Disabled Facilities Grant

A Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) helps pay for adaptations to your home so you can live safely and independently.

For private and housing association properties, a DFG may be available to fund essential adaptations that enable a disabled person to remain living in their home. 

The grant is available to eligible disabled people of all ages.

Who can apply

You may be able to get a Disabled Facilities Grant if you need adaptations to your home because of a disability.

You can apply if you are a:

• homeowner
• private tenant
• housing association tenant
• landlord applying on behalf of a disabled tenant

If you are a Croydon Council tenant, you can still request adaptations. Adaptations to council-owned properties are usually funded through the Housing Revenue Account rather than through a Disabled Facilities Grant.

The person applying for the grant does not have to be the disabled person who needs the adaptations.

Whoever applies must provide proof of ownership or tenancy and sign a certificate confirming that the disabled person intends to live in the property for at least 5 years after the work is completed, unless their health or circumstances make this unreasonable.

Disabled Facilities Grants for adults are usually means tested.

Your application will be assessed to make sure the proposed adaptations are:

• necessary
• appropriate
• reasonable
• practical
• possible

We may refuse an application if the proposed work does not meet these criteria.

Children under 18

Adaptations for disabled children can also be funded through a Disabled Facilities Grant. 

If you are the parent or guardian of a disabled child under 18, contact: 

CRYSTAL Centre Occupational Therapy team
Telephone: 020 8274 6854
Email: Ch-tr.croydonchildrensOT@nhs.net

Adaptations for disabled children are not means tested.

How much grant you can get

The maximum Disabled Facilities Grant available is £30,000.

This includes all:

• building works
• professional fees
• planning costs
• VAT, where applicable

What the grant can be used for

Disabled Facilities grants are available for essential adaptations that help a disabled person move around and use their home safely and independently.

Adaptations may include:

• widening doorways
• installing ramps
• creating a safe room where a disabled person can be left unattended
• installing a stairlift to provide access to a bedroom, bathroom or kitchen
• installing a downstairs bathroom
• level-access showers and wet rooms
• wash and dry toilets
• installing or improving a heating system
• adapting heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use
• bespoke extensions to an existing property
• improving access to a garden
• insulation
• telecare and assistive technology

The adaptations must be necessary and appropriate to meet the disabled person's needs and practical to carry out within the property.

How your grant is calculated

Disabled Facilities Grants for adults are usually means tested. This helps ensure funding is targeted towards people with the greatest financial need.

The means test looks at the income and savings of:

• the disabled person
• their spouse, civil partner or partner, if they live together

The assessment may take into account:

• earnings
• pensions
• certain benefits
• savings and capital above a specified amount

Benefits paid because of a person's disability are not included in the assessment.

Savings

There is no limit on the amount of savings you can have. However, your savings may affect the amount of grant you receive.

If you live with a partner

The financial assessment takes into account the income and savings of both you and your partner if you live together.

Financial assessment

When you apply, you will be asked to complete a financial assessment form.

The information you provide will be used to determine whether you need to contribute towards the cost of the adaptations and, if so, how much.

For more information or to request a financial assessment form, contact the Housing Grants and Special Support Team.

How to apply

Step 1: Request an occupational therapy assessment

Before you can apply for a grant, you must have an assessment by an occupational therapist.

You will need to provide:

• the address of the property to be adapted
• details of the adaptations you think may be needed
•  your name and contact details

Request an occupational therapy assessment:

Start now
 

Step 2: Occupational therapy assessment

An occupational therapist will assess your needs and consider which adaptations will help you live safely and independently in your home.

If adaptations are considered necessary, they will make a recommendation for the work required.

Step 3: Submit a grant application

If adaptations are recommended and you wish to proceed, you can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant.

You must not start any work before grant approval has been given. If work starts before approval is issued, we will not be able to award a grant.

Step 4: Grant decision

Once we receive a valid application, we will write to you with our decision within 6 months.

If your application is approved, we will confirm:

• the adaptations that have been approved
• the amount of grant funding available
• the next steps in the process

Help with your application

Homeowners and private tenants

You will be assigned a caseworker who can help you complete the application form and guide you through the process.

Housing association tenants

Your housing association should provide support and assistance with your application.

How long it takes

The time taken to process a grant application will vary depending on:

• the urgency and complexity of your needs
• waiting times for an occupational therapy assessment
• the nature and complexity of the work required
• the time taken to obtain landlord or owner consent, where required
• the availability of contractors, materials and specialist equipment
• how quickly you provide the required information
• whether planning permission or other approvals are needed

Once we receive a valid application, we must provide a written decision within 6 months. Any approved grant must be paid within 12 months of the application date.

How the grant is paid

Once your grant application has been approved, we will pay the agreed amount either:

• in instalments as the work progresses
• as a single payment when the work has been completed

We will only make a payment when we are satisfied that the work has been completed in accordance with the grant approval.

You must provide invoices or receipts before payment can be made.

The grant can be paid:

• directly to you, so that you can pay the contractor
• directly to the contractor

If you carry out the work yourself

If the work is carried out by you or a relative, we can only reimburse the cost of materials and services directly related to the approved adaptations.

You must provide invoices or receipts as evidence of these costs.

Repaying the grant

If you own your home and receive a grant of more than £5,000, a local land charge will be registered against the property.

If you sell or transfer the property within 10 years of the work being completed, you may be asked to repay part of the grant, up to a maximum of £10,000.

You will not be asked to repay a grant of £5,000 or less.

Applying for more than one grant

There is no limit to the number of Disabled Facilities Grants you can apply for.

Each application will be considered on its own merits and assessed against your current needs.

Maintenance and repairs

Once any warranty or guarantee period has ended, you will usually be responsible for maintaining the adaptation.

If you are a tenant, responsibility for maintenance may depend on your landlord's policies and tenancy agreement. You should check with your landlord if you are unsure.

Work that has already started

You cannot get a Disabled Facilities Grant for work that has already started or been completed.

You must wait until formal grant approval has been given before any work begins.

This ensures that the proposed work can be assessed as necessary, appropriate, reasonable and practical before funding is approved.

Equipment and independent living support

Not all equipment or adaptations require a Disabled Facilities Grant.

Living Made Easy provides impartial information and advice about equipment and technology that can help you live independently at home.

The service is provided by the Disabled Living Foundation, part of Shaw Trust, and includes guidance on products and solutions to help with:

• mobility
• personal care
• daily living activities
• moving around your home
• access outside the home

You can search for equipment, compare products and find advice about choosing the right support for your needs.

Further information

• Major adaptations referral process (PDF, 220KB)
• Financial assessment form
• Foundations
• GOV.UK guidance on Disabled Facilities Grants 

Contact us

For advice about occupational therapy assessments, financial assessments or Disabled Facilities Grants, contact the Housing Grants and Special Support Team.