We use some essential cookies to make this website work. Please consult your finance department about what can be classed as capital expenditure. B70. However, there are a number of ways to manage these expenses in tandem with other local and national public services and programmes, including by: 7.11 Appropriate assessments are vital to making sure that assistive technology meets the needs of individual users and does not fall into disuse. 2.13 While the administration of DFGs is the responsibility of the local housing authority, it is important that other bodies and especially social services authorities and health commissioners, play a full and active part in strategic planning of home adaptations and related services. If you've taken out a loan to make home improvements you might be able to get a government loan to help with interest payments. Paragraph: 003 Reference ID: 63-003-20190626. A dwelling is defined as a building or part of a building (e.g. The level of specification should be appropriate to the job. 3.2 The wide-ranging powers enable authorities to give assistance to people directly, or to provide assistance through a third party such as a Home Improvement Agency, providing the assistance will improve living conditions in their area. The provision of facilities for strip washing is not an acceptable alternative to an appropriate bathroom. Disabled Facilities Grants: Overview - GOV.UK It may include some shared amenities such as communal gardens, but does not include support or care services. Local planning authorities can encourage the development of more affordable models and make use of products like shared ownership. Council Tax Disabled Band Reduction. These policies can set out how the plan-making authority will consider proposals for the different types of housing that these groups are likely to require. However, it remains important to maintain close collaboration with the social services authority to ensure an integrated approach to meeting the needs of the disabled person and the duty to consult still remains. Disabled facilities grants are grants provided by your local authority to help meet the cost of adapting a property for the needs of a disabled person. 1.6 This guidance is aimed at local authority staff at both local housing authorities (district councils, London boroughs and other unitary councils) and authorities responsible for the provision of social care services (county councils, London boroughs and other unitary councils). Shelter Legal England - Disabled facilities grants - Shelter England Many UK charities and trusts provide grants to help with the extra costs of ill health or disability. 4.6 To ensure the quality and consistency of response, local authorities should consider establishing a one-stop shop to channel the majority of initial enquiries or referrals to a preferred point of access, for example, a social services contact centre, or an agency service. the amount of grant they will pay, taking into account the estimated expense, the means test and the maximum amount of grant. Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. Usually the authority can make decisions about whether a child is to be treated as a child of the family by following decisions made about Child Benefit. Mortgage, Housing Grants, and Resources for Adults With Disabilities B42. The cost of equipment has also decreased as use of assistive technology has become more mainstream. In the regulations this is the relevant person. (1) A local housing authority may treat the condition in sections 7(1)(a), 19(1)(a) and 25(1) of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 as fulfilled by a person who has, or proposes to acquire, an owners interest in only part of the land to which an application for a grant relates if, (a) the relevant works include specified works which are to be carried out (in whole or in part) on land which is not the applicants land; and. 6.15 Establishing and maintaining a list of accredited contractors, hosting pre-start meetings, and signing formal contracts should minimise the requirement for ongoing supervision of building works on site. Greater use of adapted housing registers to make the best use of already adapted stock by enabling tenants to be matched effectively. Means tests are inherently complex and are not always appropriate. Only certain people can make a valid application - in many cases this will not be the disabled person themself. Capital expenditure typically includes expenditure on non-current assets such as land, buildings and plant and equipment. 7. B106. B73. We will only approve this Grant in exceptional circumstances. For example, where 2 siblings currently share a room but one is a risk to the other due to behaviours that challenge. - Local health services including NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) and telehealth services. Check out the full eligibility criteria for Family Fund grants. B35. Common specifications can save time and effort, although personal needs and properties differ, so these should be flexed where needed to meet the nature of each job. Where homes are already mortgaged the lender will insist on taking the first charge. standards of customer care such as keeping to appointments, keeping the site tidy, controlling noise etc. People told about the causes of delay are more likely to accept it and may offer ways to mitigate any problems. The relevant works could include adaptations to a part of the home to which the disabled person would not normally need access but which is used by a person they are caring for and therefore it is reasonable for such works to be carried out. What does it mean to have power of attorney? The specific form of means test will be for the authority to decide. Please see Appendix B paragraph B90 for more information on estimates for the cost of the eligible works. then the contractual relationship for carrying out the works will be between the applicant and the contractor. The course must last more than 12 hours a week not counting homework and meal breaks. For larger items such as stairlifts and through-floor lifts which may require structural works to the property, help is normally provided through the DFG. 5.18 All requests for financial information, and communication of the outcome, should be treated sensitively and with the highest level of confidentiality. It is important that any assessment should recognise a disabled childs changing developmental need and his or her progress towards maximum independence. A Disabled Facilities Grant can offer up to 30,000 of work to help you live independently in your own homes. People of all ages who are ill and/or disabled can apply for a grant. 