Question

Assalamualaikum wr wb,

Can you please advise whether the disability money of a dementia patient can be used by her carers to install a new kitchen and appliances. There are two families living with the dementia patient (her son and daughters family) and they will also be paying some money towards this too but most of the money will be used from the disability money of the dementia patient.

Jazakhallah

Answer

Generally, such allowances are accompanied with guidelines as to what the money should or shouldn’t be used for. You should follow these guidelines.

From a technical religious stand point the money is considered a gift to the patient. If the patient is unable to make decisions for themselves then their guardians/carers will have to step in and make decisions for them. If the new kitchen and appliances are going to significantly enhance the comfort of the patient and be of benefit to them then there would be scope to use their money. However, if it is not necessarily going to benefit the patient, rather the other occupants will be benefitting more, then the disability allowance should not be used. Rather, the other members should pay for the new kitchen and appliances themselves.

Answered by:
Ifta Research Fellow

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel