If you or someone living in your property is disabled you may qualify for a Disabled Facilities Grant towards the cost of providing adaptations and facilities to enable the disabled person to continue to live there. Eligibility for these grants is subject to a medical assessment by an Occupational Therapist from Social Care Services.
The grant is subject to a maximum of £30,000 and a "means test" is applied to determine the applicants ability to contribute towards the cost of the work. Further information can be found from Communities and Local Government.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council also offers a Discretionary Disabled Facilities Grant ('top up') to assist applicants for Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant to fund the cost of essential works in excess of the statutory maximum grant. The grant, which has a maximum level of £5,000, is subject to the discretion of the Head of Environmental Health and Housing Services.
Where the existing house of a person eligible for a Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant cannot be adapted to meet their needs, a Discretionary Disabled Facilities Grant (Relocation) is available for them to move to a more suitable property. The grant is subject to a maximum level of £10,000 and it is a condition of the grant that the applicant must move to a property which, in St Edmundsbury Borough Council's opinion, is either suitable for the needs of the disabled person, or can be adapted to meet the needs of that person.
For further information please contact Environmental Health on (01284) 757053 or e-mail Env.Health@stedsbc.gov.uk
