GrantRadar

Bracknell Forest Council

Disabled Facilities Grant (Bracknell Forest)

The statutory mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant in Bracknell Forest: up to £30,000 towards adaptations that let a disabled person live more independently at home, such as stairlifts, ramps, level-access showers and widened doorways. Home owners and tenants can apply, and the applicant need not be the disabled person. The grant is means tested, except for children and people on passporting benefits. An occupational therapist's needs assessment must come first; the council then invites an application.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £30,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • An owner or tenant of a property in Bracknell Forest where a disabled person (the applicant or someone living with them) has their main home; the applicant need not be the disabled person
  • The application must be supported by an officer in Adult Social Care or Children's Social Care, usually an occupational therapist, after a needs assessment
  • The disabled person and their partner are means tested; adaptations for under-18s, and applicants on a passporting benefit (Universal Credit, income-related ESA, Income Support, income-based JSA, guarantee Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, or Working/Child Tax Credit with income under £15,050), are passported and pay nothing up to £30,000

What it funds

Adaptations to support the disabled person in their home by:

  • Improving access to and from their home
  • Making their home safe for everyone who lives there
  • Improving access to a room used or usable as the main family room
  • Improving access to a room used for sleeping or providing a room for sleeping
  • Improving access to a room where there is a toilet or providing a room where toilet facilities can be used
  • Improving access to a room where there is a bath, shower (or both), or providing a room where such facilities can be used
  • Improving access to a room where there is a wash basin or providing a room where a basin can be used
  • Facilitating the preparation and cooking of food by the disabled person
  • Improving a heating system or replacing an unsuitable heating system to meet the needs of the disabled person
  • Improving access to, or control of, a source of power, light or heat to meet the needs of the disabled person
  • Improving access and movement by the disabled person around the home to care for a person who is normally a resident and is in need of care
  • Improving access to and from a garden or making access to a garden safe

examples include stairlifts, access ramps, level access showers, widening doorways and repositioning light switches. Fees can also be included, such as building surveys, drawings and specifications, help with forms, planning and building regulations applications, estimates, supervision of works and agency fees, all within the £30,000 total.

What it will not fund

  • Works the council is not satisfied are necessary and appropriate to meet the disabled person's needs
  • Works that are not reasonable and practical given the age and condition of the property

the grant may be withdrawn or repayable if the disabled person moves out within 5 years, if the property is sold or transferred within 10 years (owners may be asked to repay £5,000 to £10,000), or if the work is not completed within 12 months of approval.

How to apply

  1. Arrange a needs assessment with an occupational therapist: adults via the adult social care portal, 01344 351500 or adult.socialcare@bracknell-forest.gov.uk; children via the MASH team, 01344 352005 or mash@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
  2. Optionally use the council's self-assessment calculator to estimate any contribution
  3. If the council is satisfied the adaptations are necessary and appropriate, you are emailed an invitation to apply
  4. Choose how the works are managed: fully by the DFG service, by yourself for the suggested scheme, or by yourself for a different scheme approved by the DFG team manager
  5. Complete the online application form from the invitation email, uploading all supporting evidence

you can also be referred to occupational therapy by family, friends, housing associations, GPs, a social worker or the hospital. Incomplete applications cannot be processed.

Have ready

  • Two proofs of identity (driving licence, passport, birth or marriage certificate) for the applicant and, if different, the disabled person
  • Three proofs of address dated within 6 months (bank statement, pension letter, utility bill, Council Tax bill, benefit letter, child benefit or tax credit letter)
  • For a child: one proof of identity (birth certificate or passport) and one proof of address (Child Benefit award letter or Child Tax Credit letter)
  • Proof of a passporting benefit, such as an award letter, if applicable
  • If not passported: bank statements for the last 3 full months, proof of household income for 3 months, evidence of savings, bonds and other capital, and certified accounts if self-employed
  • Owner occupiers: proof of ownership of a qualifying houseboat or caravan where relevant
  • Tenants: landlord's contact details, including telephone and email

all financial information must be dated within the last 3 months. Under the full-support option the DFG service also arranges a VAT exemption form and an owner's or tenant's certificate.

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