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South Lakeland District Council

Tel: 0845 050 4434
info@southlakeland.gov.uk

South Lakeland House
Lowther Street
Kendal
Cumbria LA9 4UF

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Grants for Disabled Facilities/Adaptations

This information can only provide a brief outline of the help available from South Lakeland District Council. You should not rely on the details provided as a complete or authoritative guide to Disabled Facilities Grants.

Grants for adaptations to your home (PDF, 38 Kb)

Grants for Disabled Facilities
House adaptations	This information is for people with disabilities and their friends or relatives. It tells you how adaptations can be made to your home to allow you or your friend or relative to live there more independently. Some adaptations may be eligible for Disabled Facilities Grants and can provide: Access to your home Access to your living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom Bathroom and kitchen facilities which can be used independently Easier use of heating and lighting controls Improved heating in the home Assistance for carers with disabilities
Getting the work done	Once the grant and any funding from Social Services or yourself is approved, the work can be started by the builders. Progress and supervision of the work is your responsibility. If the work is substantial, you may wish to seek professional help to oversee progress. Please note You must not begin work until the grant has been approved, and a formal grant approval notice has been issued. When complete, a final review will be done to approve the work. Your occupational therapist may offer you advice on how to get the most from adaptations.
What happens next?	The occupational therapist, in conjunction with South Lakeland District Council, will make an assessment of your needs and will recommend the adaptations required to meet your needs. If you agree that the works should be done, you will be given advice on how to arrange for plans to be drawn up and how to seek quotations from builders. Please note You should note that all persons calling on you from either South Lakeland District Council or Cumbria County Council will have appropriate identity cards which you should ask to see before letting anyone into your home.
How to apply for a disabled facilities grant	You can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant if you are either; registered or registerable as disabled (your social worker or occupational therapist can tell you this) and an owner-occupier or tenant Please note such grants are not available for Council tenants. OR acting on behalf of a person with disabilities who lives in your home OR a landlord acting on behalf of a tenant who has disabilities Disabled Facilities Grants will be considered for adaptations recommended by an occupational therapist to meet the essential needs of the person with disabilities. The Council will supply you with a Disabled Facilities Grant application form for you to fill in.
How the grant is worked out	The form will ask you some questions about your financial resources. It will also ask you about other people living in the house. To process your application, South Lakeland District Council will make a test of your finances. Grants are provided to those least able to pay for the work. Depending on your finances, a grant may be made available to pay for all, for some or for none of the cost of the work. Please note You must not assume that you will automatically receive a grant. You should wait until you receive a formal approval of a grant before work is started. If a grant is not approved, any costs incurred up to that date will be your responsibility. If the grant approved does not cover the full cost of the work, you are responsible for the full remaining cost. If you feel you cannot afford this, you may be able to apply for a hardship grant from Social Services. The amount of help available will be dependent on a further test of your finances.
What help is available?	You may be able to get help with the cost of adaptations through a Disabled Facilities Grant from South Lakeland District Council. Further assistance may be available from Cumbria County Council Social Services Department. You can get help and advice from many sources. Cumbria Social Services occupational therapists and South Lakeland District Council will be able to help with the planning and design of the work.
How to start	You can contact Cumbria County Council Social Services Department and request an assessment from an occupational therapist. If you already have a social worker or occupational therapist, then ask them for an assessment. Find out more about Cumbria Social Services Assessment of Need
Contacts	For advice and assessment from an Occupational Therapist, contact Cumbria County Council, Social Services, CUSTOMER SERVICES Kendal Office Cumbria County Council Offices, Kendal Tel: 01539 773377 Barrow Office Market Street, Barrow in Furness Tel: 01229 894894 Other Advice & Support Services