Personal wheelchair budgets

A personal wheelchair budget (sometimes called a "PWB") can support you in choosing how the money for your wheelchair equipment is spent. A personal wheelchair budget may help you select equipment that meets your broader health and wellbeing needs, such as your lifestyle, employment, or education.

How is my personal wheelchair budget managed?

There are three different ways of managing your personal wheelchair budget, depending on your needs.

Notional Personal Wheelchair Budget

This is the most common option, where the NHS will loan a wheelchair to you to meet your postural and mobility needs. The Wheelchair Service will purchase the equipment and it will remain the property of the NHS. There are some terms and conditions you will have to agree to follow. The NHS will pay for repairs or maintenance due to general wear and tear.

Notional Personal Wheelchair Budget with Contribution

This is similar to the option above, where the NHS will loan a wheelchair to you after assessing your health and wellbeing needs, however there is the added option of contributing towards the cost of your equipment. The contribution can be used to upgrade your wheelchair to a higher specification model or add extra features that you would not be eligible for, through NHS provision.

You can choose to pay for the contribution yourself, or assistance may be available from other agencies involved in your care, such as education, social care, or a voluntary or charitable organisations.

The Wheelchair Service will purchase the equipment and it will remain the property of the NHS. There are some terms and conditions you will have to agree to follow. The NHS will pay for repairs or maintenance needed due to general wear and tear, but you may have to pay to repair any of the extra features which are not integral to the functionality of the wheelchair. We will discuss what this means for you before proceeding with the personal wheelchair budget.

Third Party Personal Wheelchair Budget

With this option, you may use your personal wheelchair budget outside of the Wheelchair Service with an approved supplier. The Wheelchair Service will pay your personal wheelchair budget (the value of your Notional Budget) directly to the approved supplier with an additional amount to cover repairs and maintenance.

You will have the option of contributing towards the cost of your equipment. The contribution can be used to upgrade your wheelchair or to add extra features you would like. You can pay for the contribution yourself, or assistance may be available from other agencies involved in your care, such as education, social care, or a voluntary or charity organisation. You will be responsible for paying any difference between the personal wheelchair budget value and the cost of the equipment.

It is important to note that equipment purchased using a third party personal wheelchair budget will become your property. You will be responsible for arranging maintenance and repairs and you may have to pay for these yourself if the costs exceed the initial contribution made by the Wheelchair Service. Your approved supplier will be able to discuss service agreements with you. 

How long does a personal wheelchair budget last?

For adults, a personal wheelchair budget is expected to last for five years before it can be renewed. For children, a personal wheelchair budget is expected to last three years.

Who looks after my personal wheelchair budget?

Your personal wheelchair budget will be administered by AJM Healthcare, which provides the Wheelchair Service on behalf of the NHS. Your local Wheelchair Service will be responsible for your personal wheelchair budget, with help from specialist personal wheelchair budget administrators who work in our AJM Choice team.

What is included in my personal wheelchair budget?

A personal wheelchair budget will cover the wheelchair frame and any clinically necessary equipment, such as reclining backrests or footboards.

Provision for postural and pressure management, such as cushions and specialist harnesses, will remain the responsibility of the Wheelchair Service. You may choose to posture postural or pressure management equipment as part of your personal wheelchair budget, but this will be at your own cost.