Royal Hospital for Children for Patients, Carers & Visitors
Q. Who is eligible to claim from this fund?
To claim under the Young Patients Family Fund you must be:
- the parent/primary carer; or
- sibling (aged under 18)
of a patient (also aged under 18) who is receiving inpatient care in Scotland.
You must also be ordinarily resident in Scotland and have incurred allowable expenses as a result of visiting the young inpatient in hospital.
Q. What is a primary carer?
An individual who, while not the biological parent of the young inpatient, has parental responsibility and is therefore responsible for their care and upbringing.
Q. What does ordinarily resident in Scotland mean?
Those who normally live in Scotland are considered to be ordinarily resident in Scotland.
Q. What can I claim for?
You can claim up to £8.50 per day for food and non-alcoholic beverages* and for one return journey to the hospital by car or public transport. Should overnight accommodation also be needed the hospital may be able to arrange this for you. Where hospital accommodation is not available, suitable and reasonable overnight accommodation costs will be reimbursed in full.
Reasonable is defined as the most cost effective accommodation available; higher-cost alternatives will be reimbursed in full where a clear and necessary justification has been provided.
*If the hospital provides you with meal tokens to be used to purchase food in the hospital or they provide meals direct to you then you must not also claim for food costs at a limit of £8.50 per day.
Q. Do I need to keep receipts for the expenses I have incurred?
You will need to provide receipts for the cost of any journey by public transport or for any accommodation that has not been booked by the hospital. You will not need receipts for any food and non-alcoholic beverages you have been required to purchase during a visit to a young inpatient*.
*If the hospital provides you with meal tokens to be used to purchase food in the hospital or they provide meals direct to you then you must not also claim for food costs at a limit of £8.50 per day.
Q. The hospital have given me meal tokens/vouchers to use – can I still claim for food I have purchased?
No, if you have been provided with meal tokens/vouchers or meals from the hospital you cannot also claim for the cost of any additional food or drink you purchase during your hospital visit.
Q. How do I make a claim?
Before making a claim claimants must read the Terms and Conditions and sign the declaration on the claim form.
Forms are available to download at Young Patients Family Fund form - YPFF - mygov.scot and the ward the young inpatient is on may also have hard copies available.
You should follow the instructions on the claim form when making a claim.
Q. Does each eligible visitor need to submit a separate claim form?
No, claims for multiple visitors can be made through the same claim form. However, each claimant can submit separate claim forms if they wish.
Q. How will I confirm that I am entitled to claim?
Your claim form will have to be verified and signed by a health professional on the ward in which the young inpatient is receiving care.
Q. I see that siblings can claim under the fund – is there a limit on how many family members I can claim for?
No, as long as a visitor is ordinarily resident in Scotland and a:
- parent
- primary carer (an individual who, while not the biological parent of the young inpatient, has parental responsibility and is therefore responsible for their care and upbringing); or
- sibling aged under 18
of a young inpatient then they can claim under the fund.
Q. I need to travel by taxi – can I claim for this?
Taxi costs are not generally covered under the fund however they may be provided in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed in advance with staff at the hospital.
Taxi journeys taken without prior agreement may not be reimbursed.
Q. Why does the fund only cater for siblings under the age of 18?
Allowing siblings under 18 to claim using the fund means many parents will not have worry about the costs of bringing them to see their brother or sister – something they may be required to do should they not be able to source childcare.
Siblings over the age of 18 are deemed to be able to care for themselves should a parent/primary carer leave the family home to visit another child in hospital.
Q. My baby is in neonatal care – should I use a form associated with the previous Neonatal Expenses Fund when submitting a claim?
No, the Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF) incorporates the previous Neonatal Expenses Fund so the new YPFF form should be used.
Q. I want to visit my partner who is under 18 – can I claim?
No, only parents/primary carers or siblings (under the age of 18) can claim from this fund.
Q. I have to make frequent trips to outpatient appointments with my child. Will I be able to claim?
No, the fund will not cover the cost of outpatient visits. However, claims for travel costs associated with outpatient appointments to hospital settings can still be made through the NHS Patient Travel Reimbursement Scheme.
This scheme means that children up to the age of 16 (or up to 19 if in full time education) can apply to have their own travel costs and those of an escort (such as parent/carer) covered when attending outpatient appointments.
The reimbursement is automatic for children living in the Highlands and Islands but is means tested elsewhere in Scotland. The Travel Reimbursement Scheme does not cover subsistence or accommodation costs associated with outpatient appointments. You can find out more information here.
Q. My child is receiving treatment in England – can I claim from this Fund?
No, claims for travel costs for children receiving treatment in England can be made through the NHS Patient Travel Reimbursement Scheme.
Q. I am not ordinarily resident in Scotland but my child is in hospital due to an accident on holiday here – can I claim?
No, only those ordinarily resident in Scotland can claim under the fund.
Q. Will having a claim from the Fund accepted affect my benefit entitlement?
You will need to consider your own personal circumstances and satisfy yourself that any other financial support you receive is not affected by receiving payments through the YPFF.
However YPFF payments will generally not affect income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), income based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support and Housing Benefit and benefit entitlement.
Payments under the YPFF may however affect Universal Credit if your total combined claim to YPFF exceeds £6,000 per year, or if, when added to any other capital you might have, your total capital exceeds £6,000.
Q. I am unhappy that my claim has not been approved – what do I do?
In the event of a query or complaint, this should be directed to the Cashier at the hospital where the claim is being made or to the relevant finance team.
