FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the fund.
Disability
- Who do you define as disabled?
- I have a long-term medical condition. Is this considered to be a disability?
- What evidence do I need to provide?
- What disability-related costs are covered?
- What should my party be doing to support me?
- Will income from the fund affect my benefits?
General
- Why is the funding only available until 2013/14?
- What is the aim of the fund?
- Which elections does the fund cover?
- Does the fund cover by-elections?
- Can I access the fund if I am standing for election for the European Parliament?
- Can I access the fund if I am standing for a local election in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland?
- Can I access the fund if I am standing for a parish election?
- Do I need to have been selected to stand for election to apply to the fund?
- Which geographical areas does the fund cover?
- Does it matter which political party I am representing?
- Can I apply if I am an independent candidate?
- What costs does the fund cover?
- What costs are not covered?
- How much can I apply for?
- What is the advisory panel?
Election
- Where can I find out more about the electoral process?
- How can I find out if I am eligible to stand for election?
- What are election expenses and personal expenses?
- Are there any other spending or donation rules, outside of election periods, that I should be aware of?
Process
- How many applications can I make?
- I am standing for more than one election. Can I apply for funding for both?
- How long does the application process take?
- When will you let me know whether my grant has been approved?
- How do I claim my funding?
- Do I have to claim my grant all at once?
- Can I apply to the fund for payments I have already made?
- What if my circumstances change after I receive my grant decision?
- What if I am not selected to stand for election?
- What if I am not elected?
- When will I receive payment?
- How will you pay me the grant money?
- If my applications come to £500 or more, will they need to go to the Access to Elected Office Fund Advisory Panel to review?
- Who can act as an independent referee?
- If I successfully apply for a grant which is to be used in 2014, what is the latest date that I can submit a claim?
Confidentiality
- How do you use my information?
- Do you keep my information confidential?
- Will my information be kept anonymous?
- Do you pass my information to anyone else?
Accessibility
Organisations
Disability
Who do you define as disabled?
The Equality Act 2010 defines a disabled person as a person with a ‘physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities’. You must be disabled according to this definition to apply to the fund.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
I have a long-term medical condition. Is this considered to be a disability?
The Equality Act 2010 defines a disabled person as a person with a ‘physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities’. You must be disabled according to this definition to apply to the fund.
If you have a long-term medical condition (such as epilepsy, diabetes or cancer) which affects your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities (for example, driving), this is covered within the Equality Act. If your long-term condition (or the treatment for this condition, such as chemotherapy) means you incur additional costs when standing for election compared to a non-disabled person, you can apply to the fund.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
What evidence do I need to provide?
You need to provide:
- two documents as evidence of your name and address
- one document as evidence relating to your disability
- a reference from a member of the political party for which you are applying for selection or standing for elected office, or from an independent referee.
You can use a single document as evidence of your name, address and disability-related barriers. Please do not send your evidence with your application – we will contact you to ask for original copies of your evidence.
For a list of evidence that we will accept, please read the guidance notes.
Last updated: July 9, 2012
What disability-related costs are covered?
The following items are covered by the fund.
- Transport-related costs (for example, private taxis if you cannot use public transport or drive, or extra parking charges if you have limited mobility)
- Support-related costs (for example, another hotel room for your personal assistant, or extra train tickets for your personal assistant)
- Communication-related costs (for example, a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter)
- Technology-related costs (for example, a screen reader or voice-recognition programme).
For more information on each of these items, please read the guidance notes.
The advisory panel can consider other types of costs as long as:
- you provide proof of the need for them and they are relevant and appropriate for an election (the fund can only be used for costs involved in standing for election, not general living costs or the costs of campaigning);
- they are clearly extra to what a non-disabled person would have to pay; and
- they are not costs that the disabled person would have to pay normally, outside election campaigning (for example, modifications to a car used for normal life).
Last updated: June 18, 2012
What should my party be doing to support me?
