Personal wheelchair budget

If you are eligible to receive a wheelchair from the NHS, you will have a personal wheelchair budget (PWB).

What is a personal wheelchair budget?

• It is for anyone who is eligible for an NHS wheelchair
• It is a ‘virtual’ amount of money allocated to meet your assessed needs
• It gives you more choice about your wheelchair
• It is based on how much it costs the NHS to provide you with a wheelchair to meet your clinical needs

How does it work?

 You can choose to use your personal wheelchair budget in 3 different ways:

1. Notional budget – Accept the NHS wheelchair prescribed for you, this is at no cost to you
2. Notional budget with contribution – Pay a ‘top up’ price to receive an upgrade, or add extra features to the NHS wheelchair prescribed
3. Third party budget – Access a wheelchair from an independent supplier outside of the NHS. The budget is paid to the supplier and you pay any additional costs

How do I get a personal wheelchair budget?

At your assessment, if you are eligible for a NHS wheelchair, we will develop a personal support plan with you and assist you in deciding how you want to use your personal wheelchair budget. This is a ‘virtual’ amount of money allocated to meet your assessed needs. It is designed to give you more choice over your wheelchair, one which meets your assessed needs and any specific requirements you identify as being important to you.

• PWB Patient Information Leaflet
• Suppliers List