How much a grant can contribute to the cost of your adaptation
The current maximum amount a disabled facilities grant can contribute towards a cost of any adaptation is £30,000.
However, the actual amount a disabled facilities grant can contribute towards an adaptation depends on 2 things:
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The cost of the proposed work necessary to meet your needs. The proposed work has to be 'necessary and appropriate, reasonable and practical'.
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Adults
The outcome of a test of resources. This will take into account the income you receive and the interest from any savings you may have. This will then be used to work out the amount, if any, you have to contribute to the cost of the proposed works.
For example:
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A level access shower adaptation may cost £6,500. If your assessed contribution is £3,000, the disabled facilities grant will then pay the remaining £3,500 of the total cost.
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A level access shower adaptation may cost £6,500. If your assessed contribution is nil then the disabled facilities grant will fund the full cost
Children and young people with disabilities under the age of 19
There is no means test. So, a level access shower costing £6,500 would be fully funded by the grant.
If the cost of the work exceeds the amount of grant available we provide a small automatic top-up on the basis of a sliding scale.
However, where the cost of the proposed work exceeds the level of grant allocated (or the £30,000 maximum) the householder or applicant will usually be expected to fund any shortfall.
In some cases of hardship we may provide a top-up to the grant. If a top-up payment is made a legal charge may be placed against the property, so a proportion of this can be recouped if the property is sold. We will place a legal charge if the top-up provided is over £10,000.
Legal charge
Legal charge means that if the property adapted is sold within a certain time frame a proportion of the grant will have to be repaid. District councils can now place a legal charge on all grants between £5,000 and £10,000.
How long the adaptation process takes
Timescales for major adaptations will vary depending on the complexity and scale of the project. This will include any design and planning issues. We, in partnership with the district councils, have set up a new data base to track the progress of all major adaptations. We are currently exploring how we might extend access to enable people to track their own adaptations and our aim is to improve waiting times for individuals.
Council owned property
Upon receipt of the recommendation your district council will agree a priority for the work. This will then progress at a rate determined by the district council which will take into account urgency of your situation, the scale and complexity of work to be undertaken.
Privately owned, rented or housing association property
Your district council is required to give a decision on a grant application within 6 months of receiving the formal application.
Works funded by the grant have to be put out to competitive tender and we have a list of approved contractors who will undertake the work. However, in certain circumstances it is possible that people can engage a builder of their choice. The work undertaken would still have to meet the required standards and the grant cannot be used retrospectively to fund work already commenced.
Your district or borough council may be able to supply you with an information pack, including a step-by-step procedural document.