Disabled Facilities Grants

Overview

Grants for disabled adaptations are available to help you live more comfortably in your own home by providing the necessary alterations to meet your needs such as:

Widening doors and installing ramps to make access into and out of your home easier
Installing a stair lift
Access to bathing and toilet facilities
Making a dwelling safe for disabled occupant
Providing a room useable for sleeping
Facilitating food preparation

These are only examples. Other works may qualify for a grant, in consultation with Independent Living Suffolk. If in doubt - please ask.

Before the Council can approve any grant, we will need the completed application form/s and any other information we have asked for, such as proof of identity, address, or disability.

Types of grants available

The Council offers two types of grants:

Minor disabled facilities grant

A discretionary, non-means-tested grant for minor adaptations.
Disabled facilities grant

A mandatory grant that may require a means test, depending on benefits received.

Who can apply for a grant?

You may apply for a grant if you are a:

Homeowner
Private tenant
Registered Provider (social housing) tenant in the Borough

Application process and support

Ipswich Borough Council works with Suffolk County Council to assist with disabled adaptations. We will:

Help with the application form
Organise a schedule of works with an appointed contractor

Grant conditions and repayment

Please note, grants will not be paid for works that have already started.

You must sign a Certificate of Future Occupation to confirm you will occupy the property as your main residence during the grant condition period:

5 years for grants up to £4,999
10 years for grants of £5,000 or more

If the grant amount is £5,000 or more, the Council may demand repayment if the property is sold or disposed of within 10 years.

Charge on Property

If the grant amount is for a sum of £5,000 or over the Council may demand repayment of the part of the grant that exceeds £5,000. The Council may not demand an amount in excess of £10,000 if the property is sold or otherwise disposed of within 10 years of the completion of a grant. This is enforced by a Local Land Charge which will require acknowledgement before any grant is approved.

The maximum amount of grant assistance that can be offered is currently £30,000.

Minor Disabled Facilities Grant: non means tested

This grant removes the need for a means test for some adaptations. The grant is for adaptations designed to assist and support residents and their families cope with the challenges of living at home with long term conditions to help people remain at home.

The minor adaptation grants are open to all homeowners, private tenants, and Registered Provider tenants in the Borough. All applications are considered on a case by case basis but may include but is not limited to the following eligible works:

Installation of a Level Access Shower
Installation of stairlifts
Widening Doors
Ramps

Applicants can be considered for a Minor Disabled Facilities Grant when:

Cost of works is £10,000 or less
You will need to submit a letter from Occupational Therapist, adult social care, hospital admittance or discharge team or other health care professional who has a direct knowledge of the applicant’s health condition confirming your needs

Ipswich Borough Council reserves the right to refuse a referral from a health professional or refer it to Suffolk County Council for an Occupational Therapist’s assessment if you have complex medical needs or the works are likely to be over the value of £10,000.

Disabled Facilities Grant – means tested

If the work required to your property to meet your need is complex or over the value of £10,000 we will require an OT assessment to be completed by Suffolk County Council. They can be contacted on 0800 121 7711 or by emailing: ILS@suffolk.gov.uk

If you are unsure please contact us for a further discussion.

Ipswich Borough Council will be required to carry out a financial means test to ensure that you are eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant. Our caseworker will advise you on what we will need from you to carry out that test.

Discretionary ‘top up’ Grant

In cases where the cost of the works agreed through the Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant application is above the £30,000 threshold. The Council may consider whether to allow up to an additional £15,000 of work to be carried out under the Discretionary DFG, top up fund. This is a discretionary grant and whether to award it, will be dependent on the individual’s needs, circumstances, and the funds available. A charge will be registered against the property making some of the grant repayable if the property is sold or disposed of within 10 years of the works being completed. The charge will be in addition to the mandatory DFG charge.

See our Housing Assistance Policy 2021 (PDF).