10-year period during which housing providers are required to support shared owners with the cost of essential maintenance and repairs to your home. All rights reserved. The application should be made on your behalf by a medical, social care or charity professional. Be in financial need and unable to pay for the item/work yourself. Air conditioning or other cooling systems could also be considered where heat exposure can cause or heighten fatigue, numbness, blurry vision, tremors, confusion, imbalance, and weakness as associated with conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis. Further case study examples of innovative use of DFG funding are available on the Better Care Exchange and National Body for Home Improvement Agencies web sites. DFGs are designed to give disabled people a degree of independence in the home and should aim to meet current and anticipated future needs. forthwith to hold the property (or the vacant part of it) available for letting by persons nominated by the authority and to notify the authority of its availability for that purpose and of the terms upon which it is so available. Other housing grants in England and Wales. It is good practice to include awareness raising a part of private landlord forums and other engagement regularly undertaken by local housing authorities. B78. The following are examples from existing policies across England: 3.22 Within their policies, local authorities should state what associated preliminary or ancillary fees and charges will be paid. The private rented sector often plays a key role in providing accommodation including for homeless families, and supported lodgings for young care leavers. (b) if the equipment is to be removed, to remove it or arrange for it to be removed and forthwith to make good any damage caused to the property (whether by the authority themselves or the social services authority) by its removal. Some areas include a streamlined grant within their Housing Assistance Policy (see Chapter 3). To reduce the risk of installing inappropriate adaptations and to ensure consistency of practice, this guidance provides a set of written principles to assist professionals involved in the complex process of identifying what works are necessary and appropriate (see 4.44). However, your landlord must not refuse permission without a very good reason. The date on the initial enquiry should be regarded as the starting point for a request for assistance for measuring against the target timescales as set out in paragraph 4.16. This includes people with both physical and mental health conditions, and people who care for disabled children. It does not generally provide care services, but provides some support to enable residents to live independently. Last updated on 8 February 2021. Plus, you must have been refused funding from your local authority for the items you need. 1. Standard clauses for use in specifications or contracts should also be adopted wherever possible. It should make clear who is responsible for each action (including the client if more information is required) and should give a clear point of contact. The Disabled Facilities Grant (Condition relating to approval or payment of grant) General Consent 2008 gives housing authorities the discretion to impose a local land charge on a dwelling, if it is sold or otherwise disposed of within 10 years of the certified date. Find out more about Pride at Sense. Extended guarantees or a service plan (if purchased up front as part at the time of installation) can be considered as part of a grant award. This section of the guidance can help authorities to develop or review their policy. The Northern Ireland Housing executive website has information about these atwww.nihe.gov.uk/Housing-Help/Grants/Types-of-grants-available. they have a mental disorder or impairment of any kind, they are physically substantially disabled by illness, injury or impairment, they are an adult who is or could be registered under, they are a child or young person registered under, Who has to sign the required certificate containing information about the future occupation of the property (certificate of future occupation); and. B87. the primary role of government funding is for the provision of home adaptations to help eligible people safely access their home and key facilities within it. Under the Equality Act 2010 a person is disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. B59. It must have its only or main mooring within the area of a single local housing authority, have the right to be moored there and be registered for Council Tax. 5.13 Only certain people are able to make a valid application and in many cases this will not be the disabled person themself. (Applications on behalf of children or young people aged 17 years and under must be made by an appropriate adult). People in these circumstances should not be put in a queue to wait for a reassessment. For injured or disabled service personnel who live in Service Accommodation and continue to work in the Armed Forces, any adaptations for them or their dependents will be funded by the Ministry of Defence. This includes in circumstances where timely