Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG)

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 most 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 behalf 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 recommendation 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:

1. Is the adaptation 'necessary and appropriate' to meet the disabled person's needs? (determined by an occupational therapist - OT)
2. Is the adaptation 'reasonable and practicable', taking into account the nature, layout, age and condition of the property? (determined by the Private Sector Housing team)
3. Based on a Test of Resources, does the applicant qualify financially? (determined by the Private Sector Housing 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.

Information about these two types of financial assistance are available from the Private Sector Housing team.

We are currently consulting on the draft Private Sector Housing Financial Assistance Policy which sets out the types of loans and grants we will offer for help with home repairs and adaptations. The consultation runs from 6th December 2011 to 24th February 2012.

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 ten 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 :

1. 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 Housing 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 Care & Repair can help you to organise drawings and quotes, apply for the grant and oversee the work once the grant is approved; or
   
2. You can apply directly to the Private Sector Housing 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
• Care & Repair - support with carrying out repairs and adaptations.
• Referral and Advice Team -  for an Occupational Therapist assessment - tel 01625 374028