Discounted Means Tested Support

Access Quality Care – Whatever Your Circumstances

At Pause, we believe everyone deserves safe, high-quality, professional support – regardless of financial situation.

Our Means-Tested Scheme offers discounted fees for eligible clients, including people on certain benefits, students, and older adults (state pension age). The scheme covers therapeutic counselling, ADHD assessments, autism assessments, and family mediation.

Who Can Apply

You may qualify if you are any of the following:

  • Receiving income-related benefits (e.g., Universal Credit, Income Support, ESA (income-related), JSA (income-based), Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Pension Credit).

  • A full-time student (college or university).

  • An older adult (state pension age) on a low or fixed income.

  • Experiencing temporary financial hardship (e.g., redundancy, carer responsibilities, or a major life change).

If you’re unsure, please apply – we’ll review your situation sensitively.

What’s Included

  • Counselling/Therapy sessions (remote or in-person)

  • ADHD & Autism Assessments (NICE-aligned, MDT sign-off)

  • Mediation (family & workplace) – including court-related matters (Coming soon)

  • Optional payment plans available (e.g., Klarna instalments) alongside the discount

How the Process Works

  1. Apply Online (5–7 mins)
    Complete our short means-tested application form. You can flag urgent needs.

  2. Upload Brief Evidence
    Use our secure upload portal. We only ask for what’s necessary (see “What Proof Is Needed?” below).

  3. Decision Within 2 Working Days
    We’ll confirm your discount band and send booking links (or waiting list information if you prefer in-person only).

We treat every application confidentially and in line with UK GDPR and our clinical governance policies.

What Proof Is Needed?

Please provide one or two of the following (clear photos, scans, or PDFs are fine):

  • Benefits: DWP letter (dated within the last 12 months) or current Universal Credit statement.

  • Student Status: Student ID card and current enrolment/confirmation of study.

  • Older Adult on Low Income: Pension Credit letter or evidence of low income (e.g., Council Tax Reduction).

  • Temporary Hardship: Recent letter confirming redundancy, carer allowance, or similar; or a bank statement snippet showing relevant changes (you may redact unrelated lines).

(You can redact National Insurance numbers and unrelated transactions – only share what’s needed.)

Fairness & Safeguarding

  • Consistent Criteria: Every application is reviewed against the same scale.

  • Verification: We may ask brief follow-up questions to ensure the correct banding.

  • Annual Review: Discounts last for 12 months; we’ll invite you to renew if you still qualify.

  • Limited Subsidised Slots: To protect clinical capacity and quality, a portion of weekly appointments is reserved for this scheme. If full, we’ll offer the next available slot or remote alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the discount affect clinical quality?
No. All clients receive the same high standards – qualified clinicians, MDT oversight, NICE-aligned assessments, robust governance, and transparent outcomes.

Can I combine a discount with instalments?
Yes. Where suitable, we can offer instalment plans (e.g., Klarna) alongside a means-tested discount.

What if my situation changes?
Tell us and we’ll re-review your band. If your income decreases, we may increase support; if it rises, we’ll adjust fairly at renewal.

Will my information be kept confidential?
Absolutely. Your documents are handled securely, used only to confirm eligibility, and retained for the minimum necessary period in line with UK GDPR.

Can organisations refer staff or family members?
Yes. We accept GP, SENCO, employer, insurer, and self-referrals. We’ll apply the same transparent criteria.

How to Apply

  1. Complete the Means-Tested Application Form - Click here to be redirected to the Google form

  2. Upload Your Documents Securely

  3. Receive Your Discount Decision and Booking Link

Need help with the form? Email us or call – our team will guide you through it.

Accessibility & Commitments

  • Plain-language forms and optional telephone support

  • Reasonable adjustments for disability or communication needs

  • Interpreter options available for assessments by prior arrangement

  • Zero tolerance for stigma – dignity, respect, and compassion, always

Important Notes

  • Discounts cannot be applied retrospectively to completed sessions.

  • Missed appointments are charged per our standard cancellation policy.

  • We reserve the right to pause or update the scheme terms to maintain clinical quality and fairness.

Financial Circumstance Typical Discounts Details

On Universal Credit, ESA, JSA, or Income Support 25–30% Support for those receiving income-related benefits to make therapy and assessments more affordable.

Low-income working households (under £25,000 annual income) 15–25% Designed for individuals or families who are working but finding full fees difficult to manage.

Students or young people under 25 10–20% A reduced rate to support those in education or early in their careers.

Severe hardship or discretionary cases 40- 50% In exceptional circumstances, we may offer a higher discount depending on individual needs.

Ready to pause..?

Apply now for the pause... Means-Tested Discount Scheme