Advice on adapting your home
Housing Options for People with a Disability
Adapting your home if you are a person with a disability can be a complex and difficult procedure. However, advice is available from the Occupational Therapy Bureau at Kent County Council and Dartford Council may be able to assist with the cost of funding the work with a disabled facilities grant. This leaflet gives further information on applying for a disabled facilities grant and the roles of the various agencies involved.
- What is a disabled facilities grant?
- Who can apply?
- Where to start?
- The means test
- What happens next?
- The role of the key worker
- What happens after I make my application?
- What if I can't find my share of the cost?
What is a disabled facilities grant?
It is a means tested grant which your local Council can give to adapt homes to meet the needs of a disabled person.
From December 2005, Disabled Facilities Grants for children (under the age 18 years) with disabilities, are not means tested.
Who can apply?
A registered or registerable disabled person is entitled to apply as an owner or tenant. This may include someone who has a hearing difficulty, visual impairment, speech difficulty or behavioural problem. An application can also be made by someone who has a disabled person living with them or by a landlord on behalf of a disabled tenant.
Where a Housing Association tenant applies, the Council can take into account that the Housing Association may be able to fund the adaptations themselves but this does not mean they automatically reject the application.
Where to start?
Your first approach should be made to your local Occupational Therapy Bureau of Kent County Council Social Services Department. This may be in writing, by telephone or by an online self assessment.
Kent County Council
Occupational Therapy Bureau
Joynes House
New Road
Gravesend
Kent DA11 0AT
Tel: 01474 328664 or textphone: 08458 247905
An Occupational Therapist will visit you at home to assess your immediate and foreseeable needs. These will be discussed with the disabled person and any proposals will be designed to ensure the disabled person can remain living in their home as independently as possible. If the works are likely to be eligible for a disabled facilities grant the Occupational Therapist will informthe Council.
You will need to decide whether you wish to sort out the application yourself or whether you wish to appoint someone to act on your behalf. In either case this person is known as the " key worker ".
The means test
At an early stage the Council will send you a financial assessment form to complete. This requires the disabled person and their spouse or partner to give details of their income and savings. Certain disability benefits and savings below £6,000 will be ignored. From this information the Council will calculate how much, if anything, you will have to contribute towards the proposed works and notify you of the result.
What happens next?
It is likely a joint visit will take place between the Occupational Therapist and the Grant Officer from the Council to see you at your home. The Grant Officer will make sure the works proposed are reasonable and practicable and will be able to indicate to you whether they will attract grant aid.
Following this visit the Occupational Therapist will send recommendations for the work to the local District Council. The Grant Officer will then send you the application forms and list of works eligible for grant aid. Detailed instructions will be included on how to make your application.
What is involved in making an application?
There will be a number of forms to fill in and you will need to obtain competitive estimates from your chosen builders. The Council may be able to advise you on builders who do this type of work. Depending on the scale of works involved it may be necessary for plans to be drawn up and planning permission or building regulation approval obtained.
The role of the key worker
This person is the main point of contact for everyone involved and will sort out everything involved with the application from start to finish. Depending on the extent of the works you may choose to do this yourself or decide to appoint someone to act on your behalf. This may be an architect or you may choose to use the InTouch Home Improvement Agency who act independently but in close association with the Grant Section of the Council. Any fees charged by them may be included within the grant.
What happens after I make my application?
Once the Council approves your application they will send you a formal notice of approval in writing stating the amount of grant you will receive. You must not start any of the work until you have received this. Once you have this, you can go ahead with the work.
The work must be completed within one year of approval. The Grant Officer will inspect the work to ensure it is up to standard and has been done in accordance with the Occupational Therapist recommendations. Provided you too are satisfied with the work, payment will be made direct to your builder or agent.
What if I can't find my share of the cost?
Sometimes Social Services can provide a "top-up" grant to cover the applicant's contribution (if any) under the disabled facilities grant or to cover costs of adaptations not covered by the grant. The Occupational Therapist may be able to advise you on this.
Other options
Should the cost of the adaptations be too great, an alternative package of care may be appropriate. You may wish to consider moving to more suitable accommodation. Occasionally, some financial help may be available from Social Services to help with the move.
Local Housing Associations or the Accessible Property Register may be able to play a role in finding a suitable house or flat.
