Newcastle Borough Council - Disabled Facilities Grant

Housing

Owner Occupiers

Disabled Facilities Grant

What is a Disabled Facilities Grant?

Ramp to allow wheelchair access

A Disabled Facilities Grant is money from the council to adapt the home of a person with a disability to enable them to continue to live there. A grant is offered when the council considers that the changes are necessary and appropriate to meet specific needs and that the work proposed is both reasonable and practical.

Who can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant?

You can claim if you, or someone living in your property, has a disability and:

You or the person on whose behalf you are applying, are either the owner or tenant (including licensees of the property); and
You, or the persons on whose behalf you are applying, intend to occupy the property as your/their only or main residence.

What type of work does the grant cover?

Ramp A grant can be used for adaptations to help getting into and around the home or to provide or enable access to essential facilities within it, include access to, or making a garden area safe. Common types of work that are funded include:

Making it easier to get into and out of the dwelling, for example widening doors or installing ramps.
Providing or improving access to a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom including water closet by installing a stair lift, or providing a downstairs bath/shower room.

How quickly could I get help?

The council responds to applications for a grant as quickly as it can. Every case is different and the time taken will depend on several factors such as the complexity of the work, whether drawings are needed and the time taken for the contractors to provide quotes. In 2009/10 the average time from submitting an application to the work being finished was 23 weeks.

What is the maximum amount of grant?

The law requires local authorities to provide grants up to a maximum of £30,000; however, in exceptional cases the council can increase this amount to £35,000. The amount of grant will take into account the cost of the work and any eligible fees or charges.

What will I have to pay?

Walk in shower The Disabled Facilities Grant may meet all, or part, of the cost of the adaptations. The grant is ‘means tested’ for those over 18 years old to ensure that help goes to those who have the most need. The means test will take into account the income and savings of the disabled person and their spouse or partner.

If you are getting one of the benefits listed below you will not be required to pay a contribution unless the cost exceeds the maximum grant or you want to pay privately for extra work.

Income Support
Pension Credit Guarantee,
Local Housing Allowance (Housing Benefit),
Council Tax Benefit, Working Tax Credit (with low income)
Child Tax Credit (with low income)

Please be aware that if the recipient disposes of the premises for which the grant was given within 10 years of the certified date then the council may require that part of the grant is repaid.

How will I know if I am eligible?

You are entitled to submit an application for a Disabled Facilities Grant at any time but the needs of the person with a disability would need to be assessed by an occupational therapist (OT). If the OT considers that adapting the property is the best course of action they will make a referral to the Borough Council.

In some circumstances Staffordshire County Council will provide a free occupational therapist assessment – telephone 01782 296005 for adults or 0800 1313 126 for children.

An assessment and referral from a competent NHS or independent OT may also be acceptable. These could be faster but you may have to pay for this and the council would then have to consult the County Council for its comments on the assessment. The cost of an independent OT assessment can be included in the grant if your application is successful.

What support is available?

We understand that you may require help with your application and so the council provides funding for a Home Improvement Agency to give you the help and support you may need. The agency is the Revival Home Improvement Agency and their contact details can be found overleaf

Where can I get further information?

Further information about the grant, the procedure and what standards you can expect can be obtained from the council by phoning the Housing Team on 01782 742562 or by opening the useful document below

National information on Disabled Facilities Grants can be obtained from the council’s website at www.newcastle-staffs.gov.uk/housing or by visiting the Direct.Gov website at www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople