Disabled Facilities Grants
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to review the (a) effectiveness of the means testing process for and (b) maximum level of grant available through the Disabled Facilities Grant.
Answered by Rushanara Ali
Government recognises how important home adaptations are in enabling disabled people to live as independently as possible in a safe and suitable environment. Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding helps adapt around 55,000 homes annually, helping disabled people and their families to live independently and well in their own homes for longer.
Local authorities already have powers to waive the means test in line with a locally agreed Housing Assistance Policy. To ensure the DFG is as effective as possible, we will continue to keep different aspects of the grant under consideration, including the effectiveness of the means test process.
This Government is reviewing the suitability of the current grant upper limit. We expect the review to conclude later in 2025. Given that any rise in the upper limit will require additional funding, the Government will say more about its future approach after the Spending Review. In the meanwhile, local authorities have considerable discretion and may fund adaptations above the current £30,000 upper limit in line with a local policy or in exceptional circumstances.
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