Disabled Facilities Grant and Housing Assistance Policy

Appendix 2 summarises the DFG application process and sets out where an applicant can find more information about the grant.

Applications for assistance under this policy will be considered and decided by the Council’s Grants and Adaptations Team in consultation with the Council’s Environmental Health, Community and Children’s Occupational Therapy teams, as appropriate.

The Council may agree alternative arrangements to deliver mandatory DFG works for tenants of some social housing providers. In circumstances where housing providers carry out their own DFG works, we will direct applicants to the relevant housing provider.

The grant eligible work will be the scheme of work which is the most cost effective way to meet the identified needs. If the client chooses a different or enhanced scheme of works, we will only provide financial assistance for the primary requirements identified by the Occupational Therapy Service.

Two quotations for the eligible works will be required to be submitted with an application unless:

• the contractor is part of a local or national framework agreement in relation to the services being provided
• the work is urgent, and the costs quoted are considered reasonable
• the work is of a specialist nature, and it is not feasible to obtain multiple quotations

The grant amount will normally be calculated based on the lowest quotation submitted. The Council will assess the prices provided by contractors to ensure value for money, comparing them with similar jobs priced within the last year.

If the prices quoted by contractors is considered too high, we may advise the client that the total eligible assistance will be a lower amount.