adaptations delivery can help facilitate people being safely discharged from hospital. The Census provides information on the number of people with a long-term limiting illness and plan-makers can access information from the Department for Work and Pensions on the numbers of Personal Independence Payment (replacing Disability Living Allowance) / Attendance Allowance benefit claimants. A complexity framework for home modification services has been developed in Australia which considers two aspects of complexity: 4.37 This model can be adapted to identify the cases where occupational therapy input will be most beneficial. B13. Doing this can also smooth the risk that a few exceptionally large applications take up a significant proportion of the overall budget for an individual area. They allow you to buy in and arrange help yourself instead of receiving it directly from your local council. It should set out how the strategic aims and objectives of an authority will be met by appropriate and effective actions. Local planning authorities should consider design principles when developing new housing in the context of the wider built environment, especially housing aimed at people with dementia. This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disabled-facilities-grant-dfg-delivery-guidance-for-local-authorities-in-england/disabled-facilities-grant-dfg-delivery-guidance-for-local-authorities-in-england. Grant applications are normally required to include at least 2 estimates from different contractors for the costs of the relevant (proposed)works. 4.5 Local authorities should consider using a single, integrated team to handle the whole adaptation journey from first contact to completion of the works. Evidence has shown that good quality housing and sensitively planned environments can have a substantial impact on the quality of life of someone living with dementia. The DFG means test is in place to ensure that DFG funding reaches those people who are on the lowest incomes and least able to afford to pay for the adaptations themselves. A preliminary enquiry about resources (e.g. For instance, where siblings share a bedroom and there is the threat of harm during the night, then creating a separate bedroom can meet this purpose. They can help people participate in education and the labour market as well as stay in contact with family, friends and carers and use online services to access shopping, entertainment and information. Local authorities should inform applicants when it may be in their best interests to proceed with an application even where it is clear that their contribution will exceed the costs of the work. Any single development may contain a range of different types of specialist housing. The authority can refuse to pay, reduce the grant or even demand repayments, if after approval they discover that: B138. It also has information on grants for housing, holidays, education, recreation and disability discounts. Please tell us more about why our advice didn't help. 4.34 For disabled children and young people, assessments should take account of their views and those of their parents. For someone with variable income, authorities can calculate average weekly earnings over a representative period of up to a year that reflects the current situation. In some cases a living room may be large enough to partition off a second room for sleeping, in smaller homes this will not be possible. If you are a home owner, you can get a grant for: The grant will be 100% of approved costs if you or a member of your household get universal credit, income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, the guarantee credit of pension credit or income-related employment and support allowance. You might need to supply a report from a professional, such as an occupational therapist or a social worker, or to include detailed information about your finances. 2.20 The next sections outline the legal responsibilities of different bodies and how they can best work together to ensure a seamless DFG service for local people. A local authority can use its discretionary powers to waive the means test altogether in some cases if they feel the applicant would face excessive financial hardship if required to pay for the entirety of the adaptations (see Chapter 3). Authorities should decide the most appropriate forms of assistance to best address the policy priorities they have identified. Use a simple agenda, record all the information and share the details. Just put in your postcode, your age and sex for a full list. 4.1 Once the local authority has set out their Housing Assistance Policy, and determined the key outcomes they wish to see from a home adaptations service, in line with the local Better Care Fund Plan, the next step is to understand the right way to commission the service. 3.45 Authorities must also not discriminate against or harass a person applying for a grant on grounds of or for reasons related to their disability or any other protected characteristic under the 2010 Act. This discretion may be used where the housing authority considers the landlord is unreasonably withholding an owners certificate. Where an authority approves an application for a grant under Chapter I of Part I of the Act, they may impose such of the conditions set out in paragraphs 3 to 7 as appear to them appropriate. The conditions in paragraph 3 are local land charges and are binding on any person who is for the time being an owner of the dwelling or building. This page gives a brief overview of the financial support for parents of disabled children in the UK. Where home adaptations are being considered to deal with behaviours that challenge, the family and carers of the disabled person should be highly involved in the assessment discussions and decision making process. 4.23 Where the enquiry is received by a social services contact centre, housing needs should be an integral part of any needs assessment.