The full picture
A Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is a council-paid grant for adapting a home so a disabled person can keep living there. The grant pays the contractor directly once the council has approved the works.
Maximum grant by nation: - England: £30,000 - Wales: £36,000 (Physical Adaptations Grant) - Northern Ireland: £25,000 - Scotland: variable — Care and Repair grants and the local authority Scheme of Assistance fund similar adaptations
Common adaptations covered: - Ramps and widened doors for wheelchair access - Stairlifts or through-floor lifts - Walk-in showers and accessible bathrooms - Kitchen adaptations for wheelchair users - Heating and lighting changes for sensory needs - Specialist door entry systems
How it works: 1. Contact the council's Housing or Adaptations team 2. An Occupational Therapist visits and writes a Schedule of Works 3. The council means-tests adult applicants on income and savings 4. Approved contractors quote; the council picks the work 5. The grant pays the contractor on completion
Under-19s face no means test — the grant is automatic if the OT recommends adaptations. Adults are means-tested but the grant doesn't have to be paid back unless the home is sold within 10 years and the equity gained from the adaptation exceeds £15,000.
Renters can apply, including in private rentals — you'll need written landlord consent but the grant pays the council, not the landlord.