonable Adjustments & Equality Rights
Reasonable adjustments are changes or support intended to prevent disabled people being placed at a substantial disadvantage.
OPEN GUIDEUK Emergency & Crisis Support - Disability-Inclusive Guide
If you need urgent mental health help but it is not a 999 emergency:
OPEN GUIDEChildren, Families & Additional Needs
Children & Young People - Additional Needs
Additional needs can affect learning, communication, emotional wellbeing, sensory processing, physical health, social interaction, independence and daily living.
OPEN GUIDESupporting Disability & Family Life: Rights & Resources
Disability can affect routines, communication, education, work, money, housing, health, relationships and caring responsibilities.
OPEN GUIDEDisability & Parenting: Your Complete UK Guide
Many disabled people successfully parent children while managing:
OPEN GUIDEAdvice, Rights & Accessible Support Guide
A practical guide for unpaid carers, parent carers, relatives, friends and other support networks helping someone who is disabled, neurodivergent, living with a long-term health…
OPEN GUIDEGuide to Transitioning to Adulthood for Disabled Youth
Transition is the process of moving from children's services into adult services.
OPEN GUIDEEducation, Work & Public Services
Disability and Education – UK Guide
Education support is not only for children. Disabled people, neurodivergent people and people with long-term health or mental health conditions can need and receive support…
OPEN GUIDEWorkplace Support & Rights for Disabled Individuals
Disabled people work in every type of role and may work full-time, part-time, remotely, flexibly, self-employed or in supported employment.
OPEN GUIDEAdvice, Rights & Accessible Support Guide for Disabled Individuals & Families
Public services should be usable, fair and accessible to disabled people, people with additional needs, neurodivergent people, people with sensory impairments, mental health…
OPEN GUIDEAdvocacy, Complaints & Legal Support
This guide is for disabled people, people with long-term health conditions, neurodivergent people, carers, parents, families and anyone who needs help challenging a decision,…
OPEN GUIDEUK Appeals & Complaints Guide for Disability Support
If you have a disability, public organisations must consider reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010.
OPEN GUIDEBenefits, Money, Grants & Evidence
Disability Benefits & Financial Support
Disability-related financial support is not one single system. Some benefits focus on daily living or mobility, some on income, some on work capability and some on caring.
OPEN GUIDEUK Cost of Living & Disability Support Guide
Before applying for grants or hardship schemes, check whether you are receiving all benefits you may qualify for.
OPEN GUIDEUK Disability Grants: Your Ultimate Funding Guide
Unlike benefits, many grants do not need to be repaid and can help with:
OPEN GUIDEComprehensive Guide to Disability Assessments & Evidence
For PIP, reliability is especially important. Activities should be considered in terms of whether they can be done safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard and within a…
OPEN GUIDEGuide to Scams, Fraud & Financial Safety in the UK
Stop. Do not click links, send money, share codes, or give bank details.
OPEN GUIDEHealth, Mental Health & Capacity
Health Conditions & Long-Term Illness
Many people identify more strongly with their health condition, chronic illness or long-term illness than with the term "disabled".
OPEN GUIDEUK Hospital Care Rights: A Disability Guide
This guide applies to all genders and is intended for anyone using NHS or healthcare services in the UK.
OPEN GUIDEMental Health & Disability
Use NHS 111 online or call 111 and select the mental-health option.
OPEN GUIDEMental Capacity & Decision Making: A Complete Guide
This guide applies mainly to England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different legal frameworks.
OPEN GUIDERare Conditions & Undiagnosed Conditions – UK Support Guide
Emergency: call 999 NHS urgent help: call 111 Urgent mental health crisis: call 111 and choose the mental health option Samaritans: 116 123 Shout crisis text: text SHOUT to 85258
OPEN GUIDEIndependent Living, Housing & Mobility
Independent Living & Daily Support (UK Guide)
This guide is for anyone who needs support because of disability, long-term illness, mental health needs, age-related needs, a learning disability, autism, sensory impairment,…
OPEN GUIDEGuide to Housing & Accessibility Support for Disabled
Housing can become unsuitable because of mobility, sensory, communication, health, safety, care or family needs.