If you want to stand for a political party, the fund cannot provide money for any ‘reasonable adjustments’ the party should be making to support you, as this should already be provided by law. Please visit http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/equalities/public-political-equality/disabled-access-guidance/ for more information about what your party should be doing to support you.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
Will income from the fund affect my benefits?
If you are in receipt of benefits, you should check with the DWP about whether or not your entitlement would be affected by applying to the fund. Visit the DirectGov website
Last updated: June 18, 2012
General
Why is the funding only available until 2013/14?
The fund runs until the end of the current Government spending round (March 2014) as it is intended as a pilot exercise. The Government will consider rolling it out once they have evaluated the pilot exercise. However, any future decisions also depend on other pressures during the next spending round. The Government is therefore unable to give any commitment at this point.
Last updated: July 9, 2012
What is the aim of the fund?
The Access to Elected Office Fund is designed to help disabled people meet the additional support needs that are associated with their disability and their intention to stand for elected office. It was set up as part of the Government’s Access to Elected Office Strategy, which aims to provide additional support to tackle the particular obstacles faced by disabled people who want to become MPs, councillors or other elected officials.
The fund will cover certain expenses a disabled person who wants to stand for elected office will have to pay, to help fund additional support that they may need when trying to get elected.
The fund is available to disabled people at both the pre-selection and post-selection stages. However, for people who want to stand for political parties, the fund cannot provide money for anything that would be considered a ‘reasonable adjustment’ by the party itself as this should already be provided by law (for information about reasonable adjustments, please visit http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/equalities/public-political-equality/disabled-access-guidance/).
You can apply for money from the fund to meet the additional disability-related support needs that you face in standing for elected office compared to a non-disabled person. You cannot use the fund for any costs that all candidates for elected office have to pay, whether or not they are disabled, for example the costs of producing leaflets for campaigning.
Last updated: July 9, 2012
Which elections does the fund cover?
You can apply to the fund if you want to stand in the following elections or by-elections.
- UK Westminster elections (whether you live in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland)
- Local elections in England (except parish council elections)
- Greater London Authority elections
- Mayoral elections in England
- Police and crime commissioner elections in England and Wales.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
Does the fund cover by-elections?
Yes. By-elections relating to any of the elections covered by the fund (visit ‘Which elections does the fund cover’ for a list of the elections) are covered by the Access to Elected Office Fund. As the timeframe for some by-elections can be very short, you can apply for funding before a by-election is called.
Last updated: July 5, 2012
Can I access the fund if I am standing for election for the European Parliament?
No. The European Parliamentary elections are not covered by the fund. For a list of the elections covered by the fund, please see Which elections does the fund cover?
Last updated: June 18, 2012
Can I access the fund if I am standing for a local election in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland?
No. Local elections in England only are covered by the fund. For a list of the elections covered by the fund, please see Which elections does the fund cover?
Last updated: June 18, 2012
Can I access the fund if I am standing for a parish election?
No. Parish elections are not covered by the fund. For a list of the elections covered by the fund, please see Which elections does the fund cover?
Last updated: June 18, 2012
Do I need to have been selected to stand for election to apply to the fund?
No, you do not need to have been selected. You can apply to the fund to cover disability-related expenses you have to pay during the process of being considered for selection.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
Which geographical areas does the fund cover?
For UK Westminster elections, you can apply to the fund if you live in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Local elections, mayoral elections and Greater London Authority elections are covered in England.
Police and crime commissioner elections are covered in England and Wales.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
Does it matter which political party I am representing?
You can apply in connection with a political party registered with the Electoral Commission. If you are setting up your own political party and are going through registration procedures with the Electoral Commission at the same time as your application to the Access to Elected Office Fund, you need to include this on your application form.
The funding must go to individuals, not parties or other organisations. We and the advisory panel are politically impartial.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
Can I apply if I am an independent candidate?
Yes, you can apply as an independent candidate.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
What costs does the fund cover?
