• What are Disabled Facilities Grants?
• Who can apply?
• What will I have to pay towards the cost of the works and how much will I receive?
• Who decides what work I can have done?
• What type of work can I get help with?
• What information will the council require before approving my application?
• Can I get help with submitting my application?
• Who can do the work?
• When can the work start?
• What do I do now?

What are Disabled Facilities Grants?

For adaptations for those with disabilities Disabled Facilities Grants provide financial assistance towards the cost of providing adaptations and access to facilities to enable a disabled person to continue to live in their home.

Who can apply?

The person for whose benefit the work is to be carried out must be disabled.
A person is considered to be disabled if
(a) his sight, hearing or speech is substantially impaired,
(b) he has a mental disorder or impairment of any kind,
(c) he is substantially disabled by illness, injury, or impairment present since birth, or otherwise.

The applicant does not have to be the disabled person. An application can be made by the owner or tenant of the property

What will I have to pay towards the cost of the works and how much grant will I receive?

The amount that you will need to contribute towards the cost of the works will depend on the financial circumstances of the disabled person and their partner. All applications for disabled facilities grants are subject to a statutory means test which will determine the amount that you will need to contribute. If the contribution is higher than the cost of the works your application is deemed to be unsuccessful and you will not be eligible for a disabled facilities grant. If the contribution is lower than the cost of the works, the grant awarded will be calculated by deducting the contribution from the cost of the works. In the event that you do not have to find a contribution you will receive a grant to meet the full cost of the eligible works (subject to the maximum grant limit of £25,000).

Where the disabled person and/or their partner is in receipt of income support, income-based job seeker's allowance or pension guarantee credit you will not have to make a contribution.

Where the disabled person is a child there is no means test.

The council can usually calculate your contribution at an early stage in order to ascertain the likelihood of you receiving a grant, prior to a full application being submitted. In many cases, this may be possible over the telephone, provided that you are able to supply the council with the relevant information.

Please contact the Private Sector Housing Team on 0845 606 6174.

Who decides what work I can have done?

Prior to processing an application for a Disabled Facilities Grant the local authority must be in receipt of a written recommendation from an occupational therapist. If you have not already done so, you are advised to contact Social Services to make arrangements for an assessment to be carried out. The occupational therapist will only recommend what they believe to be essential for the disabled person's needs.

The council will then assess the recommendation to determine whether the proposals fall within the scope of the grant scheme and are reasonable and practicable having regard to the age and condition of the property.

What type of work can I get help with?

The type of work undertaken is dependent on the needs of the individual concerned and must be included on the occupational therapist's recommendation. Works typically funded by Disabled Facilities Grants include:

• alterations to heating systems
• alterations to sanitary facilities
• installing ramps and paths
• installing stair lifts
• providing or improving access to bedrooms, bathrooms, toilets, etc
• widening internal and external doorways.

What information will the council require before approving my application?

You will need to submit:

• The completed application form (and in some cases documented evidence of your financial situation)
• At least two itemised estimates for the relevant work
• An Owner or Tenant's Certificate
• A Certificate of Title (for owner applications)
• Plans and schedules (where necessary)

Should the works require Planning Permission, Building Regulation Approval or Listed Building Consent, the grant cannot be approved until these applications have themselves received approval.

Can I get help with submitting my application?

Yes - Hanover at Home agency will assist you in making your application The fee for their services is eligible for grant aid.

Who can do the work?

You may choose the contractors to estimate for the work (where you employ the services of the agency they can do this on your behalf). Whilst the grant is based on the lowest estimate, you may employ another contractor - although it must usually be one that has quoted for the work.

When can the work start?

You should not start work until your grant has been approved. Grant aid will not be made available for any works that have commenced irrespective of whether the work is eligible for grant.

What do I do now?

For more information visit the Customer Services Direct website.

Either - contact Social Care Services Customer First on 08456 023023 to arrange a visit from your occupational therapist or for more information and advice on disabled facilities grants please contact the Private Sector Housing Team on 0845 6066174.