Disabled Facilities Grant

If you, or someone living in your property has a disability, you may be able to get a disabled facilities grant.

This grant helps with the cost of providing adaptations and facilities to enable you to continue living in your own home.

If you live in a council property and have a disability which makes living in your accommodation difficult, follow the guidance below and call 01582 54 76 60 for an assessment. Any adaptations that are agreed for council tenants will be funded separately and you won't need to apply for the grant itself.

What kinds of works are funded by a Disabled Facilities Grant?

These grants are available for a range of works needed to help someone with a disability remain living more independently in their home.

Some examples of the kind of works that the grant could cover include:

widening doors or adding ramps to allow access to the property
providing suitable and accessible bathroom facilities
providing access to the upper floors of the dwelling

What is the first step in obtaining a DFG?

Your first step should be to contact 01582 54 76 60 and ask for a visit from an occupational therapist. They will assess if the person with the disability would benefit from adaptations to the home and how best these could be achieved. If they decide that necessary and appropriate adaptations can be made to the property, they will make a referral to the private sector housing team.

While the assessment by the occupational therapist is being carried out, you may wish to contact the private sector housing team for an informal financial assessment. This will help you to understand what, if any, contribution you wil be expected to make towards the cost of the proposed works to your home.

What is the next step?

Once the occupational therapist's referral is received, a private sector housing officer will write to you and arrange to survey your property. This is to decide what works are reasonable and practical and how they can be built.

You will then need to complete an application form and give details about your household income and outgoings. The process can take some time - your private sector housing officer will be able to give you an estimate of the likely time needed to complete all the stages of any agreed work.

How much grant will I receive?

DFGs have a limit of £30,000 although the council may offer you a loan to cover the cost of any works above this limit.

All applications will be subject to a financial assessment, which will look at the resources of the individual and their spouse/partner. This test will determine how much (if anything) you will need to contribute towards the cost of the work.

The test is quite complex but essentially, the less your income, the less you will be expected to pay.

Can I choose the kind of work that will be done?

We have a duty to spend public funds wisely and we always try to help as many people as possible, and to find the most cost-effective solution within your existing home.

With this in mind, our preferred adaptations are as follows:

The installation of a stairlift (or throughlift where appropriate) giving access to the whole of the property
The installation of a stairlift (or throughlift where appropriate), together with adaptations to the existing first floor bathroom
The provision of a shower/WC cubicle on the ground floor with the disabled person sleeping in one of the existing ground floor rooms
The provision of an extension to provide washing/toilet facilities on the ground floor with the disabled person sleeping in one of the existing ground floor rooms
The provision of an extension to provide a bedroom and washing/toilet facilities on the ground floor

How will the works be carried out?

Once the necessary works have been agreed by everyone a schedule of works will be drawn up. You will then need to seek estimates from builders, as well as submitting any necessary Building Regulation and Planning Approvals.

This all sounds complicated - I think I need help!

The council has an agency service which can undertake many of these stages on your behalf including:

assistance in completing the application forms
preparing plans and obtaining the relevant consents and planning approvals
selecting builders
supervising the building work

If you would like further information please contact the supervising officer or the private sector housing team on 01582 54 72 22.

Can I appeal if I am unhappy with the grant offer?

Applicants who are unhappy with the offer are entitled to appeal to the Housing Appeals Panel. This panel of elected members will hear the appeal and make a final decision on the case.

How can I get further information?

If you have any queries about the disabled facilities grant, please contact the private sector hosing team on 01582 54 72 22.
If you wish to discuss a DFG or arrange for an occupational therapist to give you an assessment call 01582 54 76 60.