The fund will cover certain expenses a disabled person who wants to stand for elected office will have to pay, to help fund additional support that they may need when trying to get elected.
If this support were not provided, a disabled person may face an additional barrier that a non-disabled person who also wishes to gain access to elected office would not have to face.
The costs the fund can be used for might include certain travel costs such as taxi fares if you cannot use public transport or drive because of your disability, or for a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter. For a full list, please read the guidance notes.
The fund can cover the time before and after selection (if you are standing for a political party).
Last updated: June 18, 2012
What costs are not covered?
As the fund intends to address the additional support costs a disabled person might face, you can only use it for costs you have to pay as part of standing for election as a result of your disability. You cannot use it for general living costs or disability-related costs that are not related to your efforts to stand for elected office.
You also cannot use the fund for any costs that all candidates for elected office have to pay, whether or not they are disabled. This includes the costs of producing leaflets for campaigning and so on.
If you want to stand for a political party, the fund cannot provide money for anything that would be considered a ‘reasonable adjustment’ by the party itself as this should already be provided by law (for information about reasonable adjustments, please visit http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/equalities/public-political-equality/disabled-access-guidance/).
Last updated: June 18, 2012
How much can I apply for?
There is a limit of £10,000 for each person applying in every calendar year (1 January to 31 December). You can submit more than one application to the fund but together they must not exceed £10,000 a year. The minimum amount for which you may apply is £250 – this is because smaller grants are not cost-effective because of the processing costs involved.
You must make a separate application for each type of election you want to stand for (or be considered for selection for). This is because there are different expenses rules for different types of election. In this case, you must support each claim with a business case and evidence.
If you have applied to the fund previously but have not been successful, you are eligible to apply again, either in relation to the same election or a different one. However, please remember that you have to support each claim with a business case and evidence to support your case.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
What is the advisory panel?
The role of the advisory panel is to support us (the independent administrator) to maximise the number of eligible, committed candidates seeking elected office who can benefit from the Access to Elected Office Fund. The panel, which is independent, will consider applications of £500 or more. They will review the quality of the application and advise us on a decision, including on any unusual cases.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
Election
Where can I find out more about the electoral process?
You can visit the About My Vote website for information about elections in the UK
Please refer to the Electoral Commission’s guidance for more information about standing for election: http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents
For information about Access to Elected Office Training: www.access-to-elected-office-training.org.uk. This course provides an introduction for people without previous experience of standing in elections.
Last updated: July 4, 2012
How can I find out if I am eligible to stand for election?
Please refer to the Electoral Commission’s guidance for more information about eligibility to stand for election. The Electoral Commission produces a range of guidance specific to each type of election, so you should consult the relevant guidance for that election on their website.
You can access the election-specific guidance through this page on the Electoral Commission’s website: http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents
Last updated: June 18, 2012
What are election expenses and personal expenses?
There are rules covering what candidates spend before an election on activities to promote their candidacy, or to criticise other candidates.
Every election has different spending limits. There are also rules to make sure that candidate spending and donations are accurately recorded and reported. The rules cover most campaigning activities, including leaflets, advertising, offices and meetings.
Personal expenses are the costs incurred by the candidate in connection with the election. These include things such as the reasonable cost of a candidate’s own transport and overnight accommodation. You need to record them and report them on your spending return after the election. Personal expenses count towards the spending limit at some elections, so you need to check the rules for the election you want to stand in.
You should consult the Electoral Commission’s guidance for more information about the rules for each type of election.
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents
If you need advice about how your spending and your grant funding would be covered by the rules, you should contact the Electoral Commission on 020 7271 0616 or email [email protected]
Last updated: July 9, 2012
Are there any other spending or donation rules, outside of election periods, that I should be aware of?
If you are:
- a member of a political party
- an elected councillor
- an elected mayor
- a Member of one of the UK’s Parliaments and Assemblies, or
- a Member of the European Parliament,
You should be aware of rules covering donations and loans relating to your political activities outside of election periods.
