Advice

Disabled Facilities Grant

If you are caring for a disabled person who is having difficulty accessing parts of their home they may be entitled to free disability equipment or small adaptations from their local council. For larger adaptations, they may be entitled to a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) from their local council, to help towards the cost of adapting their home, to make it more accessible and increase their independence.

A DFG is a mandatory grant. This means that a DFG must be given if the local council is satisfied that the work to the disabled persons home is both ‘necessary and appropriate’ to meet the disabled person’s needs, and ‘reasonable and practicable’, taking into account the age and condition of the property.

What can a DFG be used for?

DFG’s are provided for a range of home adaptations including:

• widening doors and installing ramps or grab rails
• improving access to rooms and facilities, for example with a stair lift, or level access shower
• improving access to a garden
• building an extension, for example a downstairs bedroom
• providing a heating system suitable to the disabled persons needs
• adapting heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use

Who can apply

The following people can apply:

• Disabled home owners
• Disabled tenants
• People who have a disabled adult or child living with them.

To get a grant there must be an intention to live in the property during the grant period. This is usually 5 years but this can be shorter depending on individual circumstances.

How much is a DFG

The maximum grant payable under a disabled facilities grant (DFG) is £30,000 in England. The actual amount of DFG that someone can get depends on a means test of the income and savings of the disabled person and their spouse or partner. There is no means test for a DFG if an application is made for the benefit of a child or a young person under the age of 19 for whom child benefit is payable.

The first £6,000 of any savings are ignored.

If the disabled person’s income and savings are below the test limits, there will be no need for them to contribute to the cost of the works.

If the disabled person’s income and savings are more than the test limits, then a contribution will be required from them towards the cost of the works.

The means test is complicated but you can use Foundations means test calculator to get an indication of how much will need to be contributed.

How to apply

Applicants need to apply directly to their local council. The local council will then assess (usually by an Occupational Therapist) the disabled person’s adaptations needs and make recommendations. The council must give a decision within 6 months following the assessment.

You can find out more about Occupational Therapy assessments and contact details for arranging an assessment here.

You can appeal to your council if you are unhappy with their decision.

If you appeal and you are still not happy, you can complain to the Local Government Ombudsman.

Further information

Foundations is an organisation funded by the government that provides information and self-assessment tools for DFG’s.

Disability Rights UK

Contact.org.uk for families with disabled children