The Disabled Facilities Grant is one of the most valuable and least understood sources of financial support available to disabled people and their families in the UK. It can pay for up to £30,000 of essential home adaptations, including stairlifts, walk-in showers, widened doorways, ramps and accessible bathrooms. Yet thousands of people who qualify never apply simply because they do not know it exists or assume the process is too complicated. This guide tells you everything you need to know.
DFG maximum grant amounts by nation
| England | Up to £30,000 |
| Wales | Up to £36,000 |
| Northern Ireland | Up to £30,000 |
| Scotland | Up to £25,000 (Housing Adaptations Grant) |
A DFG does not affect your other benefits
Receiving a Disabled Facilities Grant will not reduce or stop any other benefits you receive. It is not counted as income or capital for benefit assessment purposes.
What is the Disabled Facilities Grant?
The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is a statutory grant administered by local councils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is funded partly by central government and partly by councils, and it exists to help disabled people and people with long-term health conditions make essential adaptations to their homes so they can continue to live independently.
The grant is established under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 and local councils are legally required to consider applications. A council cannot refuse to accept a formal application or to provide an application form. The grant is means-tested for working-age adults but not for children under 19 for whom child benefit is in payment.
What can a DFG pay for?
The grant can fund a wide range of home adaptations as long as they are assessed as necessary by an occupational therapist and fall within the council’s grant criteria. Common adaptations funded through DFG include:
- Stairlifts and through-floor lifts
- Level-access showers and wet rooms
- Accessible bathrooms including walk-in baths
- Widened doorways for wheelchair access
- Ramps and level-access entrances
- Grab rails, handrails and support poles
- Specialist kitchen adaptations
- Heating system improvements where the disability affects the ability to regulate temperature
- Lighting improvements for people with visual impairments
- Bedroom facilities at ground floor level where stairs cannot be accessed safely
Adaptations must be assessed as necessary and appropriate by an occupational therapist. The council will not fund adaptations purely for comfort or convenience, only those linked directly to the disability-related need.
Who is eligible for a DFG?
You can apply for a DFG whether you own your home, rent privately, or are a council or housing association tenant. Landlords can also apply on behalf of disabled tenants. You must be living in the property, intend to continue living there for the duration of the grant period (typically five years), and have a disability or long-term health condition that substantially affects your ability to access or use your home safely.
The legal definition of disabled for DFG purposes is broad. It includes people whose sight, hearing or speech is substantially impaired, people with a mental disorder or impairment of any kind, and anyone physically substantially disabled by illness, injury or impairment.
Private tenants need their landlord’s consent for structural adaptations. Most landlords agree, but if a landlord refuses unreasonably this may constitute a breach of the Equality Act 2010 and legal advice should be sought.
How much will I receive?
The DFG is means-tested for working-age adults. The means test looks at the income and savings of the disabled person and their partner. The first £6,000 of savings is always ignored. If your income and savings are below the test thresholds, you will receive the full cost of the approved works up to the maximum grant limit. If they are above the thresholds, you will be required to contribute a calculated amount towards the cost.
If you receive a passporting benefit, the grant typically covers the full cost of approved works. Passporting benefits include Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, and Universal Credit (in some circumstances).
For children under 19 for whom child benefit is in payment, there is no means test at all. The full cost of approved works up to the maximum is funded regardless of parental income.
Some councils have discretionary top-up funding available for cases where the cost exceeds the maximum grant. It is always worth asking your council whether any additional funding exists beyond the statutory DFG maximum.
How to apply: step by step
| Step | What happens | Who does it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Contact your local council. Ask for the housing department and request a DFG application or an occupational therapy assessment. You can also approach via your GP, a social worker, or a Home Improvement Agency. | You |
| 2 | Occupational therapist assessment. An OT visits your home, assesses your mobility needs and recommends what adaptations are necessary and appropriate. This is free of charge. | Council OT |
| 3 | Get quotes. Obtain at least two contractor quotes for the recommended works. The council may have an approved contractor list. Do not start any work before the grant is approved. | You |
| 4 | Formal application and means test. Submit the application with the OT report and quotes. The council carries out a means test to determine how much grant you will receive. | You and council |
| 5 | Grant decision. The council must make a decision within six months of receiving a valid application. Most decisions are either approval or a request for further information. | Council |
| 6 | Works carried out. Once the grant is approved, works must be completed within 12 months. The council inspects on completion and releases payment directly to you or the contractor. | Contractor |
How long does the process take?
This is the honest answer most guides avoid: it varies enormously and can be frustratingly slow. The legal requirement is that councils must make a decision within six months of a valid application. In practice, getting to that point, including the OT assessment and the quotes stage, can add several more months. Some councils process grants within a few months. Others have long waiting lists for OT assessments that can stretch to a year or more.
If the adaptation is urgent, for example if someone has been discharged from hospital and cannot safely access their bathroom, tell the council this explicitly at the outset. Many councils have a fast-track process for urgent cases. Your GP or a hospital discharge team can support an urgent application.
If you need the adaptation quickly and can afford to fund it yourself initially, you can do so and apply for retrospective reimbursement in some circumstances, though this is not guaranteed. Discuss this with the council before proceeding.
What if the cost exceeds the grant maximum?
If the full cost of the recommended works exceeds the DFG maximum, you have several options. Some councils have discretionary funds to top up the statutory grant. Charitable grants via Turn2us (turn2us.org.uk) may cover some of the shortfall. VAT exemption on disability adaptations saves 20% on the works cost and applies automatically to most DFG-funded adaptations. If you are a homeowner, equity release is another route, though this is a significant financial commitment and specialist advice should be sought before proceeding.
Do I have to repay the grant?
In most cases, no. However, if you sell or transfer your home within ten years of receiving the grant, the council may recover up to £10,000 of the grant through a local land charge on your property. The council will tell you at the time of the grant whether a land charge applies to your case. Not all councils apply this repayment condition.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a DFG if I rent my home?
Yes. Private tenants, council tenants and housing association tenants are all eligible. Private tenants need their landlord’s consent for structural works. Your landlord cannot unreasonably refuse. Social landlords sometimes fund adaptations themselves but you can still apply for a DFG alongside this.
Can I apply for a DFG on behalf of someone else?
Yes. You can apply on behalf of a disabled family member or person you care for. The application is still assessed on the disabled person’s needs and finances, not yours. A landlord can also apply on behalf of a disabled tenant.
Can I apply for more than one DFG?
Yes. There is no absolute limit on the number of grants you can receive, but you cannot apply for a further DFG to meet the same assessed need within five years of the first grant. If your needs change significantly, you can apply again.
Will a DFG affect my benefits?
No. A Disabled Facilities Grant is not counted as income or capital and will not reduce or stop any other benefits you receive.
What if my application is refused?
Outright refusals are rare if you meet the basic eligibility criteria. If your application is refused, ask the council to explain the reason in writing. You can ask for an internal review or make a formal complaint. Age UK, Citizens Advice and Disability Rights UK can all provide guidance on challenging a refusal.
Can I choose my own contractor?
Yes. You are not required to use the council’s approved contractor list, but using a listed contractor simplifies the process. If you use your own contractor, they must be properly insured and qualified. The council will still accept their quote and inspect the completed work.
How do I find my local council for a DFG application?
In England and Wales, apply to your local district, borough or unitary authority housing department. Use gov.uk/find-local-council to find the right contact. In Northern Ireland, contact your local Health and Social Care Trust. In Scotland, contact your local council’s housing department for the Housing Adaptations Grant.
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Grant eligibility criteria, maximum amounts and local processes may change. Always verify current details with your local council before making any financial decisions.