You can find the Electoral Commission’s guidance on this subject at
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/electoral_commission_pdf_file/0019/13708/026-regulated-donees-guidance-final.pdf
Please contact the Electoral Commission if you are not sure of how or whether you should report a donation on 020 7271 0616 or email [email protected]
Last updated: June 21, 2012
Process
How many applications can I make?
You can apply more than once, as long as your applications come to no more than £10,000 in any calendar year (1 January to 31 December).
Last updated: June 18, 2012
I am standing for more than one election. Can I apply for funding for both?
Yes. You can apply for funding for more than one election, as long as your applications come to no more than £10,000 in any calendar year (1 January to 31 December).
Last updated: June 18, 2012
How long does the application process take?
How long the process takes depends on how much you are applying for and how quickly you send us your evidence once we ask you to provide it.
If you apply for less than £500, we will let you know our decision within one month of receiving your application.
If you apply for £500 or more (or you put in more than one application and together they come to £500 or more), we will need to pass your application to the Access to Elected Office Fund Advisory Panel to review. We will let you know our decision within one week of the next panel meeting after we receive your application.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
When will you let me know whether my grant has been approved?
If you apply for less than £500, we will let you know our decision within one month of receiving your application.
If you apply for £500 or more (or you put in more than one application and together they come to £500 or more), we will need to pass your application to the Access to Elected Office Fund Advisory Panel to review. We will let you know our decision within one week of the next panel meeting after we receive your application.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
How do I claim my funding?
If your application is successful, we will write to you with a formal offer letter and details of how to claim your grant.
Please remember the payment process is separate from the application process and will take place after the date you receive your grant letter. We will process your payment after you send us invoices and receipts for the items you set out in your application.
When you are ready to claim your funding, please send us invoices and receipts and a breakdown of the costs using the template we will give you. Once we receive these we will arrange your payment. We will process payments on the second and last Friday of the month.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
Do I have to claim my grant all at once?
No, you do not have to claim your grant in one lump sum. You may claim your grant in several smaller amounts instead of one full payment. For example, you may want to recover the costs of hiring a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter once or twice a month, rather than waiting to recover the costs all together in a single claim.
Your grant offer letter will explain the process for claiming your funding. Please remember that the total amount you claim must come to no more than the maximum amount awarded.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
Can I apply to the fund for payments I have already made?
As a general principle, we do not fund applications for payments you have already made (retrospectively). However, in recognition of the fact that the process of applying can take some time, if your application is successful, the fund will reimburse you for costs you have incurred from up to two months before the date of the grant offer letter, provided you can evidence them with receipts or invoices. However, you must not rely on this in advance of receiving a grant letter. Please do not assume that your application will be successful and run up costs that you cannot pay before you receive a decision about your application.
Last updated: June 21, 2012
What if my circumstances change after I receive my grant decision?
When you submit your application, you must make sure that all the information you have given is correct. However, if your circumstances change after we approve your application (for example if your health changes or your costs increase), we will deal with this on an individual basis. Please contact the case officer who approved your application.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
What if I am not selected to stand for election?
If we approve your application, the payment does not depend on you being successfully selected to stand for election. If unfortunately you are not selected, the fund will still cover your costs (up to the maximum amount awarded).
Last updated: June 18, 2012
What if I am not elected?
If we approve your application, the payment does not depend on you being successfully elected. If unfortunately you are not elected, the fund will still cover your costs (up to the maximum amount awarded).
Last updated: June 18, 2012
When will I receive payment?
Please remember the payment process is separate from the application process and will take place after the date you receive your grant letter. We will process your payment after you send us invoices and receipts for the items you set out in your application.
If your application is successful, we will write to you with a formal offer letter and details of how to claim your grant.
Payments will be made on the second and last Friday of the month.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
How will you pay me the grant money?
