Your home can be adapted in order to support you to remain living in your home safely and independently. The Welsh Government has produced guidance called ENABLE for organisations to use as a system to follow, which classifies adaptations as small, medium or large.
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.
The grant can be used for such things as:
- Facilitating access into and out of a property or specific area, e.g. ramping, widening of doorways, stairlift
- Providing suitable facilities, e.g. level access showering, adapted kitchen or track hoists
- Make a building safe for use, e.g. ambient temperature/ non fuel carrying heating system
- Make environmental improvements to enable the disabled person to safely live in their home, e.g. handrails, steplift or level areas
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.
The grant is a means tested one, which means we will have to consider your finances. If you get certain means tested benefits, such as Income support or Guaranteed Pension Credit you will not have to be fully means tested and you will receive a full grant (subject to grant maximum).
Grants for children are not means tested.
Other applicants may have to pay a contribution towards the work, depending on circumstances. You can have a provisional means test carried out which will give you an indication of your likely contribution before any assessments are made, if you are worried about what you may have to pay.
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 grant condition period is 10 years following completion of the grant
- The applicant must intend to live in the property as their only or main residence for the grant condition period or for such shorter period as his health and other relevant circumstances permit
- The works should be completed within 12 months of the approval, unless otherwise authorised
- The Statutory Test of Financial Resources as retained for Disabled Facilities Grants (HRGR 1996) applies
- A Local Land Charge will be placed on the property for the grant condition period
- Grant amounts over £5000 will become repayable if there is breach of grant conditions. (Exempted circumstances apply)
- Payments will be made retrospectively, upon Invoice, and after inspection of the works
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.
If the property is (to be) disposed of during the grant condition period, the Local Authority will consider the circumstances of the disposal (or sale) in relation to the amount of grant which is to be paid back.
Consideration will be given to the following circumstances;
- Repayment would lead to unnecessary financial hardship
- Disposal has been made for reasons connected with the physical or mental health or wellbeing of the recipient of the grant
- Disposal has been made for reasons connected with the physical or mental health or wellbeing of a member of the disabled occupants family
- Whether the disposal is made to enable the recipient of the grant to live with, or near, any person who is disabled or infirm and in need of care, which the recipient of the grant is intending to provide, or where the person to whom the recipient of the grant has moved to live with him or her intends to provide care of which the recipient of the grant is in need by reason of disability or infirmity
