How much is a Disabled Facilities Grant?

The Disabled Facilities Grant funds essential adaptations so that a disabled person can go on living safely and independently at home. The maximum is £30,000 per application in England and £36,000 in Wales, and the council must deal with an application within six months of receiving it.

What it covers, and who assesses it

Typical works include ramps and level access, stairlifts and through-floor lifts, wet rooms and accessible bathrooms, widened doorways, and accessible kitchen adaptations. The recommendation comes from an occupational therapist employed or commissioned by the council, so the OT assessment is the part to prepare for: describe the specific tasks that are unsafe or impossible now, not just the diagnosis.

Do not overlook the faster route. Minor adaptations — grab rails, small ramps, changes to door hardware — costing under a threshold, typically around £1,000, are usually provided free and without a means test, and arrive far more quickly than a full DFG.

Who can apply

• Owner-occupiers and social housing tenants.
• Private tenants, with the landlord’s written consent. If a landlord unreasonably refuses, the council may be able to take the matter further, but it cannot compel structural works. Where consent is given, fitted adaptations such as a stairlift usually become part of the property, while you keep the benefit of them during the tenancy.

The grant is means-tested for adults, taking income and savings into account. Applications for children are not means-tested at all.

Practical points

Contractor arrangements vary: some councils require a contractor from their approved list, others allow your own provided they meet standards on insurance, competence and inspection. Ask at the outset, because it affects timing and cost.

If needs change later — the condition progresses, or the original works no longer help — you can apply again. The maximum applies per application rather than per lifetime, though the council will take previous grants into account when deciding. A fresh OT assessment is the starting point for a further application.