Adaptive equipment and home or vehicle modifications can be essential to helping people with MS live independently. This grant assists with the purchase of items such as walking aids, bath safety, scooters, ramps, cooling vests, air conditioners, service dogs and more.
The National MS Society, Upper Midwest Chapter can provide limited financial assistance to help purchase independent living aids to any person with multiple sclerosis who’s registered with the chapter.
Funding guidelines
Items eligible for this financial assistance grant include manual and power wheelchairs; wheelchair parts and batteries; scooters; large bath safety products; seating and pressure reduction products, such as specialty mattresses and wheelchair cushions; home and vehicle modifications; air conditioning units; walkers; exercise equipment; transfer aids, such as stair glides and electric lifts; and urological products. Please call the chapter to inquire about eligibility of an item you don’t see in this list.
All equipment, new and used, will be subsidized by a sliding fee scale:
|
Grant sliding fee scale |
|
|
Balance |
Amount of MS Society grant |
|
$25 to $200 |
20% |
|
$200.01 to $400 |
30% |
|
$400.01 to $700 |
40% |
|
$700.01 and up |
50% |
Alternative resources for reimbursement (i.e. Medicare; Medical Assistance; private insurance; and/or state, county or private funding) must be explored before applying for the chapter’s grant.
The grant can assist with a maximum of $1,500 per person, per fiscal year. Fiscal years run Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.
Application process
- Contact the Upper Midwest Chapter at 800-582-5296, and press “1” to request an application and places in your area to purchase eligible items.
- Complete the application and send it to the National MS Society, 200 12th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55415, along with written confirmation of MS diagnosis and a prescription stating medical need for the item by your physician.
For more information call 800-582-5296 (option 1).
We thank the companies who support the National MS Society by housing the Equipment Loan Program equipment at their businesses.
- National Seating and Mobility Duluth
- North Central Medical Brainerd
- Advanced Therapy Surfaces Maplewood
- Handi Medical St. Paul
Sponsorship of society programs does not connote that the National Multiple Sclerosis Society recognizes superiority in products or services provided by the sponsoring entity over other entities providing like or similar products or services.