Disabled Facilities Grant

Disabled Facilities Grants are "to modify an individual's home environment in order to restore or enable independent living, privacy, confidence and dignity for individuals and their families." 

What is a Disabled Facilities Grant?

Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) are available from local housing authorities under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 up to the value of £30,000, for essential improvements and repairs and the provision of facilities for disabled persons in dwellings, qualifying houseboats, caravans and the common parts of buildings containing one or more flats. Applications are accepted for works including:

• Improving access to the home – for example ramps and half steps
• Improving access and movement in the home – for example hoists and stairlifts
• Providing suitable hygiene facilities -  for example bathroom and toilet facilities

Eligibility for a Disabled Facilities Grant

To be eligible for a DFG you must meet the following criteria:

• You or someone living in your property must be disabled
• You or the person you’re applying for can own the property, or be a tenant, but you must intend to live there during the "grant period" (currently 5 years)
• The requested adaptation must be "necessary and appropriate" to meet your needs 
• The requested adaptation must be "reasonable and practical" for your home environment
• A DFG cannot be given for work that is already in progress or that has been completed, you must apply for DFG funding before you start any work at your property

Financial Assessment

The amount of each grant depends on a financial assessment to decide if you need to pay anything towards the cost of the work. Disabled children under 18 can get a grant without their parents’ income being taken into account.

The DFG Application Process

The DFG process is currently overseen by The Building Control (Hertfordshire) Company

To discuss the help you need and start your application for a DFG:

• If the request is for an adult: please contact the Hertfordshire Adult Social Care Services  
• If the request is for a child: a health professional should contact the Hertfordshire Children Services 

The approval of application involves:

1. Assessment by an Occupational Therapist to consider ways of managing your situation and if equipment or an adaptation is "necessary and appropriate" to meet your needs. 
2. Decide if any proposed work is "reasonable and practical" for the property, given its age, layout and condition. If your property is unsuitable for the adaptations work required, we will help you to look at other options - including moving home. 
3. You will be given an Application Form to complete. Once the completed form, with the relevant evidence has been received, a financial assessment will be carried out. Depending on the outcome of the said financial assessment, you may be expected to pay a contribution towards the cost of the work or if you choose a more expensive option.
4. Formal permission from the property owner or landlord will be required for tenants applications
5. When the agreed work has been completed it will be inspected and signed off by Building Control

Repayment of Disabled Facilities Grants

The Secretary of State has set conditions to be observed where an application for a grant has been approved. The grant condition have effect from the certified date for 10 years.

The grant funding will be recorded as land charge on the Council’s records. You may have to repay the grant if it is over £5,000 and you move or sell your home, or it is no longer your main place of residence, within 10 years of the works being completed.