Disabled facilities grants

Disabled Facilities Grants are mandatory grants for essential adaptations to give people with disabilities improved freedom of movement in and around their homes and give access to essential facilities.

What type of work does the grant cover?

Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants cover a range of works such as ramps, widening doors, creating ground floor bathrooms and replacing existing bathrooms.

The grant also covers specialist equipment like stair lifts, through-floor lifts, external step lifts, track hoists, wash/dry toilets, height adjustable baths and changing tables.

Who can apply?

You can apply for a disabled facilities grant if you are a disabled person who is an owner-occupier or tenant, or you are the parent or guardian of a disabled child.

If you are the owner-occupier or tenant and a disabled person lives with you, you may apply for a grant on their behalf. If you are a landlord, you may apply for a grant on behalf of your disabled tenant.

What is the maximum amount of grant?

The maximum grant we can pay is currently £30,000; however in exceptional circumstances the Council has the discretion to award up to £100,000. 

You may be required to make a contribution based on a means test, although there is currently no means test applicable form grant work expected to cost below £7,000.  Regardless of grant amount, the means test is not applicable for young people (under 19) or if you are in receipt of any of the following means tested benefits:

Income Support

Income related Employment and Support Allowance (not contribution-based ESA)

Guaranteed Pension Credit (not savings Pension Credit alone)

Income based Job Seekers Allowance (not contribution-based JSA)

Housing Benefit / Local Housing Allowance (tenants only)

Working or Child Tax Credit and earnings less than £15,050 per annum

Universal Credit

Additional flexible grants

From October 2018 Rossendale Borough Council introduced new measures available through the Disabled Facilities Grant, although a referral from an Occupational Therapist will be required.  These measures included; help with repairs or improvements to allow hospital discharge, maintenance of adaptation related equipment, and in some circumstances assistance with professional fees.  These new flexible measures are explained fully in the DFG policy.

Further Information

For further information on Disabled Facilities Grants, you can view our guide, and the policy is also available for more in depth information here DFG policy, or you can contact us using the details below.