Vale of Glamorgan Council

Disabled Facilities Grant (Vale of Glamorgan)

Vale of Glamorgan Council's Disabled Facilities Grant helps pay for adapting a home so a disabled person can move around and use its facilities, such as level-access showers, stairlifts, ramps and lower kitchen units. The maximum is generally £36,000, minus any contribution assessed from household income and savings (no means test for disabled children under 19). Under the council's Independent Living Policy there is also a Discretionary Adaptations Grant with no means test but a lifetime charge on the property.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Up to £36,000; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Moderate; full application with documents

Who can apply

Owner occupiers, landlords and private tenants in the Vale of Glamorgan, where a disabled person lives in the property as their main residence
Council tenants must first apply to the Council Housing Adaptations Team (councilhousingadapt@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk), and housing association tenants to their landlord
An occupational therapist assesses what works are suitable and necessary
The grant is means tested on household income and savings over £6,000, except for families with disabled children under 19
A DFG carries a 10-year charge on the property; the alternative Discretionary Adaptations Grant has no means test but a lifetime charge

What it funds

Better heating and lighting systems and controls
Additional bathing facilities, for example a level access shower
Easier cooking, for example providing low level units
Bathroom conversion, for example providing level access shower, accessible WC and wash hand basin
Improved movement around the house and access to rooms and facilities, for example widening doors, ramps or stair lift

Small adaptations such as portable ramps and handrails are handled by the Occupational Therapist Department without a means test. Medium or large adaptations (major kitchen or bathroom work, lifts, extensions, structural changes) go to the Disabled Facilities Grants Team.

How to apply

Ask for an assessment through the Occupational Therapy Referral Form (individuals, family, friends and professionals can refer)
An occupational therapist assesses what is needed
For medium or large adaptations, the Disabled Facilities Grants Team works with the occupational therapist on the scope of work and helps with the grant application
Choose between a means-tested DFG (10-year charge), a Discretionary Adaptations Grant (no means test, lifetime charge) or a relocation grant if the adaptation is not feasible

Occupational therapy referrals are prioritised; high priority goes to people with a terminal illness, where there are safety issues in providing care, or where care arrangements have broken down.

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