Disabled Facilities Grant

You can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) if you are a disabled person living in your own home, or any type of tenancy (private, council or housing association). You can also apply on behalf of a disabled person.

To qualify, you must intend to live in the home for the next five years. DFGs can be awarded up to the value of:

• £30,000 in England.
• £25,000 in Northern Ireland.
• £36,000 in Wales.

The value of the grant you can receive depends on your income and the amount of work needed.

Applicants who receive some means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit, income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and guaranteed Pension Credit will not have to contribute to the costs of work. The same applies if adaptations are needed for a disabled person under the age of 18.

Means testing eligibility

The value of the grant you can receive depends on your income and the amount of work needed. The eligibility for the grant is in place to ensure that people on the lowest incomes can get the most financial support so that they can pay for the adaptations they need.

The grant takes in to consideration the income of the person who needs the adaptations, and in some circumstances their partner's, as well as the assumed weekly needs of the household.

In some circumstances, where the person in need of the adaptations already receives income-related benefits might be exempt. These exemptions include:

• Income Support
• Housing Benefit
• Universal Credit
• Guaranteed Pension Credit
• Income-Based Job-Seekers Allowance
• Income Related Employment and Support Allowance

DFG grants are managed by local authorities and decisions are made by them, therefore there may be some difference between application decisions that are managed by different local councils.

Learn more about these means tested benefits on the GOV.UK website:

• Universal Credit  
• Employment and Support Allowance  
• Pension Credit

Support in Scotland

DFGs are not available in Scotland. If you live in Scotland and are seeking support in adapting your home, you must contact your Local Authority directly.

Further useful information can be found at:

• Equipment and adaptations - Independent living - gov.scot  
• The scheme of assistance for house repairs and adaptations - Citizens Advice Scotland

Yes. If you are finding it difficult to move around or access any of the facilities in your home, you should apply for a DFG. If you think the decision is wrong, you have the right to challenge it.

Make sure your form is complete and gives all required information:

• completed DFG application form
• completed Owner's and/or Tenant's Certificate
• written permission from the landlord for work to be undertaken (where appropriate)
• two quotes or estimates for the work
• details of any other fees and charges, and
• evidence of the applicant's National Insurance number.

It is important to offer all of the information above. Otherwise, the legal time limits may not apply.

Any enquiries about an application need to be followed up in writing to prevent delay.

DFGs are mandatory. This means that the local authority cannot take their own resources into account. They must provide a grant if an application meets the legal requirements.

No, the time limits still apply. The local authority can use private OTs or other members of staff to assist with decisions on DFG applications.

Although they are entitled to create priority schemes so they can provide funding to those in greatest need first, the statutory timescales still apply. So whatever your priority, you should still receive a decision within six months, and the grant payment twelve months from the date of your application.