The council decides what is covered by looking at two tests:
- whether the works are necessary and appropriate to meet your needs
- whether they are practicable in the property, given its age and condition
Social services, usually with an Occupational Therapist, help the council make this decision.
Eligible works
Here are the main types of changes a DFG can pay for:
Getting in and out of the house
Example: installing a ramp for a wheelchair user.
Moving around inside the house
Example: fitting a stairlift to reach upstairs bedrooms or bathrooms.
Access to the garden
Example: making changes so the person can use the garden for play, drying clothes, or gardening.
Making the home safer
Examples: visual alarms for people with hearing loss, reinforced walls or floors, guards around fires or heaters.
Access to main living areas
Example: widening doorways or hallways so the disabled person can reach the family room.
Creating or modifying a bedroom
Example: ensuring access to a suitable bedroom, or building a new one if needed.
Access to toilets and bathrooms
Example: installing a level-access shower or an accessible toilet.
Kitchen modifications
Example: lowering worktops or rearranging the layout to prepare meals safely.
Better heating
Example: installing or adapting heating where the current system does not meet needs.
Controlling power, light, and heat
Example: moving sockets or fitting simple controls for lighting and heating.
Helping care for others
Example: making sure a disabled parent can reach a child’s bedroom to provide care.
Necessary and Appropriate
The council first checks if the works are:
- Necessary – essential for safety or independence.
- Example: a ramp to get in and out of the home.
- Appropriate – the right solution for that person’s needs and a sensible use of public funds.
- Example: fitting a stairlift instead of building a new ground floor bedroom.
This stage is about meeting the person’s needs while choosing the most suitable and cost-effective option.
Practicable in the Property
The council then considers whether the home itself can take the adaptation.
This depends on the age, layout, and condition of the dwelling.
- Example: large adaptations may not be practicable in a very old property in poor repair.
- In these cases, the council may suggest a different approach or discuss housing alternatives.
Preferred schemes
Sometimes the council agrees the most appropriate adaptation but you would prefer something more.
- Example: the council approves a stairlift, but you would like a new ground floor bedroom.
- The grant will cover the stairlift cost, and you can pay the extra for the extension.
Always agree this with the council first and wait for a written approval letter before starting any work.
Key points to remember
- A DFG can cover many types of adaptations, but they must be necessary, appropriate, and practicable.
- Councils choose the most suitable option that meets needs at the lowest cost.
- If you want something beyond that, you may fund it yourself through a preferred scheme.
- Get formal approval before starting any work.
