A disabled facilities grant can help toward the cost of adapting your home, to make it suitable for a disabled person. This could be, for example, to:
- widen doorways
- install ramps or grab rails
- improve accessibility around your home, such as a stairlift.
You can apply for a disabled facilities grant if you or someone living with you:
- is disabled
- is the owner or tenant (including licensees) of the property
- can confirm that you intend to occupy the property as the main residence for the duration of the grant period, which can range from 5 to 20 years depending on the amount of grant.
Disabled facilities grant do not affect any benefits you're currently receiving. For more information, please visit GOV.UK's advice on disabled facilities grants.
Apply for a disabled facilities grant
To apply for adaptations to your home, you can apply by contacting our Adult Care, Connect and Direct team.
Depending on your circumstances, adaptations may be funded by a disabled facilities grant, another funding option or other support could be offered. Our team will consider your needs and will support you with the adaptations you feel you need or they may discuss other options with you.
If you are a landlord, you can apply for a disabled facilities grant on behalf of your disabled tenant by contacting our Adult Care, Connect and Direct team.
Application process
After you've contacted us, we'll assess your needs and we'll carry out a financial assessment (means test) and an inspection of your home. We'll then provide you with a schedule of changes to be made to your home and we might ask you to:
- get estimates for the changes to be carried out
- get any required planning consents or building regulation approvals
- make a formal application to us for the grant or funding.
We will then approve the grant and your contractors will carry out the changes to your home. It is important that you do not arrange for the work to begin until you've received our written approval for the grant.
Home adaptation timescales
There is no set timescale for how long it will take to get an adaptation, as it depends how quickly you return your completed application to us.
You should let us know as soon as possible if you experience delays in getting estimates or completing your application form. We may be able to help you with getting estimates and to complete your application.
The law states that we must consider your application and either approve or refuse it within six months of the date your complete grant application is made. We understand the need for adaptations to be delivered as soon as possible. When we receive a fully completed application, our aim is to approve the grant within one month.