Disabled facilities grant

[JessicaKenny2018]

Has anyone had a disabled facilities grant, we are currently going through the process and just wondered how other people found the whole process

Hi OP, I’m an OT and in my experience every council is different.
What works are you having done? Obviously an extension is a lot more complex than a shower adaptation!

@TightPants we are having an extension for a downstairs bedroom and a wet room, since I posted the lady from the council that done the home visit with the contractor has contacted saying she is happy that the work should go ahead, the original referral was put in by my little boys OT, I have been really impressed with how quickly it's all been dealt with.

Does this grant cover autism? And applying for a wet room? Or bathroom extebsion

My neighbour always pushes me to apply for a house extension as she have herself an sutistic son...but she extended her house 9 years ago...not sure if that still applies?

It’s very tricky if it’s for behavioural issues. Usually social services OTs are not involved with behaviour management. They will expect that behaviour management programmes have been tried (and failed) by health OT colleagues - at least that’s how it works in my area.
In most cases with kids with ASD, advice and information will be given re.safety etc.

Extensions are very hard to get @Soumia and parents nearly always have to ‘top up’ the grant themselves, sometimes by many thousands of £.

@JessicaKenny2018 glad yours is going through nicely! If the L.A has money in the grants budget it doesn’t usually take too long

Our referral was done by nhs OT
Thank you @TightPants

You can find out a bit more about disabled facilities grants and where to start your enquiry at www.adaptmyhome.org.uk

Fine. We combined it with a self paid extension and the builders all worked well together. The LA will try to minimise the grant to you but make sure you get the full amount

I have to say my LA have been brilliant and agreed to the maximum £30k without any quibbles, obviously needed medical evidence etc but they have been excellent and I'm just really pleased my little boy will gain something that he desperately needs

@yellowallpaper I’ve not seen that personally. Most councils want to do the work once and do it well, so the builders are very experienced and used to working with disabled people. They cost more money, but it’s deemed necessary not to get the job bodged.
They have to follow the recommendations specifications of the OT anyway, so it’s not a matter of trying to ‘minimise’ the grants they give out.

tightpants. I've heard many people say the LA try to reduce the amount they pay on the Grant. If they can say you don't need an extension, as part of the grant as you can convert a spare room they will. They also don't care much about other children in the family having to share, they're only interested in making the adaptations for the disabled child.

They don't employ poor quality workers or cut corners on materials and work but they will only do what's absolutely necessary. So if the OT says the child can manage in a family bath with a hoist and bathseat, they won't do a wetroom. I'm only say what others have said to me, we didn't have a problem though.

@yellowallpaper the problem is that they have a finite budget for all families that need work.
Of course they have to do the most cost-effective adaptations, as long as it meets the needs of the child/adult with the disability. Other family members should of course be considered, but ultimately the OT is there for the disabled child.
The authorities I work with vary in terms of speed of works, but I have to say that the grants officers I work with are flexible and sympathetic to the needs of the child and their families.
I’ve never had a recommendation turned down, but I have to also consider what will best meet the needs of the child first.
Don’t forget we see lots of families having difficulties, we have to consider what will meet the need, without impacting other family members too much, and that is most cost effective.
There’s not an endless pot of grant money available, mores the pity!

tightpants. Yes, money has got much tighter over the last few years. We have been fighting and waiting for equipment, like a stander and walker for a year now. Shoehorned into a stander we knew wouldn't work (had one before) which finally got taken back and a year wasted. Adequate headrest for the wheelchair and a tray needed, and even our home chair is rickety! Just endless waiting.

Budgets are very tight and it's difficult for everyone involved ☹️

@yellowallpaper sorry to hear that, it must be so frustrating. Parents of disabled kids have enough to do without chasing equipment and accessories!
Delays in my experience come when equipment is co-funded, social services and NHS. The NHS can be very slow to co-fund vital equipment unfortunately (n.b this could be just my area though!)