Disabled Facilities Grants
If you or someone living in your property is disabled,
you may qualify for a Disabled Facilities Grant towards the cost of
adapting your home.
Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) are provided in
accordance with the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration
Act 1996 (as amended).
How much is the
DFG
?
Up to £30,000 to cover the cost of adaptations, VAT and any
fees.
Applicants have to complete a Test of Resources so that we make
sure our help goes to those in the mose financial need. If the
adaptation is for a child or young person, a Test of Resources is
not carried out. People in receipt of certain income-related
benefits will also be 'pass-ported' through the Test of
Resources.
Who is eligible for a
DFG
?
You can claim if you, or someone living in your property, is
disabled, and:
-
you, or the person on whose behlaf you are applying, are either
the owner or tenant (including licensees) of the property
-
you can certify that you, or the person on whose behalf you are
applying, intend to occupy the property as your/their main
residence throughout the grant period of five years
The applicant must be over the age of 18 so will not necessarily
be the disabled person - for example, a parent or guardian will
apply for an adaptations for the benefit of a disabled child. A
landlord may also apply on behalf of a disabled tenant.
What works will the
DFG
pay for?
Adaptations and provision of facilities that meet one or more of
the following criteria:
- to make it easier to get into and out of the home
- to make the home safe for the disabled person and other
occupants
- to provide access to, and within, the main family room,
bedroom, kitchen, bathroom (or washing facilities) or garden
- to improve or provide a heating system, or to adapt heating or
lighting controls
- to improve access and movement around the home for a disabled
carer
The DFG
will only pay for the adaptations assessed by the Council as
'necessary and appropriate' and 'reasonable and practicable'. If
you decide to carry out further works, or want the adaptations
providing in a different way, you will be responsible for the
difference in costs between our recommendtaion and your proposed
scheme.
For example, if the recommendation is for the conversion of a
ground floor room into a bedroom (say, £10,000) but you decide that
you want an extension instead (say, £22,000), we would contribute
the equivalent value of converting the ground floor room, and you
would pay the rest. In this example, you would pay £12,000.
Does the Council have to give a
DFG
?
We have to apply three tests to determine whether a DFG can
be give:
- Is the adaptation 'necessary and appropriate' to meet the
disabled person's needs? (determined by an occupational therapist -
OT)
- Is the adaptation 'reasonable and practicable', taking into
account the nature, layout, age and condition of the property?
(determined by the Private Sector Renewal team)
- Based on a Test of Resources, does the applicant qualify
financially? (determined by the Private Sector Renewal team.
If we are satisfied that all three criteria have been met, then
a grant can be awarded. We must make a decision on your grant
application no later than 6 months after receipt of a valid
application.
IMPORTANT! We will not award a DFG for any works started or
completed before you receive written grant approval.
What if the works cost more than £30,000, or aren't feasible to
carry out?
If the works cost more than £30,000, you may be able to apply
for Additional Disabled Facilities Assistance.
If the works aren't feasible, for example can't be carried out
in your property or would be too costly, you may be able to apply
for Disability Relocation Assistance.
Do I have to repay the
DFG
?
Only if you own your home, the DFG is for more than £5,000 and
you sell or transfer your home or it is no longer your main
residence, within yen years of the work being completed.
You will only have to repay any part of the grant in excess of
£5,000, and the maximum repayment is £10,000. For example, if you
had a grant for £7.500 you would repay £2,500. If you had a grant
for £18,000 you would repay £10,000.
How do I apply for a
DFG
?
There are two ways you can apply for a
DFG
:
- You can contact the Initial Response Occupational Therapy Team
to request an assessment, who, if they think an adaptation is
needed, will refer you to the Private Sector Renewal team for a
Disabled Facilities Grant. A preliminary Test of Resources is
carried out at an early stage to give you an indication whether you
qualify financially for a grant, and your local Home Improvement
Agency can help you to organise drawings and quotes, apply for the
grant and oversee the work once the grant is approved;
or
- You can apply directly to the Private Sector Renewal team. We
recommend that you seek the views of an OT before you start your
application, to ensure that the adaptation you are applying for is
considered to be 'necessary and appropriate'. Your application must
include details of the premises to be adapted, details of the work
to be carried out (including planning permission and building
regulations approval if necessary), at least two itemised estimates
from contractors, proof of ownership and/or consent of all owners,
and details of any preliminary or ancillary fees. We will then
carry out a Test of Resources. A standard application form is
available upon request.
Useful contacts
Private Sector Housing team -
information about applying for a grant
Your local Home Improvement Agency -
support with carrying out repairs and adaptations.
Referral and Advice Team - for an Occupational Therpaist
assessment - tel 01625 374028