Moving around your home can become more challenging as you age, especially if you use a wheelchair or walking aid. Everyday tasks may feel harder than they used to, and making changes to your home can be essential. But with costs adding up quickly, it’s natural to worry about how you’ll afford these adaptations.

That’s where the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) comes in, helping you make the necessary adjustments to your home without worrying about the high price tag. In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about the DFG, from who’s eligible to how much you could receive and how to apply.

What is the Disabled Facilities Grant?

The Disabled Facilities Grant is a mandatory government-funded programme designed to help you cover the costs of adapting your home to meet your changing mobility needs. Whether it’s something small like installing ramps or upgrading your bathroom to include a walk-in shower, the grant covers most essential modifications to make your home safer and more accessible.

Because the grant is mandatory for councils, they are legally obligated to prioritise applications over other areas of funding — such as for parks and other public spaces. Since 2019, the DFG is now part of the Better Care Fund (BCF), which provides financial support for councils and the NHS to provide better assistance for those with disabilities.

This means you’re unlikely to be turned down due to a lack of available funding.

Who is eligible for the Disabled Facilities Grant?

The Disabled Facilities Grant is available to anyone who needs to adapt their home to meet specific mobility or at-home-care requirements.

To qualify for the grant, you must either own your property or be a tenant who intends to stay in the home for at least five years after the adaptations are made.

You may meet the conditions for the grant if you:

• Are physically disabled
• Have a learning disability
• Have age-related needs
• Are autistic
• Have a cognitive impairment, such as dementia
• Have a progressive condition like motor neurone disease
• Have a terminal illness
• Have a mental health condition

You’re also eligible for the grant if you have a child with a disability. Within the Children’s Act 1989 Schedule 2, there are two sections to assist your application. 

Section 6 and Section 10 state that provisions should be made for a disabled child to lead a normal everyday life in the family home, meaning that you can cite these as justification for your application if you’re living with a disabled child who cannot access critical areas of the home — such as the bathroom.

Under the Care Act 2014, family members and carers can also ask for a DFG assessment if they think they’ll need to make adaptations to assist them in caring for an elderly or disabled person.

The DFG is available across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, but there are some differences in application processes and funding limits depending on where you live. If you’re unsure whether you meet the criteria, contacting your local council is the best first step.

What can the Disabled Facilities Grant be used for?

The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) can be used to make various adaptations to your home, from making your property more wheelchair-friendly to helping you live more comfortably in your day-to-day life. These changes are designed to improve the accessibility of your home and cater to your specific needs, giving you back your independence and allowing you to continue ageing in place.

For example, you can use the grant for:

• Widening doors and installing ramps or grab rails — This makes moving around your home safer and easier.
• Improving access to rooms and facilities — Adding larger features like a home lift or a wet room can improve mobility throughout your home.
• Improving access to your garden — Creating a space you can enjoy from a wheelchair or walker, with ramps or level pathways.
• Building an extension — Adding a downstairs bedroom or bathroom if mobility limits your use of upstairs spaces or you need to create space for a live-in carer.
• Upgrading your heating system — Installing a system that better suits your needs or adapting heating and lighting controls to make them easier to use.

Under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996, access to a bedroom, lavatory and bathroom is essential for a disabled person, meaning that any adaptations that aid in you being able to get in or out of these spaces are covered by the DFG grant.We’ve created a helpful pack with everything you need to know about applying for and using the DFG grant. Find it here.

How much will I receive from the Disabled Facilities Grant?

The amount you’ll receive through the DFG varies depending on your household income and savings. If you have personal savings of over £6,000, this will be factored into your ‘assessed contribution’ — which is how much money you can pay towards your home adaptations — which will determine how much financial support you’re eligible for.

The DFG thresholds across the UK are:

• England — Up to £30,000
• Wales — Up to £36,000
• Northern Ireland — Up to £25,000

If you live in Scotland, the DFG is, unfortunately, not available. However, you can still request financial support for making home adaptations via your local council.

In some cases, local councils may also offer additional discretionary funding beyond these limits. This is more common for adaptations for disabled children where additional financial contributions allow parents to provide care at home, which can be more cost-effective than alternative care facility arrangements.

For accurate information about your potential funding, visit the Gov.uk site and contact your local council for an assessment.

How to apply for the Disabled Facilities Grant

Applying for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is a straightforward process, and your local council will guide you through the steps. Here’s how to get started:

1. Contact your local council – Reach out to the Housing or Environmental Health department of your local council. They handle all DFG applications and will provide you with the necessary forms and information.
2. Get a referral if needed – You can apply for the grant directly by contacting the council, or your application might be referred by a social worker or occupational therapist if they’ve identified a need for home adjustments.
3. Fill in the application forms – The council will provide you with several forms to fill out, asking about your household income, savings, mobility needs, and any potential adaptations required.
4. Undergo an assessment – A Social Services representative, usually an occupational therapist, will visit your home to assess your needs and examine the property’s layout. They’ll determine which adaptations are needed and whether the grant can cover them.

