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TSA Support Fund

Information about the discretionary TSA Support Fund grant, including how to apply

The Tuberous Sclerosis Association (TSA) understands that Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) can have a devastating impact on all areas of life, including finances.

The TSA Support Fund is here to support people in the TSC community who are at severe financial crisis. Anyone in the TSC community can apply, providing that you’re in receipt of certain benefits, like Universal Credit or Carer’s Allowance.

Households that are eligible can apply for a TSA Support Fund payment once within a 24 month period.

Although we always review applications as quickly as possible, this could take up to six weeks.

Click here to fill out the TSA Support Fund application form online

If you’d rather complete the application form by hand, please download a printable version here.

The TSA Support Fund is not limited to a specific area. However, it’s intended for people who are in severe financial hardship. The maximum someone can apply for is £300.

We cannot judge what will or will not help ease the financial burden you or a loved one may be experiencing, which is why the criteria for the fund is very open. Some of the things that the TSA Support Fund can help with include:

  • Adaptions to a home, such as wheelchair accessibility
  • Household items, such as a washing machine
  • Respite relief, such as a short holiday, a meal, or day out
  • Travel costs to attend a TSA event

There are some things that the TSA Support Fund is not applicable for:

  • Where a statutory authority has a responsibility to pay for the item needed
  • Something you’ve already paid for, booked or ordered
  • Costs associated with debt

You can apply for the TSA Support Fund if you:

  • Aren’t in a household that applied for and received a TSA Support Fund payment within the last 24 months
  • Have TSC yourself, or are directly affected by TSC (such as if you’re a sibling of someone with TSC and have felt the impact of the condition on your life)
  • Are a parent or carer of someone who has TSC
  • Live in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales
  • Can show that you’re eligible to receive one or more of the following:
    • Universal Credit
    • Housing Benefit
    • Personal Independent Payment
    • Employment and Support Allowance
    • Carer’s Allowance
    • Attendance Allowance
    • Jobseekers Allowance
    • Pension Credit

If you need help applying for any of the above benefits or if you want to find out what you may be entitled to please take a look at our ‘Access benefits and financial aid‘ page.

Grant applications to the TSA Support Fund can be for up to a maximum of £300.

If your application is successful, you must wait at least 24 months before submitting another application. This is to make sure that we can help as many people as possible.

If your application is successful, you will need to spend the money within six months and we will need proof of purchase. Any successful applicants will be responsible for any ongoing or additional costs incurred from the item that they purchase the support fund with.

To apply for the TSA Support Fund:

  • Complete the application form
  • Make sure that you have given us details of any benefits you receive
  • Make sure that you have given us a quote for the item(s) you want the grant to go towards

If you fill out a paper application form, please send it to the TSA team by either email (support@tuberous-sclerosis.org) or post: TSA Support Fund, c/o Nightingale House, 46-48 East Street, Epsom, Surrey, KT17 1HQ.

The TSA will contact you within three weeks of receipt of your application. As part of the review of your application, the TSA might request a reference from someone within health/social care or education.

We aim to notify you of the outcome of your application within six weeks of receipt.

If your application hasn’t been successful, we will let you know the reasons why and you will be able to make another submission should you choose to do so.

There are no application deadlines and the TSA Support Fund is available all year around. However, you can only apply for the fund once every 24 months.

Our small and friendly team of TSA Support Line Advisers will be happy to talk you through the TSA Support Fund. Contact the TSA Support Line (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm) through telephone (0808 801 0700), email (support@tuberous-sclerosis.org) or webchat.

 “I cannot tell you how financially difficult things have been for us, and without help and support from the TSA we couldn’t get the essential items that we so desperately needed. I’m such a proud person and never like to ask for anything, but you have to swallow that pride and understand that the TSA are there to support you through the good and bad times. I cannot thank them enough.”
– TSA Support Fund recipient

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 “The TSA Support Fund is a lifeline for people who really need help. For us, a laptop was necessary for our daughter’s educational needs, as she is now home-schooled due to the frequency of seizures. This really helped with her learning. The TSA, for us, means a lifeline.”
– TSA Support Fund recipient

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Make a one off or regular  donation

£10 Can allow us to send a welcome pack to a family who has just received a life-changing TSC diagnosis, ensuring that they do not go through this time alone.

£25 Can help us develop materials that are included in our support services, flagship events or campaigns.

£50 Can provide laboratory equipment for a day’s research into the causes, symptoms, management or treatment of TSC.

To provide help for today and a cure for tomorrow