Home improvements - Disabled Facilities Grant for Private Properties

The Disabled Facilities Grant is available for a range of work that will help a disabled person remain in their home.

You must have a permanent or substantial physical disability and the adaptations must be tailored to meet your needs.

You can apply for a grant if you are:

• a tenant or owner of a property in Solihull and if the adaptations are to be carried out at your main or only residence
• a landlord on behalf of a disabled tenant

The person applying for the grant does not have to be the person needing the adaptations.

However, the person applying for the grant will be asked to sign a certificate stating the disabled person will occupy the home being adapted for at least five years. The time can be shorter depending on the disabled person's health or other relevant factors. Whoever applies for the grant must produce a certificate of ownership or tenancy.

What type of work is eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant?

Disabled Facilities Grants are awarded for essential adaptations to give a disabled person better freedom of movement around the house. This work includes:

• widening doors or installing ramps
• providing a specially adapted room in which it is safe to leave a disabled person unattended
• installing a stair lift so there is better access to a bathroom, kitchen, or bedroom
• installing a downstairs bathroom

Does the Council have to give me a Disabled Facilities Grant?

We have to ensure that the work is:

• necessary
• appropriate

and

• reasonable
• practicable
• feasible

We can refuse a grant if we believe the scheme does not fit these criteria.

Once you have made an enquiry, and if you meet the criteria, an Occupational Therapist or Occupational Therapy Assistant from the Council will visit your home to see how you manage and discuss your particular needs.

How is the Disabled Facilities Grant calculated?

The grant is means tested to ensure that those in the most need get the most help. This will be determined by the income and capital of:

• the disabled person
• the disabled persons spouse or partner

It will take into account:

• a person's average weekly income
• any savings above a set amount

Some benefits, especially those that recognise a person's disability are not included. If your resources are less than your assessed basic needs you will be given a full grant.

If your resources are more than your assessed needs you will be given an 'affordable loan' for some of the work costs and a grant for the remainder of the costs.

How do I apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant?

Contact the Occupational Therapy Team for an assessment using the contact details below. They will then make a recommendation on the type of equipment or adaptation that you need to the Home Improvement Agency. They will provide all the necessary documents and calculate your contribution, if any. If you feel you are unable to pay the amount calculated, or that your contribution has been calculated incorrectly, you can discuss this with the Home Improvement Agency.

Before you start work

You will need to make sure that any building regulation approval or planning permission has been granted before you start work.

You will not get a grant if you have started work before the Council has approved your application.

How will the Disabled Facilities Grant be paid?

We may pay the grant in instalments as the work progresses or once all the work has been completed.

Your grant will only be paid when we are satisfied the work has been satisfactorily completed and in accordance with the grant approval. Grants can only be paid on provision of:

• an invoice
• demand
• receipt
  

The grant may be paid directly to the contractor or in a form that you can pay them once the work has been completed.

An invoice is not acceptable if it is for work or service provided by the applicant or a member of his or her family.

When work is carried out by the applicant or a relative, only invoices for materials or services that have been bought will be acceptable.

Please contact us using the details below for more information.

Contact Details

Occupational Therapy Team

Tel: 0121 329 0191

Home Improvement Agency

Tel: 0121 717 1435