Slough Borough Council: Disabled Facilities Grant

Disabled Facilities Grant

Disabled facilities grants are mandatory and are provided to help pay for certain types of adaptations within the home. These adaptations are designed to help someone with a disability manage more independently and safely by enabling them to access basic facilities such as a toilet and washing facilities. The maximum mandatory amount, which can be offered for this work is £25,000 excluding specific fees.

The first step is to arrange for an assessment of the disabled person’s needs. This assessment is carried out by an Occupational Therapist (OT) usually from Slough’s Social Services team. The OT will visit you in your own home and where appropriate they will make a formal referral for a grant to Private Sector Housing. The referral will recommend a practical solution which is both ‘necessary and appropriate’ depending on the individual’s circumstances. The recommendation will be for either a mandatory grant (to provide access to basic facilities), or a discretionary grant (for other work).

It should be noted that discretionary grants are only recommended in exceptional circumstances.
These grants are subject to a test of resources. The financial assessment and application forms are completed with the assistance of an officer from Private Sector Housing following the referral from the occupational therapist.

An Occupational Therapist can be contacted on 01753 690400

Minor Works Grants

These grants are a discretionary form of assistance specifically designed to provide financial help for small-scale works of repair, improvement or adaptations to a dwelling. They will normally be awarded to those persons who are on an income-related benefit and who are:

disabled (or the carer of a disabled person), or
vulnerable* (or the carer of a vulnerable person), or
over 60 years of age,

The applicant must also:

Live in the dwelling as their only or main residence or care for an elderly (aged 60 or over), disabled or infirm person;
Be a homeoner and been in residence for a minimum of 3 years;
Have a duty or power to carry the works in question

The maximum assistance that can be offered for emergency works is £500. Whereas for the other minor works grants available, the maximum assistance that can be offered within a five-year period is £5000.

These grants will not be offered for items of routine maintenance of a property or where alternative funding may be available.

If you would like further information please contact Private Sector Housing 01753 875264 or alternatively download, complete and return the 'Request for Priority Assessment form' from the link below (this is not an application form). There is a considerable demand for these grants and with the limited budget we have found it necessary to adopt a points based priority waiting list. The priority assessment form is used to determine your position on the list provided you are eligible for assistance.