Help with adaptations and repairs

If you’re disabled, you may be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to adapt your home. The DFG helps disabled people make essential changes to their homes, making it safer and easier to get around and manage everyday tasks. Adapting your home can restore or enable independent living, privacy, confidence, and dignity for you and your family.

Who can apply?

You can apply for a DFG if you’re:

• An owner, tenant, or landlord applying on behalf of a tenant.
• A disabled person intending to live in the property for at least five years.

The disability must be long-term and can be due to:

• Physical illness or injury.
• Major sight, hearing, speech, or mental health problems.
• Learning disabilities.

To qualify, an assessment must be completed by an Occupational Therapist (OT). They will work with you to identify the most suitable solutions for your needs. The OT may identify alternative options, rather than adaptations. The OT will only recommend adaptations if all other options have been explored, and they will discuss this with you.

What can the grant cover?

Examples of adaptations are stair lifts, level access showers, door widening and ramps.

Adaptations are tailored to your specific needs to support your independence and comfort.

We will carefully consider whether the proposed works are both necessary to meet your specific needs and appropriate for your home. This ensures that the adaptations provide a practical, cost-effective solution to help you live more safely and independently. We will assess your circumstances, the condition and structure of your property, and the long-term benefits of the proposed changes before making a decision.

How much can you get?

Maximum Grant Amount: You could receive up to £30,000, including any ancillary costs like structural engineer or agency fees.

Means Test: The grant amount depends on your household income and savings over £6,000. Only the income and savings of the disabled person and their spouse or partner are considered. You won’t have to contribute towards the cost if you receive certain means-tested benefits, such as:

• Income Support
• Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
• Guarantee Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Universal Credit

The means test does not apply to applications in respect of a disabled child or young person under 19.

Where the cost of an adaptation exceeds the statutory maximum of £30,000, we can potentially provide up to a further £20,000 towards the adaptation. This is discretionary funding and subject to available budget, and must be approved by a Panel.

This video helps to explain Disabled Facilities Grants

How to enquire

If you have not already been contacted by an OT or OT Assessor, you will need to request an assessment from our Community Access Team:

• Online: Adult Social Care
• Phone: 0300 123 7034

More information can be found on our Let's talk health and wellbeing pages.