Who is eligible?
Three things must be true:
- You (or someone living with you) is disabled — physical, sensory, mental health or a progressive condition like dementia, Parkinson's, MS
- The adaptation is necessary and appropriate for that person's needs
- The work is reasonable and practicable given the property
Both homeowners and tenants can apply. Tenants need the landlord's permission. Council tenants can also apply but the council usually pays for the work itself rather than via DFG.
Children never face the means test
For children under 19, DFG is not means-tested. The household income doesn't matter. For adults, there is a means test but it ignores certain disability benefits and the first £6,000 of savings.
What the grant covers
Anything that helps the disabled person live more independently in their own home:
- Access — ramps, widened paths, accessible front doors, lowered thresholds, stair lifts, through-floor lifts
- Bathroom — walk-in shower, level-access wet room, downstairs toilet, accessible bath
- Kitchen — lowered surfaces, accessible appliances, single-lever taps
- Bedroom and movement — through-floor lifts, hoists, widened doorways for wheelchair use, ground-floor extension if no other practical option
- Safety and warmth — specialist heating systems, safe access for someone with severe mental health needs
- Sensory adaptations — visual fire alarms, induction loops, lighting changes for partial sight
How to apply
- Request an Occupational Therapy (OT) assessment from your council's adult social care or children's services team. The OT visits the home and writes a recommendation. The assessment itself is free and there is no income test for the OT visit.
- The council confirms eligibility based on the OT report. For adults they run a means test; for children they confirm need.
- They appoint a "Home Improvement Agency" (HIA) or you can choose your own contractor in some cases. The HIA gets quotes, supervises work, signs off completion.
- The grant is paid directly to the contractor — you don't usually handle the money yourself.
- Work happens, OT signs off, case closes.
End-to-end typically takes 6 to 12 months. Urgent cases (terminal illness, hospital discharge) can be fast-tracked in weeks.
Don't start work before approval
The grant cannot cover any work started before the council approves it. If you've already paid for adaptations, you cannot retrospectively claim DFG.
Do I have to pay it back?
Usually no. The grant is non-repayable. The only exception in England is:
- The grant was over £5,000, AND
- You sell the property within 10 years
In that case the council may reclaim up to £10,000 from the sale proceeds. Children's grants never need repaying, regardless of property sale.
What if the grant isn't enough?
Some adaptations cost more than £30,000 — particularly downstairs extensions, through-floor lifts and complex kitchen rebuilds. Several routes can top up:
- Many councils offer discretionary top-up beyond the statutory cap for high-need cases
- The Independence at Home charity (and similar charities like the Lifecycle Trust) can help with the shortfall
- If the person has a terminal illness, Marie Curie and Macmillan grants can help with fast adaptations
- Foundations Independent Living Trust (foundations.uk.com) gives advice across England