Disabled Facilities Grant: up to £30,000 from your council

A Disabled Facilities Grant is money from your council to adapt your home if you are disabled. In England it is worth up to £30,000, in Wales up to £36,000 and in Northern Ireland up to £25,000. It does not have to be repaid and it will not affect any benefits you get.

Who can get a Disabled Facilities Grant?

You can get a grant if you, or someone else living in the property, is disabled and intends to live there during the grant period — usually five years, though it can be shorter, for example if the person is terminally ill.

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The council does not only look at physical disability. GOV.UK lists learning disability, age-related needs, autism, cognitive impairment such as dementia, a progressive condition such as motor neurone disease, terminal illness and mental health conditions.

The application can be made by the owner, the tenant or the landlord. Tenants in both social and private housing are therefore eligible to apply — a point many people miss, which is why they never try.

What work does the grant pay for?

The examples on GOV.UK include widening doors and installing ramps or grab rails; improving access to rooms and facilities, for example with a stairlift or a level access shower; improving access to your garden; building an extension such as a downstairs bedroom; providing a heating system suitable for your needs; and adapting heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use.

The council has to be satisfied that the work is necessary and appropriate to meet the disabled person's needs, and that it is reasonable and can be done given the age and condition of the property. The work should be completed within 12 months of the grant being approved.

How much will you get, and will you have to contribute?

How much you get usually depends on your household income and household savings over £6,000. Depending on your income you may have to pay towards the cost of the work. There are two important exceptions.

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First, disabled children under 18 can get a grant without their parents' income being taken into account. Second, landlords can get a grant without their income and savings being taken into account — though the council may ask for the property to be let to another disabled person if the current tenant moves out within five years.

The maximums are up to £30,000 in England, up to £36,000 in Wales and up to £25,000 in Northern Ireland. Some councils may give more. Disabled Facilities Grants are not available in Scotland, which has its own support for equipment and adaptations.

You can apply for another grant for the same property later if your condition changes.

How do you apply without losing the money?

You apply through your local council. The rule that costs people the whole grant is this: do not start work on your property before the council approves your application. If you do, you might not get any grant at all.

Planning permission and building regulations approval are separate applications — the grant does not replace them. The council may ask you to employ a qualified architect or surveyor to plan and oversee the work, and you can use the grant towards their fees.

When and how is the grant paid?

You will be paid either in instalments as the work progresses, or in full when the work is finished. The council may pay the contractor directly or give you the money to pass on — this is agreed when your application is approved.

Payment comes either when you and the council are happy with the finished work, or when you give the council the invoice, demand or receipt from the contractor. If you or a relative do the work yourselves, the council will normally only accept invoices for materials or services you have bought.