Improving access to Disabled Facilities Grant

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Who can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG)? 

You may be eligible to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant if: 

How do I apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant? 
 
Contact Nottingham Health & Care Point (Adult’s Services) 

Visit Multi Agency Safeguarding Children Hub for referral advice (Children’s Services) 

Where does Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding come from? 

Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) are funded by central government. The funding is provided to local authorities as a ring‑fenced capital grant, which means it can only be used to pay for eligible adaptations for people whose circumstances meet the grant’s eligibility criteria.

Local authorities are responsible for administering DFG funding. This includes assessing applications, approving eligible works, and ensuring the grant is used in line with national legislation and guidance. 
 

Is the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) means tested? 

Yes. DFGs for adults are usually means tested, based on household income and savings. The means test is used to assess whether you need to make a financial contribution towards the cost of the adaptation works.

DFGs for children and young people (up to the maximum grant amount) are not means tested, meaning no financial assessment is required where the works are for the benefit of a disabled child or young person. 

How will waiving the first £10,000 of contribution make a difference? 

Under the current national DFG means‑testing framework, households with very modest incomes and low levels of savings can still be assessed as able to make significant financial contributions towards essential home adaptations.

In Nottingham, this particularly affects working‑age disabled adults whose income is just above benefit thresholds, and older households on modest pensions who receive slightly more than state benefits.

These examples show how households with low incomes and limited savings can still be assessed as able to make substantial contributions, creating a significant barrier to accessing essential adaptations. 

What types of adaptations can a DFG fund? 

A DFG can fund major adaptations, such as: 

Adaptations must be recommended by an Occupational Therapist. 
 

Does the grant have to be repaid? 

The maximum grant amount (up to £50,000) grant does not usually have to be repaid as long as the disabled person continues to live in the property, no repayment is required. However, if the grant was over £10,000 and the property is sold or transferred within 10 years of the work being completed, the Council can ask for repayment of up to £10,000.  

The relocation grant which can provide financial support towards purchasing a more suitable property and the Decent Homes for Disabled People Grant which helps with disrepair issues are both fully repayable on sale or transfer of the property. Details of the grant conditions for each discretionary grant are available in the policy.  
 

What if I don’t qualify for a DFG? 

If you do not qualify: 

When will the policy go live? 

The policy is expected to go live in July 2026. 
 

Why is the policy being changed 

The Council’s current Disabled Facilities Grant operates within a national framework set by government, much of which has not been updated for many years and no longer reflects current building and construction costs, or the cost‑of‑living pressures faced by residents. 

The Council is proposing to use its discretionary powers to make the DFG, more flexible, fairer and better aligned with local needs across the city. The proposed changes are intended to expand access, enabling more residents to benefit from the Disabled Facilities Grant and receive support that better reflects today’s needs and costs. The purpose of the grant and the core eligibility criteria remain unchanged, with support continuing to focus on helping disabled and older residents live safely and independently in their own homes. 

I’m already waiting for my adaptation — will this policy change affect me? 

Residents who are already waiting for adaptations will not be adversely affected. Existing applications and approved works will continue as planned and will be eligible for the more generous elements of the new policy.