Disability Information UKPlain-language information, rights and support

Disabled Facilities Grants and home adaptations

How to get help paying for home adaptations such as ramps, stairlifts and level-access showers, including the Disabled Facilities Grant in England and Wales and equivalents in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sample content. This prototype article summarises official UK sources listed at the end of the page. It is information, not legal or medical advice, and what you are entitled to depends on your circumstances.

Jurisdiction
UK-wide
Date last checked
16 June 2026
Date last updated
16 June 2026
Next review due
16 December 2026
Article version
1.0
Review status
Review status: Published and checked

Overview

A Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is a means-tested grant from your local council in England or Wales to help pay for adaptations that let a disabled person live as independently as possible in their home, such as a level-access shower, stairlift, ramp, or downstairs bathroom.

Scotland has a scheme of grants and loans for home adaptations administered by local authorities, and Northern Ireland has its own Disabled Facilities Grant scheme run through the Housing Executive.

Grants can be used by owner-occupiers, private tenants and social housing tenants, though the landlord's permission is usually needed for rented homes.

An occupational therapist assessment is normally required to confirm the adaptations are necessary and appropriate for the person's needs.

Common barriers people describe

  • Long waits for an occupational therapy assessment before an application can even be made.
  • The means test for adults (children's applications are not means-tested in England and Wales) can put people off applying even where they would still get a substantial grant.
  • Maximum grant limits not covering the full cost of more expensive adaptations such as extensions, leaving a funding gap.
  • Landlords being slow to give permission for adaptations to a rented property.

Practical support

  • Contact your council's social services or occupational therapy team, or ask your GP or hospital discharge team for a referral, to get an OT assessment.
  • Apply for the grant through your local council's housing or home improvement agency team; a local Home Improvement Agency (sometimes called Care & Repair or Staying Put) can help with the application and finding contractors.
  • In Scotland, contact your local council about the Scheme of Assistance, which can include grants, loans, or a combination, for adaptations.
  • In Northern Ireland, apply through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, which administers the Disabled Facilities Grant there.

Your rights

  • In England and Wales, councils have a duty to approve a Disabled Facilities Grant application if the work is necessary, appropriate and reasonably practicable, subject to the means test and grant limit.
  • You can ask your council about additional discretionary help, such as a top-up grant or loan, if the mandatory grant does not cover the full cost.
  • If you disagree with a decision, you can ask the council to review it, and ultimately complain to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (England) or the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.

Possible benefits and financial support

These are things you may want to check. Nothing here is a decision, and entitlement always depends on your circumstances.

  • Some means-tested benefits you already receive can mean you automatically pass the DFG means test with no further assessment.
  • Home Improvement Agencies can sometimes help identify other funding, such as charitable grants, to cover any shortfall between the grant and the total cost.

Workplace adjustments to consider

    Education adjustments to consider

      Getting healthcare that works for you

      • An occupational therapist's assessment, whether from the council or the NHS, is central to establishing what adaptations are needed and will normally be needed before a grant application can proceed.

      Related rights topics

      Sources

      Every fact on this page comes from the sources below. Follow the links for the full, official version.

      Update history

      • Version 1.0 — 16 June 2026

        First published sample article on Disabled Facilities Grants and equivalents across the four nations.

        Approved by: Editorial reviewer (sample)

      Report outdated information

      If something on this page looks wrong or out of date, please tell us. Reports go to a human editor. We never change legal or benefits guidance automatically.

      What kind of problem is it?

      Please say which part of “Disabled Facilities Grants and home adaptations” is wrong, and include a source link if you have one.