Information for People with Disabilities

Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG)

If you are disabled, this grant is available for essential adaptations to give you better freedom of movement into and around your home, and to access essential facilities within it. where necessary, it can also provide the essential facilities themselves.

Disabled Facilities Grants are available throughout the borough and are provided in accordance with the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996.

Typical examples of work are:

to make it easier to get in or out of a dwelling by widening doors and installing ramps
to ensure the safety of a disabled person by, for example, providing a specially adapted room in which it is safe to leave a disabled person unattended or improving the lighting to ensure better visibility
to make access easier to the living room
by providing or improving access to the bedroom, and kitchen, toilet, washbasin and bath (and/or shower) facilities; for example, by installing a stair lift or providing a downstairs bathroom
to improve or provide a heating system in your home which is suitable to the needs of the disabled person
to adapt heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use
to improve access and movement around the home to enable the disabled person to care for another person who lives in the property, such as a spouse, child or another person cared for by the disabled person.

How much grant is available?

The award of any grant assistance will be subject to a test of financial resources, in accordance with prescribed regulations.
The amount of grant assistance will be determined by the outcome of the applicant's "means test" and an assessment by council officers as to what represents a reasonable cost for the works required. In all cases the maximum amount of grant that will be awarded is £25,000 including VAT and all eligible fees.

How do I apply?

By referral from Cheshire County Council Social Services. Initially you should contact the Access Team at Social Services. An Occupational Therapist will make an assessment of your needs, and if appropriate, will make recommendations to the borough council, in the form of an adaptation referral
The borough council who will need to be satisfied that the works are reasonable and practicable given the age and condition of the property.

For further information, contact in the first instance

Access Team
Social Services
Coronation Road
Ellesmere Port
CH65 9AA

Telephone: 0151 357 4550
Fax: 0151 357 4646

Website: www.cheshire.gov.uk

Alternatively contact

Private Housing Renewal Unit
Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council
Council Offices
4 Civic Way
Ellesmere Port
Cheshire
CH65 0BE

Telephone: 0151 356 6489
Fax: 0151 356 6545
Or use our Housing Enquiry Form

Information about Disabled Facilities Grants is also available from the Department for Communities and Local Government website:www.communities.gov.uk

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Information for People with Disabilities