Once you’ve submitted your DFG application, your local council has up to six months to make a decision. However, most councils aim to respond much sooner — often within 20 working days — depending on how complex your application is and the level of demand in your area.

If your application is approved, the grant funds will either be paid in instalments as the work progresses or in full once the project is complete. Grant payments are typically made directly to your contractor or passed on to them once you approve the completed work.

What other help am I eligible for?

If you’re not eligible for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) or still need extra help funding your home lift or other large-scale adaptations, there are several options to consider. These include:

• Minor adaptations provided by your council — In some cases, councils will fund minor home adaptations costing £1,000 or less, such as installing grab rails, dropped kerbs, or outdoor lighting. These adjustments are usually free of charge following a care needs assessment.
• Equipment and adaptations grants (Scotland) — In Scotland, you might be eligible for a grant that covers equipment or minor home adaptations. Visit the Scottish Government’s housing adaptations page for more details.
• Charity funding sources — Charitable grants are another option for funding your home adjustments. Organisations like Turn2Us offer a wide library of resources to help you look for relevant grants that may apply to your situation.
• Benefits you may qualify for — If you’re struggling with your everyday living costs, you might be eligible for benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for your food, transport, and bills or the Attendance Allowance if you need care support. These aren’t means-tested, so your income and savings won’t be taken into account.

Frequently asked questions

Are Disabled Facilities Grants means-tested?

The DFG is usually means-tested, which means your household income and savings will be assessed to determine how much funding you’re eligible for. If you have savings over £6,000, this will be factored into the funds you can contribute towards any changes needed.

However, if you’re applying on behalf of a child under 18, the grant won’t be means-tested, and parental income will not affect your eligibility.

The DFG grant also won’t impact any other benefits you receive.

Once you’ve been approved, the grant must be paid out within 12 months of the application being submitted. It’s essential not to start any work before your application is approved, as this could affect your eligibility.

When will I receive payment?

While you’ll need to apply for the grant yourself, the payment will be made directly to the contractors working on your home. This is usually done in instalments as the work progresses or in full once it’s completed. 

The council will either pay the contractor directly or give you a cheque to pass on after they have inspected the work and are satisfied with the quality, provided that they’ve received an invoice from your contractor.

What if I’m not eligible for financial help?

If you’re not eligible for a DFG, there are other funding options to explore.

Make sure you’re claiming any benefits you’re entitled to, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Attendance Allowance, which are not means-tested. Additionally, speak to your council about whether they can help you finance smaller home adjustments. If you’re renting, reach out to your landlord directly to see if they would be willing to help you adapt the property.

Equity release may also be an option, allowing you to borrow money against the value of your home for a specified period, but this is a big decision that will require careful consideration and specialist financial advice.

Is VAT exempt with the Disabled Facilities Grant?

You won’t usually need to pay VAT on DFG funds as long as your chosen contractors pay it themselves. You should check with them beforehand to ensure you’re not left with a surprise VAT bill once the work is completed.

If you’re installing a home lift, VAT is chargeable on all Stiltz models. However, if you’re disabled or have a long-term illness, you may qualify for VAT relief on products designed or adapted for personal or domestic use. Learn more about VAT relief with our guide on how to fund your home lift.

To check your eligibility, request an exemption form from a member of the Stiltz sales team via our website or over the phone at 01943668920.

Can I get a disabled facilities grant if I have savings

You can still receive a DFG if you have personal savings, but any significant amount over £6,000 will be factored into your application and will reduce the amount you’re eligible for.

You can find out roughly how much your grant will pay using this means-testing calculator from Adapt My Home.

Do you have to pay back a Disabled Facilities Grant?

Most of the time, you won’t have to pay back a DFG. However, there are some exceptions.

You might be asked to pay back some of your grant if you’re a homeowner who received a DFG of over £5,000 and sold your property in under 10 years after the work was completed. If this is the case, you’ll be asked to pay back up to £10,000 maximum — depending on the amount awarded.

Can you apply for the DFG more than once?

If you’ve been diagnosed with a degenerative illness, further adaptations might be needed at a later date to help your home keep up with your mobility needs.

You can apply for the DFG as many times as necessary. Any previous contributions will be taken into account — within the last 5 years for tenants and 10 years for homeowners — and subtracted from current contributions.

For example, if you contributed £7,000 towards your previous adaptation and have been means-tested as being able to contribute £8,000 this time, you’ll only need to contribute £1,000.

Transform your home with Stiltz

At Stiltz, we believe that living comfortably in the home you’re familiar with should be an option for everyone. The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) can help make vital home adaptations more affordable, ensuring your space is safe and accessible as your physical needs change.

Ready to transform your home? Explore our range of Stiltz home lifts, including models designed for wheelchair users. Or, visit our blog for more helpful advice on living independently as you age.

If you have any more questions about applying for the Disabled Facilities Grant, your local council will be able to answer them for you. Additionally, if you still need further support, our friendly team is always here to help — contact us today to learn more.