The ILF Scotland Coming Home Fund is open to new applicants in Scotland from 3 August 2026.
Applications can only be made by local authorities on behalf of potential Recipients through ILF Scotland’s online portal. All applications must be fully agreed in advance with the individual or the appropriate family member, or other responsible adult on behalf of the potential Recipient.
The local authority should therefore engage directly with potential Recipients prior to applying to ILF Scotland. We will direct any enquiry we receive from individuals about applying to the ILF Scotland Coming Home fund to each local authority through its preferred contact route.
You can view the contacts for each local authority here.
The online application screens will look like this:
ILF Scotland Coming Home Fund will focus on people with learning disabilities and complex support needs who are recorded in the Red category of the Dynamic Support Register (DSR), the highest priority level on the Register.
Coming Home funding is prioritised for people with a learning disability and complex support needs who are:
The funding is designed to complement, not replace, support provided by local authorities / HSCPs. The funding is not normally intended to support outcomes that are the responsibility of another public body such as the local authority or HSCP, however, please refer to additionality of ILF section below.
The applications should indicate from the above list, the priorities that the Coming Home funding is intended to support and confirm that the potential Recipient meets the Access Principles of the ILF Scotland Coming Home Fund:
The application supports one of the following outcomes:
All applications should be supported by:
All applications will be assessed by ILF Scotland on a case-by-case basis. If we need additional information, we will contact the local authority practitioner who completed the application.
If the application does not meet the Access Principles of the ILF Scotland Coming Home Fund, we will contact the local authority to discuss further. If this results in the application being declined, we will notify the local authority of our decision in writing.
If the application contains all required information and meets the Access Principles, we will contact the local authority practitioner who made the application to arrange an assessment visit. This will be undertaken by an ILF Assessor.
A local authority and / or other relevant practitioner should attend the assessment visit with the ILF Assessor to ensure the best outcomes for potential Recipients.
Applications that meet the Access Principles will be allocated to an ILF Scotland Assessor who will contact the local authority practitioner to arrange an assessment visit.
After the assessment visit, we will decide whether funding can be offered. If the application is successful, we will notify the local authority practitioner who completed the application and send an offer letter, an Agreement Form and a copy of the Your Responsibilities Guide to the potential Recipient and / or their representative. We cannot make any payments until the completed Agreement Form has been returned to us.
If the application is unsuccessful or if the individual, their representative, or other involved party, is unhappy with any aspect of the funding decision made by ILF Scotland following the assessment visit, they can request a review of that decision in line with our published policy. Policy 13 - Decision Review Requests.
If you wish to enquire further before applying to the Coming Home Fund, please speak with the ILF Coming Home Lead in your local authority or you can contact ILF Scotland via cominghome@ILF.scot
ILF Scotland’s existing policy framework, agreed by Scottish Ministers, has been revised as necessary to incorporate the Access Principles of ILF Scotland Coming Home Fund. An overview is set out below.
Coming Home funding supports people to move towards, or maintain, independent living. This means having choice and control over where and how they live, who provides their support, and how they participate in their community.
ILF Scotland may provide funding to help overcome barriers to independent living, including moving from hospital or an inappropriate out-of-area placement into suitable accommodation and support arrangements.
People living in registered care settings are not normally eligible for ILF Scotland funding. However, an exception may apply for individuals recorded as Red on the Dynamic Support Register (DSR) where funding supports a planned move to independent living.
See Policy 19 - Independent Living.
To remain eligible to receive ILF Scotland funding, the local authority must be providing services or funding to a value at least equal to a Threshold Sum. For Coming Home Recipients, an individual relevant Threshold Sum will be agreed once the joint funding arrangements between the local authority / HSCP and ILF Scotland are established prior to the ILF Scotland award going into payment.
We expect this threshold funding to be maintained, as a minimum, at the level agreed at successful application. If a local authority plans to reduce their contribution, it must discuss this with ILF Scotland prior to any change. This is to ensure that any reduction in local authority funding does not place the ILF award in jeopardy. ILF Scotland must be satisfied that all joint awards are safe and sustainable, and may expect any reductions, where these are agreed to be appropriate, to be shared between the joint funders. This is in line with the Joint COSLA / ILF Scotland Statement that confirms that early notification will be given of any reassessment of need and adjustment to the total level of funding provided by either the local authority or ILF Scotland. This Joint Statement will be reviewed in due course in relation to the Coming Home Fund.
ILF Scotland usually expects and requires the local authority to be the majority funder. For Coming Home Recipients, ILF Scotland may on a case-by-case basis, and at the discretion of its Senior Leadership Team, be the majority funder on a temporary or longer-term basis.
See Policy 24 - Statutory Input to ILF Scotland Funding and Policy 41 - Use of ILF Scotland Funding.
There is no maximum payment for Coming Home Recipients.
See Policy 20 - ILF Scotland Payments.
The Coming Home Fund should be accessible to those who are unable to manage their own affairs. ILF Scotland policies emphasise supported decision making, rather than substitute decision making, where possible.
For potential Recipients without legal capacity, suitable third parties should be a person legally appointed as Guardian, or active Power of Attorney (POA), or a local authority, or a responsible adult identified by the local authority and / or the HSCP and agreed by ILF Scotland. In line with GIRFE principles, family members should be involved as appropriate.
See Policy 26 - Managing an ILF Scotland Award and Policy 17 - Financial Management Support and Payroll Services.
Coming Home funding is intended to complement, not replace, existing local authority funding responsibilities. However, on a case-by-case basis, ILF Scotland may provide funding for support, services or items that would normally fall within statutory responsibilities where this is necessary to prevent inappropriate placements, avoid delayed discharge from hospital, or reduce the risk of support breakdown for someone living at home. Funding may be agreed on a temporary or longer-term basis where this helps an individual achieve or maintain independent living.
For Coming Home Recipients with fluctuating support needs, ILF Scotland may also, on a case-by-case basis, consider funding additional costs beyond the agreed award where this is necessary to meet changing needs. Any such funding will be subject to assessment and approval by ILF Scotland.
See Policy 36 - Short Term Care and Policy 41 - Use of ILF Scotland Funding.
It is important for the success of the Coming Home Fund that ILF Scotland and local authorities work well together, because of the local authority’s knowledge of their own populations, and because each hold key information that will be required for an ILF award to be approved. However, from the outset, the Recipient should always be at the centre of a three-way relationship with ILF Scotland and their local authority.
The existing ILF Scotland policies intend to maximise flexibility, choice and control for Recipients while ensuring appropriate use of public funds and that there is no compromise to welfare benefit entitlement. ILF Scotland funding should only be used as agreed. ILF awards are public funds, not private or personal income.
See Policy 41 - Use of ILF Scotland Funding
Note that for Coming Home Fund Recipients ILF awards can be made in any combination of:
You can view all ILF Scotland Independent Living Fund policies on the ILF Scotland website.