You can choose for us to pay your money by cheque or by BACS (electronic transfer).
If you want us to pay you by BACS (electronic transfer), you will need to send us a bank statement to prove the account you want us to pay the money into is your account.
Last updated: July 9, 2012
If my applications come to £500 or more, will they need to go to the Access to Elected Office Fund Advisory Panel to review?
If you apply for £500 or more, we will need to pass your application to the Access to Elected Office Fund Advisory Panel to review.
If you make one application for less than £500, and you then make a second application and together your applications come to more than £500, we will pass the second application to the panel to review.
For more information, please read the guidance notes.
Last updated: June 21, 2012
Who can act as an independent referee?
An independent referee should be someone who has known you for at least two years. They should be over 18 years and resident in the UK. They should be someone who works in a recognised profession or otherwise has good standing in your local community.
Your independent referee could be for example, a bank or building society official, an accountant, your director of studies if you are in further education, a senior teacher or governor at the school your child or children attend, a minister of a recognised religion, a justice of the peace, an accountant, a lawyer or barrister, your dentist, GP or other health professional, or a local government official.
An independent referee should not be someone who is related to you by birth or marriage, in a personal relationship with you or lives at the same address as you.
Last updated: July 9, 2012
If I successfully apply for a grant which is to be used in 2014, what is the latest date that I can submit a claim?
If you have an application approved for a grant that is to be used between January and March 2014, you will have until Friday 20th June 2014 to claim your money.
Last updated: July 4, 2012
Confidentiality
How do you use my information?
We will keep the information you provide in your application secure and in confidence. We will use it to make a decision about your application for funding, and to contact you about your application.
If your application comes to £500 or more (or you put in more than one application and they come to £500 or more together), we will pass it to the Access to Elected Office Fund Panel to review. We will remove your name from your application so it is anonymous.
Your personal details will not affect your application and we will not pass your personal details to anyone without your permission, unless we are required to do so in order to comply with the law.
We will pass anonymised information, such as the volume of applications from each region and the proportion of applications from men and women, to the Government Equalities Office to enable them to monitor the effectiveness of the fund.
For more information about how we use your information, please read our privacy policy.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
Do you keep my information confidential?
We will keep the information you provide in your application secure and in confidence.
For more information about how we use your information, please read our privacy policy.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
Will my information be kept anonymous?
Yes. If your application comes to £500 or more (or you put in more than one application and they come to £500 or more together), we will pass it to the Access to Elected Office Fund Panel to review, but we will remove your name from your application so it is anonymous.
Your personal details will not affect your application and we will not pass your personal details to anyone without your permission, unless we are required to do so in order to comply with the law.
For more information about how we use your information, please read our privacy policy.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
Do you pass my information to anyone else?
If your application comes to £500 or more (or you put in more than one application and they come to £500 or more together), we will pass it to the Access to Elected Office Fund Panel to review, but we will remove your name from your application so it is anonymous.
We will not pass your personal details to anyone without your permission, unless we are required to do so in order to comply with the law.
For more information about how we use your information, please read our privacy policy.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
Accessibility
Can you provide information in other formats?
Yes. If you need information on this website in Braille, in large print or audio, please contact us and we will arrange this for you.
If you would like information about the fund in Easy Read, you can download this using the link below.
Easy Read – Information about the Fund (pdf)
Last updated: July 10, 2012
Can I apply by post or over the phone?
Yes. If you would like to apply by post, by phone or by textphone, please contact us and we will arrange this for you.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
Organisations
How can I help promote the fund?
You can help promote the fund by linking to our website, including articles in your newsletters and other publications, and distributing leaflets. For more information please visit the resources page.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
How do I link to your website?
Linking to our website is a great way of promoting the fund. If you want to link to the Access to Elected Office Fund website, please contact us with your website address. We’ll provide a button and introductory text for you to use.
Last updated: June 18, 2012
Case Studies
Read about disabled people who are active in politics.
