Disabled Facilities Grants

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Gilda

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Edited on 29/10/2016 at 16:35

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Gilda

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Last activity on 03/02/2023 at 15:26

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You might know, or not, that if you are in need of making some renovations at home because of your disability, you can ask the government to pay it.

To do so, here is a small guide of what is covered, how and what is needed to apply.

Hope it is helpful :)

You could get a grant from your council if you’re disabled and need to make changes to your home, for example to:

* widen doors and install ramps

* improve access to rooms and facilities - eg stairlifts or a downstairs bathroom

* provide a heating system suitable for your needs

* adapt heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use

(A Disabled Facilities Grant will not affect any benefits that you’re getting.)

How much you get depends on your:

* household income

* household savings over £6,000

Country Grant

England > Up to £30,000

Wales > Up to £36,000

Northern Ireland > Up to £25,000

Scotland > Disabled Facilities Grants are not available - find out about support for equipment and adaptations

Depending on your income, you may need to pay towards the cost of the work to the property.

Disabled children under 18 can get a grant without their parents’ income being taken into account. Contact your local council for more information.

!! You might not get any grant if you start work on your property before the council approves your application.

How you’ll be paid

You’ll be paid either:

* by instalments - as the work progresses

* in full - when the work is finished

* The council may pay the contractor directly, or give you a cheque to pass on - they’ll agree this with you when they approve your application.

When you’ll be paid

You’ll be paid either:

* when the council is happy with the finished work

* when you give the council the invoice, demand or receipt for payment from the contractor

* Normally, if you (or a relative) does the work the council will only accept invoices for materials or services you’ve bought.

Eligibility

You or someone living in your property must be disabled. Either you or the person you’re applying for must:

* own the property or be a tenant

* intend to live in the property during the grant period (which is currently 5 years)

* You can also apply for a grant if you’re a landlord and have a disabled tenant.

The council needs to be happy that the work is:

* necessary and appropriate to meet the disabled person’s needs

* reasonable and can be done - depending on the age and condition of the property

!! You might not get any grant if you start work on your property before the council approves your application.

Planning and building regulations approval

You need to apply separately for any planning permission or building regulations approval.

The council may ask you to employ a qualified architect or surveyor to plan and oversee the work. If you get a grant, you can use it towards the cost of their fees.

How to Claim

https://www.gov.uk/disabled-facilities-grants/how-to-claim

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robjmckinney

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11/01/2016 at 15:31

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robjmckinney

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Last activity on 18/05/2025 at 16:11

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No so easy if you own your own home!

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robjmckinney

Disabled Facilities Grants https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/procedures-and-paperwork/disabled-facilities-grants-722 2016-01-11 15:31:26

Gilda

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12/01/2016 at 11:00

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Gilda

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Last activity on 03/02/2023 at 15:26

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Yeah? Why @robjmckinney ? Could you care to tell us more about?

Thanks for sharing :)

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Your Community Manager

Disabled Facilities Grants https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/procedures-and-paperwork/disabled-facilities-grants-722 2016-01-12 11:00:33

robjmckinney

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12/01/2016 at 11:54

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robjmckinney

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Owning your own house means you have assets, so not entitled to the grant. I have had access to it and used in in modifying my home as a council flat. But in cases with relatives accessing the grant it was impossible due to owning their own home as their assets exclude them. They can sometimes depending on the council and cuts get small bits and pieces like grab rails and ramps but a lot has been cut. Most councils don't allow you to directly access the grants but operate independently of the government system and the mods are done by council facilities and specific official.

The major issues is the assessment which has to be done by a occupational therapist usually through the SS within the council. They have large waiting list and can take up to 12 months and our last one we paid a private occupational to do the report which cost a few hundred pounds. Once that assessment has been done things can move on quite quickly but don't do anything before you have had the occupation therapist report. Each individual councils have their own procedures and interpretation of the rules.

