A Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is used to pay for essential adaptations to help you live safely and independently in your home.
These adaptations may include:
- widening doors and installing ramps to help you get in or out of your home
- improving access to rooms and facilities — such as installing a stair-lift
- improving access to bathing facilities — this can be simple changes such as removing your bath and installing a level access shower, or lowering and changing the type of wash basin to make accessing a sink easier for wheel chair users
- adapting heating or lighting controls, or even kitchen units, to make them easier to reach
Our DFG Policy is available to download [pdf / 189 KB]. The DFG Policy sets out how your application will be progressed in line with the legislation, good practice guidance, the Better Care fund plan and through offering good value for money.
The policy also sets out our interpretation of the legislation and guidance documents and details what applicants can expect from the DFG service.
Not all changes to your home can be covered by Disabled Facilities Grants. Where a grant cannot be provided we will work with you to try and find alternative solutions or direct you to other agencies that may be able to provide assistance.
Grant eligibility
You can apply for the grant if you or someone living in your property is disabled.
To apply for the grant you must:
- be the owner of the property or a tenant (with an owners or tenancy certificate)
- intend that the property will continue to be occupied by the disabled person for at least 5 years, as their main or only home
- if you are a landlord and have a disabled tenant. Landlords will need to provide proof of ownership when supplying their consent for any adaptations
How to Apply
We firstly require a referral from an Occupational Therapist (OT) in order to provide anyone with a grant. The first step for all applicants is to contact Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) on the numbers below to arrange this.
Adult enquiries: 01522 782 155
Child enquiries: 01522 782 111
Once we receive a recommendation, we will then consider whether your home is suitable and check that you are eligible for a grant.
Financial means testing
DFGs are awarded through financial means testing. This is where we look at the income, assets and savings of the disabled person, their spouse or partner.
Please note, depending on your circumstances, you may need to contribute towards the cost of any works that are not covered by the grant. This payment is made directly to the contractor.
If the DFG is for a child under 19, and you receive Child Benefit for that child, you will not need to make any contribution.
If you are in receipt of the following benefits, you may qualify for full grant funding for any approved adaptive works:
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Housing Benefit
- Income related Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Guarantee Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credit and/or Child Tax Credit (with an annual income below £15,050)
- Universal Credit
- Council Tax Support
The maximum amount of grant that we could award is £30,000, including any relevant professional fees. You will only receive as much as is necessary to adapt your home to your needs.
Upon completion of the estimation form, you will receive an email advising you whether you are required to make a contribution and if so, the estimated amount.
Charges on properties
Successful owner occupier applications for a Disabled Facilities Grant will have a Local Land Charge applied to the adapted property if the amount of the grant exceeds £5,000 (maximum charge we can claim is £10,000). This charge only applies if the property is sold or disposed of within 10 years of the certified date.
Warranties
The applicant becomes the owner of equipment installed under a DFG and is therefore responsible for maintenance and repairs beyond the 12 month warranty usually provided by the contractor/manufacturer. The manufacturer is responsible for servicing equipment whilst under warranty. Warranty period and servicing by manufacturers vary; please refer to the manufacturer for full details.
On completion of works, you will be asked to complete a certificate to confirm that you are satisfied that the works have been completed in accordance with the agreed recommendations. The quality of work remains a contractual matter between you and your builder and any concerns that you may have must be discussed directly with your contractor. Repairs which are not wear and tear must be reported to the contractor within 12 months of completion of the work; after that period any repairs are the responsibility of the owner.
Competent Contractors
We use competent contractors regularly and they have shown satisfactory performance in all works undertaken, including for work on behalf of vulnerable clients.
They will have conformed to our requirements for liability insurance and should be certified in respect of any relevant specialist trades.
In some cases, they will be experienced in working in partnership with local government and may be members of TrustMark or Construction Line. All contractors are also DBS checked.
Contact Us
If you are already in the process of applying for a grant, or you would just like some advice, please contact the Homes, Health and Well-being Team on 01427 676618 or at dfg@west-lindsey.gov.uk.
The delta return for our DFG programme can be found on our Disabled Facilities Grants Performance page.