Aids and appliances

Meaning of aids and appliances

‘aid’ or ‘appliance’ refers to any object or device:

• which is necessary for the individual to be able to perform an activity and
• which improves, provides or replaces the individual’s impaired physical or mental function

This can include:

• an object or device which a person without a disability might choose to use for the same function
• something that helps to manage toilet needs, such as the use of incontinence pads
• a prosthesis (ADP regs, PART 1 Interpretation, Paragraph 2)

Aids describe devices that help with an individual’s functional ability. They do this by improving, providing or replacing the individual’s impaired physical or mental function. For example:

• a walking stick to help an individual to walk reliably
• grab rails to assist with balance
• liquid level indicators to help to pour liquid

Appliances usually describe devices that replace a limb or function, such as:

• a leg prosthesis
• a wheelchair

Consider aids and appliances

When considering an individual’s ability to carry out an activity, you’ll consider aids or appliances they normally use or using aids or appliances they could reasonably be expected to wear or useADP reg 7 (1) (a)(b)).

When considering whether an individual is able to use an aid or appliance, you’ll consider:

• is the aid or appliance easily available
• is the aid or appliance cost effective

If the availability or cost of an aid or appliance could prevent an individual being able to use it, it would be unlikely to be considered an aid or appliance as the individual could not reasonably be expected to use such an aid for the purposes of Adult Disability Payment (ADP).