OPEN GUIDEMobility, Transport & Travel (UK Disability Guide)
This guide is for disabled people, people with long-term health conditions, mobility difficulties, sensory impairments, learning disabilities, neurodivergent people, people with…
OPEN GUIDEDisability Equipment & Assistive Technology
Disability equipment and assistive technology can help people live more independently, stay safe, communicate effectively, access education and employment and participate more…
OPEN GUIDEAssistance Animals & Disability Support Animals
Assistance animals can help disabled people live more independently, access services, travel safely, participate in education and employment, manage health conditions and improve…
OPEN GUIDENeurodiversity, Inclusion & Community
Neurodiversity Support
Neurodiversity describes natural variation in how people think, learn, communicate, focus, regulate, process information and experience the world.
OPEN GUIDECommunity & Social Inclusion – UK Disability Guide
Emergency: call 999 NHS urgent help: call 111 Urgent mental health crisis: call 111 and choose the mental health option Samaritans: 116 123 Shout text support: text SHOUT to 85258
OPEN GUIDEGuide to Digital Inclusion & Tech Support in the UK
Digital inclusion is important because many services now require online access.
OPEN GUIDEOften Forgotten UK Disability's
Hidden disabilities are conditions that may not be obvious but can still seriously affect daily life, work, education, travel, communication, pain, fatigue, mobility,…
OPEN GUIDESafety, Justice & Future Planning
Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults & Children With Disabilities
Call 999. If a crime may have happened but there is no immediate emergency, contact the police on 101 or report it through the police service.
OPEN GUIDEDisability & Justice: Legal Rights and Support in the UK
Disabled people should be able to report crime, give evidence, communicate with police and access police services safely.
OPEN GUIDEVital Emergency Planning for Disabled Individuals
GOV.UK advises people to make an emergency plan, identify emergency contacts, know where important documents are, and check eligibility for the Priority Services Register for…
OPEN GUIDEGuide to End of Life & Future Planning in the UK
Future care planning means thinking about what care, treatment and support someone would want if they became seriously ill or could not speak for themselves.
OPEN GUIDERelationships, Rights & Transparency
Disability & Relationships: A Comprehensive Guide
Dating can bring additional challenges for some disabled people, but many people build successful and fulfilling relationships.
OPEN GUIDEUK Disability Transparency Hub: Access & Insights
Disability support in the UK is spread across DWP, NHS, councils, schools, tribunals, regulators, Parliament, charities and local services.
OPEN GUIDERelated RFTUK Resources
These useful links were also part of the older Disability Support hub and sit elsewhere on the Right First Time UK website.
External Resources
Additional tools and resources that may help with support, evidence, information and preparation.
OPEN EXTERNAL RESOURCESDigital Safety & Safeguarding Vulnerable People
Information about digital abuse, scams, fraud, exploitation, stalking, privacy and safeguarding.
OPEN DIGITAL SAFETY GUIDEPIP REVIEW — CURRENT POSITION
The Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment
The Timms Review published a co-chair update and emerging recommendations in September 2026. These are review materials and are not the current legal PIP entitlement rules.
What was published
The 9 September 2026 update includes emerging recommendations and accessible versions including Easy Read, audio and British Sign Language.
Proposals are not current law
People making or managing a PIP claim should continue using current official eligibility, assessment, decision and appeal rules unless legislation or formal guidance changes them.
Accessibility
The review material includes accessibility considerations and barriers experienced by claimants, including digital-process barriers.
Status checked 25 September 2026. This reports an ongoing review, not a change to current PIP entitlement law.
Disability benefits and employment support
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)Core PIP guidance for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions.Access to WorkEmployment support for disabled people and people with health conditions.Attendance AllowanceFinancial support information for people over State Pension age who need care or supervision.Detailed PIP GuideRates, eligibility and assessment guidance for Personal Independence Payment.
Education and SEND support
Disability & Accessibility in EducationEducation accessibility, support and disability rights.Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)Education and support information for children and young people with DLD.Autism & EHCPsGuidance on EHCPs, autism and securing appropriate educational support.EHCP & SEND ComplaintsComplaint and escalation routes where SEND or EHCP services go wrong.
NHS disability and continuing-care support
Disability & Long-Term ConditionsNHS support and health information for disabled people and long-term conditions.Social Care & NHS Continuing HealthcareInformation on continuing healthcare and the relationship between NHS and social care.Older People’s HealthHealth and NHS guidance particularly relevant to older people.