Disabled Facilities Grants

What are Disabled Facilities Grants?
 Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG's) are grants for work that enable disabled people to live independently at home.  The work applied for must be to achieve one or more of the following purposes:

To make it easier to get in and out of the dwelling (eg widening doors and installing ramps).
Ensuring the safety of the disabled person and other occupants (eg improved lighting to ensure better visibility).
By providing or improving access to the bedroom, living room, kitchen, toilet, washbasin and bath and/or shower facilities (eg by installing a stair lift or providing a level access shower).
To improve or provide a heating system in the home which is suitable to the needs of the disabled person (eg where a disabled person can no longer use a coal fire).
To adapt heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use (eg lowering light switches).
To improve access and movement around the home to enable the disabled person to care for another person who lives in the property.
To improve access to and from the garden (eg installing a ramp)

DFG's are a mandatory grant so a local authority has to provide funds for applications that fulfils the legal and financial criteria - so a local authority should not refuse a grant simply because they are short of money.


However before a local authority provides a grant they must be happy that the work applied for is necessary and appropriate to meet the needs of the disabled person. The authority must also be satisfied that the work is reasonable and practicable in regards to the age and condition of the property.

Who can apply?

 A disabled person living in any type of tenancy (private, council or housing association) or is an owner occupier can apply for DFG's for their home.  It is also possible to apply for a grant on behalf of a disabled person such as a friend or relative living in your home.  Landlords can apply for an adaptation required by a disabled tenant.


The important requirement is that the disabled person intends to reside at the property for the next five years.  DFG's are subject to financial means assessment, and applicants may be asked to make a contribution to the final costs.


 How can the Legion help?

If the applicant is having trouble getting a DFG or is thinking of applying for one, the Legion may be able to provide assistance. If the applicant is an ex-service man or woman or is a dependant or widow or widower of someone who served in the Armed Forces for at least seven days then he or she qualifies as a beneficiary.


The Legion can help those eligible by providing immediate funding, subject to a means test, for some adaptations such as handrails or work required by a disabled beneficiary, such as ramps or door widening for a Legion funded mobility scooter. The Legion can also help where there is a welfare need for an adaptation but the work doesn't qualify for a DFG or if a beneficiary has been awarded a DFG but is struggling to afford the contribution they are required to make.


If a beneficiary is entitled to a DFG and requires support with the application, the Legion can help in many ways including completing the application form and gathering all the information required.  Submitting the application to the local authority and checking on its progress.


Assistance can also be given where the local authority appears not to have complied with the legal requirements giving support in making a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman and supporting the applicant through the complaints process.


If you require more information on Disabled Facilities Grants, The Royal British Legion has produced a leaflet, which includes advice from the Local Government Association and this can be viewed by the following link Disabled Facilities Grant Leaflet.


For serving and ex-Service personnel, their partners or their families requiring help with a Disabled Facilities Grant or with getting funding for a home adaptation in Derbyshire contact Poppy Support in Derbyshire.  If you are outside Derbyshire contact your local Legion office or telephone Legionline on 08457 725 725.



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