Saving Money When Living With a Disability: The Ultimate Guide to Resources, Discounts & Support
Living with a disability or chronic illness often comes with extra costs . From mobility aids and medication, to travel, heating bills, modifications at home, accessible clothing, and lost income during flare-ups. In fact, studies consistently show that disabled people face significantly higher living costs, sometimes referred to as the disability price tag.
But there are resources, discounts, support schemes and clever tools that can make a genuine difference to your monthly budget. Whether you’re newly navigating disability or looking to maximise the support you already receive, this guide brings together the best ways to save money while still getting the care, comfort and equipment you need.
1. Check You’re Receiving Everything You’re Entitled To
So many disabled people miss out on benefits, grants and support simply because no one has told them what’s available. That’s exactly why we created our FREE Disability Benefits Guide, to make understanding the system easier.
Inside, you’ll find explanations of:
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Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
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Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
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Access to Work funding
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Blue Badge applications
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Council Tax reductions
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Carer’s Allowance
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VAT exemption
- And lots lots more!
Many people assume they “won’t qualify”, but even those who work full-time, study, or live independently may be entitled to support.
Download the full guide here: FREE Disability Benefits Guide
2. Use Disability Discount Platforms Like Purpl Discounts
One of the easiest ways to save money is by taking advantage of platforms designed specifically for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.
Purpl Discounts is a membership platform built for the disability community. It offers exclusive savings across essentials, including:
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Food & supermarkets such as Morrisons
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Clothing in places like Nike
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Mobility aids with us at Cool Crutches
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Electronics at Curry's
- Trips using sites like Expedia
- And lots more!
If you already feel the financial pinch from rising costs or medical expenses, Purpl can give you consistent, meaningful savings across the purchases you make every week.
Many users make back the cost of membership within a month, and then continue saving all year round.
3. Claim Travel Discounts
Transport is one of the biggest extra costs for disabled people, especially when public transport is inaccessible or unreliable.
Make sure you explore:
🚆 Railcards
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Disabled Persons Railcard (1/3 off train travel + discounts for a companion)
🚍 Bus Passes
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Free or discounted bus travel depending on your local council
🚕 Taxi Support via Access to Work
- If you cannot reliably use public transport, you may be eligible for taxi funding to work.
✈️ Airport Assistance
- Not a cost-saver, but helps avoid expensive last-minute decisions due to lack of support.
🚘 Cars
- Motability helps with vehicle costs, servicing, breakdown, insurance and tax.
4. Use Price-Reducing Tools
Mobility aids, equipment and support items can be expensive, but there are practical ways to make essential purchases more affordable, without compromising on quality.
Interest-Free Instalments
At Cool Crutches, we offer Klarna and Clearpay, giving you the option to spread the cost of higher-priced items across a few monthly instalments with zero interest. This makes investing in long-lasting, comfortable mobility aids far more manageable, especially when living with a disability already comes with additional financial pressures.
This type of instalment plan can also be found on many disability-related websites and retailers, making it easier to budget for items.
Using interest-free instalments allows you to access the equipment you need now, while spreading the cost in a way that protects your monthly budget.
5. Use Community Support & Free Resources
Sometimes the best ways to save money come from peer support.
Try:
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Local disability groups
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Facebook communities
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Condition-specific charities
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Online second-hand equipment groups
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Tool libraries
These spaces often share information about benefits, discounts, grants and affordable alternatives.
6. Know Your Rights
Many disabled people pay unnecessarily for:
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Workplace adjustments
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Support workers
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Assistive technology
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Extra travel costs
Access to Work exists to prevent this, and it covers far more than most people realise.
Likewise, occupational therapy assessments can unlock free equipment from your local authority that you might otherwise buy out-of-pocket.
Knowledge saves money!
You are deserving of support 💛
Living with a disability shouldn’t mean facing higher costs, but unfortunately it often does. The good news is that with the right tools, knowledge and resources, you can reduce those extra expenses significantly.
Start by downloading our FREE Disability Benefits Guide, and check out Purpl Discounts to start saving today.
You deserve ease, financial support, and practical help, and these resources are here to make life more affordable.
If you'd like other great tips to help living life with a disability or chronic illness, try these blogs:
