Disabled Facilities Grants

Grants for disabled adaptations are available to help you live more comfortably in your own home by providing the necessary alterations to meet your needs.

Adaptations and independent living

We offer advice and support to all those living with a disability to enable them to live safely and independently at home.

The East Suffolk Independent Living Agency (ES-ILA) deals with all applications for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) in East Suffolk. To be eligible for a DFG you need to have had an assessment by an Occupational Therapist (OT).

If you think you need to have an OT assessment to help with living independently and you live in a council property, please contact Customer First or, if you own your home or rent from a housing association or private landlord, please visit the Independent Living Suffolk (ILS) website

What are the steps involved in applying for a DFG?

Please take a look at our customer journey and newsletter, which provide you with all you need to know about the process. The customer journey provides a brief description of the stages involved in delivering adaptations, to enable you to live more independently and the newsletter provides further information on what we do and who we are.

Customer journey

Stage 1

Initial contact: You will need to provide your details to staff at Independent Living Suffolk. They will advise you on the next steps which will include an initial Occupational Therapy (OT) assessment which may be undertaken over the phone or may involve a visit to your home. Contact the team via email ILS@suffolk.gov.uk or phone Tel: 0800 121 7711.

Stage 2

If the OT determines that you need major adaptations to your home following the assessment, they will pass your details to the Independent Living - East Suffolk team.

We will contact you to discuss how we can help you to apply for a grant; fund the works; arrange contractors for you and guide you through the whole process.

Stage 3

We will need to ask you about your finances and for some adaptations you will need to complete a full financial Means Test. This determines if you can afford to pay towards the works. We will need to know your:

  •  Income details e.g. earnings, pensions and benefits received, etc
  • Capital Assets e.g. ISA’s, bank accounts and building society account, etc
  • National Insurance Number

If you receive certain benefits a contribution will not be necessary (see the separate list of these on the website). Our advisors will also tell you which grant you need.

Stage 4

You will be telephoned by your case officer who will be your main contact throughout the process. This will also be the time you complete the necessary application forms. The case officer may visit you in your home to assist with the completion of the forms.

Stage 5

Your assessed needs are now turned into a scheme of works to adapt your home environment. Our technical officer will contact you to arrange to visit and draw up a detailed specification of works for the contractors. We will share these details with you and then arrange contractors to price your adaptations

Stage 6

Once we have the completed application forms, the cost of works and any financial evidence, your grant is then ready for checking and approval by the Independent Living - East Suffolk team. The case officer will arrange a pre-start visit with the contractor and yourself. At this 
meeting a date for the works to start will be confirmed and any questions answered.

Stage 7

Works will commence and once completed the technical officer will visit to ensure these are satisfactory. If you have to make a contribution towards the cost of the works you will need to do this now. The grant payment will be made directly to the contractor.

Stage 8

Please contact us at any time if you have concerns. We will also contact you after a few months to ensure the adaptations meet your needs. You can then hopefully enjoy a safer, more independent way of life!

Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants

Most adaptations will fall under the mandatory works which cover the following adaptations:

  • Facilitating access into and around the dwelling.
  • Making the dwelling safe.
  • Facilitating access into the principal family room and to a bedroom.
  • Facilitating access to a toilet and washing facilities and kitchen facilities.
  • Improved heating and access to controls for power, heat, and light.

These grants will be subject to a test of financial resources to determine if the resident should contribute towards the funding of the works (unless already on a passported benefit e.g. Housing Benefit, Universal Credit or GPC along with others). Enquiries about means testing should be directed to our Independent Living Team.

Our discretionary Grant policy was amended by the Council’s Cabinet in January 2023.

The following discretionary grants replace the priority, fast track and supplementary grants previously available.

Discretionary Disabled Facilities Grant (DDFG)

A non-means tested grant with a maximum amount of £15,000

The FULL cost of the necessary adaptation works, up to this figure will be covered by the grant, irrespective of the applicants  income and capital resources

We anticipate most of our clients will use this DDFG and only those with extensive works costing more than £15,000 will make an application for a mandatory grant (with a £30,000 maximum).

The DDFG can also be applied for when:

  • a client needs to move because their home cannot be adapted
  • to repair hazards in the home to reduce risks leading to fewer falls and accidents
  • to carry out works to assist clients with dementia
  • to install assistive technology to help a client remain in their own home

With no means test it simplifies and speeds up the process thus benefitting all and hopefully encouraging more people to go ahead with essential adaptations to their homes.

Repairs Adaptation Grant (RAG)

Funding for works between £500 to £5,000 to repair existing adaptations is now available.

A mandatory DFG cannot be used for such repairs but with this grant you can apply for funds to support essential repairs to through[1]floor lifts, stairlifts and wet[1]room floors using an RAG.

Again, it is NOT means-tested and clients can approach us direct for this grant - a referral from an Occupational Therapist is NOT needed!

You may apply for a grant if you are:

  • an owner occupier (including shared ownership)
  • a parent or guardian of a disabled child
  • a tenant in a privately rented property

If you live in a housing association property, please contact your landlord in the first instance to discuss their policy on disabled adaptations.

If you live in an East Suffolk property please contact our Tenant Services Team.

Referrals

We can now accept referrals for adaptation works from other health professionals in addition to those from Occupational Therapists.

Full Agency Support

East Suffolk - Independent Living Agency (ES-ILA) will help you with all aspects of the grant application. You will be allocated a case officer, who will be your support throughout the process. Their role will include completing the application forms, preparing the schedule and plans, liaising with builders, Building Control and other statutory bodies through to completion of the relevant works. During this process if any unforeseen works are required, they will be actioned accordingly. The final sign off will only be requested once snagging issues (if any) are rectified. This will include organising payment(s) and ensuring guarantees and warranties are in place.

Advantages - peace of mind, experienced professional staff supporting you, knowledge of the grant forms and supporting evidence required, single Case Officer to keep communication simple and effective, funded in nearly all cases by the grant.

Data and transparency