If you have a disability or if you have a disabled child, you may need to have major changes made to your home to make it more suitable, you could get a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) of up to £30,000 to help meet the cost.
DFG are only available on the recommendation of an Occupational Therapist (OT) and are means tested.
A DFG will not affect any benefits you receive.
Who can apply
If you get income based benefits, you may qualify for a DFG. You can also apply for a DFG if you are either the owner or tenant of the property and intend to occupy the property as your only or main residence throughout the grant period - currently five years.
How to apply
To apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant you must first contact us to arrange a ‘social care assessment’
Contact Social Care Direct on 020 8359 5000
You might not get any grant if you start work on your property before the council approves your application.
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How the assessment works
An Occupational Therapist (OT) from the Adults and Communities Delivery Unit will look at your circumstances and recommend any changes needed.
The assessment may decide that an adaptation is the most appropriate and cost effective way to meet your needs and recommend that you apply for a DFG.
The Private Sector Housing Service will assess if your home is suitable for the adaptation and whether the work is ‘reasonable and practicable’. They will work (and often visit jointly) with Adults and Communities or Children’s Services to see what is needed to meet your needs.
They will also look at your income and savings to see if you need to contribute towards the cost of the works. They will process your grant application for you, inform you when it is approved and make sure the finished work is satisfactory and meets the requirements.
If you are applying for a grant, you will need to tell Adults and Communities or Children Service’s and the Private Sector Housing Service whether you want to deal with the grant application and building works yourself, including getting quotes, or if you want someone else to deal with it for you (an ‘agent’). Your OT, or your officer in Private Sector Housing, can give you advice and information to find a suitable agent. We recommend that any builder used specialises in adaptation work.
About the Barnet Care and Repair Service
The Barnet Care and Repair Service specialises in working with older people and disabled people of all ages in the Barnet area, to help them live independently in their own home. They can support you through the process of applying for, and using, a DFG. The service covers all aspects right from completing the application form, to getting estimates and supervising the works. There is a charge for this service, and in many cases the cost of the fees can be covered by the grant.
How the grant is paid
You’ll be paid either:
- by instalments – as the work progresses
- in full – when the work is finished
A grant is an agreement made between you as the applicant, and the council. It is not a contract between the council and the building contractor or agent so we will not be responsible for supervising the work or making sure it is done to the proper standard. You, or your agent, will be responsible for making sure the work is properly carried out.
However, you can if you wish ask us to pay the grant money direct to the contractor or agent on your behalf.
You will need to make sure that you receive from the builder any instruction manuals for equipment that they have installed and also warranties for any specialist equipment, such as a stair lift, through floor lift, ceiling track hoist or water closomat. Once the works are completed, you will need to arrange and pay for any future repairs or maintenance of your adaptation and equipment (when the warranty periods have expired) as these costs cannot be paid for by a DFG.
Contacts
Disability Facility Grant (DFG)
Tel: 020 8359 7420
Barnet Care and Repair Agency
London Borough of Barnet, 2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, London, NW9 4EW
Tel: 020 8359 7462
FAX: 0870 889 6793
Social Care Direct
London Borough of Barnet, Barnet House, 1255 High Road, Whetstone, London N20 0EJ
SMS: 07506 693707
Tel: 020 8359 5000
Email: socialcaredirect@barnet.gov.uk
Download documents
Fair Access to Care Services in Barnet: Eligibility Matrix 0.04 MB
Private Sector Housing Financial Assistance Policy:
