Disabled Facilities Grant (Medium) - Mandatory
Up to £36,000 of grant aid to cover disability adaptations and equipment to enable persons to maintain independence in their home.
What work does this cover?
The Disabled Facilities Grant can be used for adaptations and equipment required to enable a person to maintain independence in their home, or to ensure that they can receive proper assistance from a carer.
Discretionary DFGs are available for medium works to adapt a property to suit the particular needs of a disabled person who resides at the property. Assistance is given to:
- Facilitate access
- Provide suitable facilities
- Make a building safe for use
- Make environmental improvements to enable the disabled person to safely live in their home
Medium works include (but is not limited to):
- Level access showers
- Stairlifts
- Ramps (moderate ramps where Building Control and Planning is not required)
The above are only some examples of what the grant can be used for.
Each application needs to be accompanied by recommendations from an Occupational Therapist. You should contact the Occupational Therapist in the first instance, so that they can make a full assessment of your needs. Please ring 01545 574000 to enquire.
Who qualifies?
Anybody considered by an Occupational Therapist to require qualifying works can apply for the grant. You can be a tenant or an owner of a property, but if you are a tenant you will need the landlords consent to carry out the work.
Tenants and owners must intend to live in the property throughout the grant condition period (of 10 years) and landlords must agree that the tenant can remain as well as agree to the work.
How much will I get?
The maximum grant amount is set at £36,000. This includes any work, equipment costs, vat if applicable, and all fees associated with the work (such as administration, arrangement or agent fees.) The amount of grant will be determined by the department and will depend upon quotes obtained as well as any fees that you may need to pay. You need to wait for notification of the grant award before beginning any work. Payment for the work will be upon receipt of Invoice and is usually made straight to the contractor, after inspection.
How will I organise the work?
The Local Authority has a supervisory service to help applicants to make an application for the grant. The supervisory service will measure up the property to produce a scheme of work, including drawings where necessary, obtain quotes for the work, including for specialist equipment, and sort out any issues as they arise. They will help you to fill in the application form and sort out the financial information that you may need to provide.
Grant conditions, including repayment;
- The Council advises that this grant is only available through the services of the Council’s Adaptations In-house supervisory service
- There will be no repayment conditions on this grant
In cases of suspected fraud or deception - It is the policy of the authority to actively pursue, identify and investigate suspected instances of fraud and deception.