I have had two council flats modified to our needs with two separate councils, Portsmouth and Cambridge. Each have different rules and many cuts and what they will fund. I have had two kitchens adapted for our needs, higher work services, toilet that washes your intimate areas, raised sockets, wet room instead of bath etc. One council supplied kitchen appliances the other did not, so find out the rules first. Most councils are stopping supplying small aids but thankfully Ebay have now most items delivered to your home much cheaper than local specialised supplier's. Specialised cutlery, window openers, foot cleaners, bum wipes, ramps etc. etc. are all supplied through Ebay and you can compare widely the prices as it seems to be licence to rip us crips off so very useful to look at many suppliers in one place.

I have also tried to get adaptions for my parents with different councils again but because they owned their home very little help was available. But it is always worth trying as we did get ramps built by a councils carpenter but as I have stated much has been cut back!

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robjmckinney

Disabled Facilities Grants https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/procedures-and-paperwork/disabled-facilities-grants-722 2016-01-12 11:54:30

diesels

19/01/2016 at 17:17

diesels

Last activity on 20/11/2021 at 19:57

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How do I go about getting a new heating system please

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D Drain

Disabled Facilities Grants https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/procedures-and-paperwork/disabled-facilities-grants-722 2016-01-19 17:17:11

robjmckinney

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20/01/2016 at 10:23

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robjmckinney

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This grant is about disabled adaption and needs like kitchen units lowered for wheelchair users, toilets that wash and dry, ramps, wet rooms etc. I don't know if replacement heating system is covered, perhaps thermostats fitted to radiators etc. You may find offers off your energy supplier as well as the local council may help depending on your needs and benefits. But the adaptions are to allow a disabled person to live independently within their home, I am not sure heating is covered. But there may be cases, certainly as a cancer sufferer temperature was a massive issue and remained a permanent problem. If you live in a council property contact them to identify what help they offer, good luck!

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robjmckinney

Disabled Facilities Grants https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/procedures-and-paperwork/disabled-facilities-grants-722 2016-01-20 10:23:32

12gills

30/01/2016 at 15:59

12gills

Last activity on 19/05/2025 at 08:40

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Intresting reading about grants as both of my sisiters have been told they can apply for wetrooms. one was for my sisters husbandwho sadly died before they where able to get it. But my other sister has been told she can apply for one. (she is divorce, but does not work) both own there homes and its 2 different councils that they pay there rates to. x

Disabled Facilities Grants https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/procedures-and-paperwork/disabled-facilities-grants-722 2016-01-30 15:59:43

robjmckinney

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31/01/2016 at 10:54

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robjmckinney

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Hi 12gills

Are they council or social housing or private homes, through the grape vine some are saying it is getting quite difficult and did they use a occupational therapist to access the grant?

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robjmckinney

Disabled Facilities Grants https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/procedures-and-paperwork/disabled-facilities-grants-722 2016-01-31 10:54:50

12gills

01/02/2016 at 10:56

12gills

Last activity on 19/05/2025 at 08:40

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As far as i know its occupational therapist or social services who you need to get in touch with to get access with grants. Here where i live there is a carers centre who have information and they help people get in touch with the right people to get them what is needed

Disabled Facilities Grants https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/procedures-and-paperwork/disabled-facilities-grants-722 2016-02-01 10:56:00

Unregistered member

01/02/2016 at 20:36

I've had hep c 1a since 2004 and I've got a personality disorder aswell don't go out off house much am on dla and income support but now it all changing there said there lost my files now it changing to pip and now am gettin stressed again so will I have to claim again there gave me 6 week to get all hospital letters And doctors note there asked for a face ta face assement and can't go anyway as I can't use public transports get really mad to where my temper and mental health get me locked up or section again am not good at explaining things thank you for reading my letter jubby X

Disabled Facilities Grants https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/procedures-and-paperwork/disabled-facilities-grants-722 2016-02-01 20:36:49

12gills

03/02/2016 at 21:22

12gills

Last activity on 19/05/2025 at 08:40

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tell them that you are not able to attend an interview ask them to do a home visit. make sure someone is with you when they come as well

Disabled Facilities Grants https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/procedures-and-paperwork/disabled-facilities-grants-722 2016-02-03 21:22:46

Disabled Facilities Grants

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