District Council approves increase in funding for Discretionary Disabled Facilities Grants

It is a statutory duty of the District Council to provide DFGs for residents living in private sector accommodation (i.e. their own home or privately rented accommodation) to make necessary adaptations to their homes. Funding is granted to eligible applicants who need help to facilitate access in their home i.e. adapt a room that is useable for sleeping, increase access to a bathroom, re-arrange or enlarge a kitchen to improve manoeuvrability for a wheelchair and improve heating, lighting and power.

The maximum amount of mandatory grant that the District Council can pay for any single grant application is set nationally at £30,000. In addition, they have the power to offer discretionary financial assistance as a ‘top up’. The District Council has increased this to £30,000. Meaning a single applicant can now apply for £60,000 of funding.

Furthermore, an additional element has been added to include reference to Armed Forces Personnel. This change will make the grant process more attractive and simpler for the Armed Forces community who need to make vital adaptions to their home. 

Funding for the DFGs comes from the Better Care Fund and is specifically ringfenced for this purpose. Referrals for these grants come from the Occupational Therapy teams at Nottinghamshire County Council.

Councillor Lee Brazier, Portfolio Holder for Housing at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “It is great news that we’ve been able to increase the funding limit for our Discretionary Disabled Facilities Grants. It has become increasingly obvious that our previous limit wasn’t enough to cover construction costs for these vital adaptions to residents’ homes and therefore we have made the right decision to increase that limit to £30,000. Now our residents can apply for a total of £60,000 of funding.

“It is incredibly understandable – and important – that our residents want to stay living in their homes as long as possible instead of a clinical setting. Therefore, the DFGs remain a vital service we offer.

“It is also great to see Armed Forces personnel now specifically included in our policy. Newark and Sherwood District Council are absolutely committed to the continued support of our Armed Forces community in the district and hopefully these changes will ensure that the DFGs process is more similar and attractive as well as demonstration of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.”