Personal Wheelchair Budget

What is it? 

A Personal Wheelchair Budget (PWB) offers choice and control to wheelchair users with relation to what wheelchair you choose. A PWB is an amount of money equivalent to what it would cost the Wheelchair Service to provide you with a wheelchair.

Who is eligible?

People who access Wheelchair Services, whose posture and mobility needs impact their wider health and social care needs, have a legal right to a Personal Wheelchair Budget.

If you are eligible for PWB you can upgrade or choose a different wheelchair. You will have the opportunity to discuss how this works in your assessment appointment. We will support you through this process.

How does it work?

PWB may be offered if a person is eligible for a new or replacement NHS wheelchair. If it is appropriate this will be discussed following an assessment and the person will be offered a choice of 3 options.

Notional Personal Wheelchair Budget This enables you to have a wheelchair, which will meet your identified clinical needs through the standard provision of the Wheelchair Service. The wheelchair remains the property of the Wheelchair Service

Notional Personal Wheelchair Budget with contribution (Top Up) This option allows you, or another agency such as a voluntary/charitable organisation, to contribute to your PWB to either have a higher specification wheelchair or add accessories. The wheelchair will be from within the Wheelchair Service range only and will remain the property of the Wheelchair Service

Third Party Personal Wheelchair Budget (access a Wheelchair from outside the NHS) In discussion with your wheelchair therapist, if it is clinically appropriate, you can choose to use your PWB as a contribution to buying a wheelchair from an independent retailer outside of the NHS. If the wheelchair is more expensive than the amount of your PWB, you will have to meet the cost of this yourself. Other organisations or charities may be able to help you with this.