Disabled Facilities Grant and Housing Assistance Policy

16. Appendix 1

Essential Adaptation Assistance

Tool	Key Outcome	Eligibility criteria	Eligible Works	Conditions	Max £/case
Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant	To provide essential adaptations to the homes of disabled people	As set out in Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act Must be disabled person’s main and permanent home Means test as per legislation	Need for adaptations identified by an Occupational Therapist Examples include ramps, stair lifts, wet rooms	For owner's applications, an interest free, local land charge placed on property where grant exceeds £5,000   Repayable if property sold within 10 years in accordance with General Consent	Up to £30,000
Disabled Facilities Grant Top-up	To enable mandatory adaptation works recommended by an OT to be completed when maximum DFG does not cover full funds	Must be eligible for a DFG Same means test as mandatory DFG applicable   Not available where applicant is undertaking an alternative scheme	Need for adaptations identified by an Occupational Therapist Cost of works in excess of the maximum mandatory DFG amount (£30,000)	For owner’s applications, an interest free, local land charge placed on property equivalent to level of assistance provided. Repayable when the property is sold or transferred/let   Property must be occupied on a permanent basis by applicant   No more than one top up application can be made in any five year period.	Up to £20,000
Small Scale DFG	An easier to access process for applicants who require only minor adaptations	Eligible for a mandatory DFG, but also includes council tax support as a passporting benefit	Need for adaptations identified by an Occupational Therapist Adaptations costing less than £15,000 (for example this may include stair lifts, ramps and simple adaptations)   NOT available for alternative schemes   May include eligible professional fees such as architect fees for drawing or structural engineer fees	For owner’s applications, repayable as per mandatory DFG terms i.e. over £5,000   More than one application can be made but no more than £15,000 will be paid in any 5 year period.	Up to £15,000

Preventative Adaptation Assistance

Tool	Key Outcome	Eligibility criteria	Eligible Works	Conditions	Max £/case
Healthy Homes On Prescription	To provide small scale repairs to a person’s home to help enable hospital discharge, prevent emergency hospital admissions, hospital re-admissions, and repeat GP appointments.  Savings to the health and social care system are assessed and predicted (Housing Health Cost Calculator) Provide small scale adaptations to people with rapidly deteriorating or life limiting conditions.	Home environment is presenting hazard to health or threat of injury under principles of HHSRS Tenants not eligible for works which are the landlords responsibility. Referred via a health or social care professional (e.g. Occupational Therapist, GP, etc.)	Repairs or other improvements to address a hazard. Eligible repair works are assessed by Environmental Health Team. Adaptations only eligible for HHOP where work will improve access in and out of property and to essential facilities.	Non-repayable Payment on completion of works More than one application can be made but no more than £5,000 will be paid out in any 5-year period	Up to £5,000
Better Homes Better Health Grant	Grant for energy efficiency/heating improvements to homes of those who are vulnerable to cold conditions, to make the home easier to keep warm.	Must be an owner- occupier and have an eligible health condition verified by a health professional	Works may include: Heating improvements Insulation Works to remedy damp and mould   Works must make the property easier to keep warm and dry.	Non-repayable   Eligible works to be confirmed by Environmental Health Officer, Energy Doctor or Grants and Adaptations Officer	£2,500 per application
Handy Helper	Small scale early intervention to prevent falls, accidents in own home and people becoming victims of scams/rogue traders, tackling social isolation	Any tenure Minimum 3 risk factors from defined list	May include: Security measures, moving furniture, fitting light bulbs and smoke alarms etc.	Non repayable   Measures identified and supplied through service provider to cover labour but not fittings/fixtures	(reviewed annually)
Flexible Home Improvement Loan (FHIL)	Over 60’s home improvement loan for works to improve the safety, comfort and security of their property Empty Property Loans Rented Property Loans To enable owners of empty homes to undertake repairs and renovations and bring properties back into use	Owner Occupiers who are over 60 years old (in the case of joint occupiers one must be at least 60 and the second owner at least 55). There must be sufficient equity in the property The Council must be satisfied that the required works are appropriate	Repair or replacement works to the building structure Energy efficiency and heating improvements Works to improve security e.g. alarm installation Adaptations to enable a disabled person to continue to live in the property (but excludes extensions)	Flexible repayment terms. Loan to be repaid in full, with interest, on sale of property or where no longer main residence For Empty Home loans, Loan must be repaid within 5 years	Variable depending on available funds which are allocated quarterly by the Flexible Home Improvement Loan Company (Not currently funded by Better Care Fund)

Discretionary Adaptation Assistance

Tool	Key Outcome	Eligibility criteria	Eligible Works	Conditions	Max £/case
Relocation Assistance	To enable client in an unadaptable home to relocate to a home that better meets the clients’ needs or is easier to adapt.	Applicant must be eligible for a DFG (including means test)   OT report confirming that new home is suitable to meet the person’s needs.   Council must deem rehousing as the most suitable and cost effective solution	Relocation costs including Estate Agent fees, Conveyancing fees and removal costs	Cost/benefit analysis of options available including relocation to a more suitable property   New property must be occupied on a permanent basis by applicant.   Only one relocation grant payable in any 10 year period.    Not repayable.	Up to £15,000