Disabled facilities grants are available for adapting dwellings
to meet the needs of people with disabilities to enable them
to live more independently in their own homes. Grants are available
for mandatory works as set out in the
Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act
1996 (new window).
The information on this page is also available in our
Disabled Facilities Grants leaflet (new window
PDF 93KB). Follow this link for
help
with downloading and opening PDF files.
Who can apply for a grant?
The owner of the dwelling, or a tenant if they can provide the
necessary owner’s certificate or tenant’s certificate. This will
not necessarily be the disabled person for whom the works are
required. If you are a tenant you need your landlord’s
permission.
The disabled person must intend to occupy the dwelling as their
only or main residence for the next five years. For more
information about conditions relating to eligibility
contact the Private Sector Housing Team on 01394
444506 or email
ps.housing@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk
What works could I have done?
A wide range of works to enable access into and around the
dwelling and access to or provision of essential amenities or
facilities. Examples of works might include ramps, widening doors,
showers in place of baths, and providing stairlifts. Also works to
make the dwelling or building safe for the disabled person and
other occupants may be applicable. All works must be supported by
an occupational therapist.
Social Care Services (new window) at
Suffolk County Council are responsible for providing specialist
equipment and this will not be grant aided.
How much will the grant be?
The maximum grant for mandatory works is £30,000. To ensure
grants go to the most needy households the amount of grant is
decided by a means test which looks at the income and capital of
the disabled person and their partner. There is no means test in
the case of applications for a disabled child.
We can carry out an informal means test over the telephone to
give you an idea of what, if anything, you will need to pay towards
the works. Please contact the Private Sector Housing Team on
01394 444506.
Please note - for owner applications where the
grant is over £5,000, the grant will be a charge on the property
and any amount over £5,000 but not exceeding £10,000 will be
recoverable on disposal of the property.
How do I apply?
Contact Customer First on 08456 023 023
and ask for an occupational therapist to carry out an Assessment of
Need.
The occupational therapist will advise the Private Sector
Housing Team's grants officer of your needs and the grants officer
will undertake the means test and find out if you wish to apply for
a disabled facilities grant.
Tell the grants officer if you require additional help with
making an application. For owner occupiers and private tenants,
Suffolk Coastal's Helping Hand Agency can act as
your agent and help with obtaining builders’ estimates, supervising
works and obtaining building regulations and planning
permission.
You will be able to discuss the adaptations needed and the
proposed works with the occupational therapist, the grants officer
(and your agent). Additional technical advice may be sought if
necessary.
Following the consultation between the applicant, occupational
therapist and grants officer the Council will send you an
application package which will include a schedule of works.
The schedule of works is normally produced by the grants officer
although if you have an agent working for you he or she could
produce this and forward it to the grants officer for agreement.
The application pack will contain further advice on making an
application.
You will not normally get a grant if you start work
before the Council approves the application.
In exceptional circumstances, if the works are urgent, you may
be given written approval by the Council to start works before
grant approval.
What else do I need to know?
You will receive a decision on your application within six
months. Normally a decision will be made more quickly than
this.
If you do not get a grant because your means-tested contribution
exceeds the cost of the eligible works it could still be worth
applying. Ask the occupational therapist about joint-funding or the
grants officer about the effect of a nil grant on any future
applications.
Some equipment is not eligible for grant aid but could be
provided by Social Care Services, for example, hoists,
grab rails, shower chairs.
Obtaining Building Regulation approval and planning permission
(if required) is your responsibility.
Additional
grants may also be available to help with serious
disrepair - the grants officer will be able to advise you
on these.
The first thing to do is contact Customer First by
calling 08456 023
023.