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Home improvements - disabled facilities grant for a private property

The disabled facilities grant scheme provides financial assistance towards the cost of essential adaptation work to make a house fit for a disabled person.

You can apply for a grant if you are:

The person who applies for the grant does not have to be the disabled person who needs the adaptations.

However, the person applying for the grant will be asked to sign a certificate stating that the disabled person will occupy the home being adapted for at least five years. The time can be shorter because of the disabled persons 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:

Does the council have to give me a disabled facilities grant?

The Council will have to ensure that the work is:

and

An occupational therapist will usually be consulted to ensure the work is necessary and appropriate for the disabled person.

The Council can refuse a grant if it believes the scheme does not fit these criteria.

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:

It will take into account:

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. You will also qualify for a full grant if you are in receipt of certain means tested benefits.

If your resources are more than your assessed needs you may be eligible for a grant towards the cost of work, however, in some cases you may be assessed as being able to pay for the work yourself.  If you are on income support or income based job seekers allowance the grant will normally cover the full cost of eligible works.

How do I apply for a disabled facilities grant?

The works that we can grant aid must be assessed by the County Council occupational therapist and therefore you should, first of all, contact Herts County Council on 01438 737400 to ask for an assessment by an occupational therapist. You can also click here for the online enquiry form.

If you think that you may not qualify for a grant because of your income/savings or would like to know how much you would be expected to contribute you can ring the Environmental Health Division to ask for a preliminary means test to be carried out.

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 any grant if you have started work before the Council has approved your application.

You must submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

You will be notified, in writing, within six months of receipt of your application, whether you have been given a grant.

How will the disabled facilities grant be paid?

The Council 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 the Council is satisfied that 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 for more information.

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