Before we can approve your application, you must submit an application form and supporting documents.
You will need to include one of the following forms of identification:
- provisional or full UK driving license
- passport
- birth certificate
- marriage certificate
You will need to include one of the following forms of proof of address:
- bank statement showing your address
- pension letter
- utilities bill
- council tax bill
- benefit confirmation letter
- child benefit or child tax credit letter
Notifying you of the decision
When we have made a decision about your application, we will notify you by letter. If you do not agree with the decision, you have the right to appeal. You can find more information about the appeals procedure on the Appeals to the Disabled Facilities Grant service page.
Timescales
The DFG service will aim to make a decision of a valid application within 4 weeks of its receipt.
Depending on the number of applications we are processing, the time scale could vary. A decision could take 6 months.
An officer in the DFG service may be able to tell you how long you may have to wait.
If your application is approved
If we approve your application, we will send you an approval letter.
The letter will summarise the:
- work
- amount of grant awarded
- name of the contractor who should carry out the work
Once you have receive this, you can arrange a start date with the agreed contractor.
You must notify us of the start date and the estimated duration of the works. We will make a record of this.
Before the works begin
We may need to arrange a prestart visit with the contractor to:
- discuss the works
- make sure of compliance with relevant legislation
- identify any concerns
- identify any changes that may be required
A technical officer may visit your property while the works are being carried out.
The number of visits a technical officer will make will depend on the type and duration of the works.
After the works
When finished, a technical officer will survey the works to make sure they have been completed to satisfaction.
When you and the technical officer are certain that the works are satisfactory, the contractor will be paid.
You will be sent a letter confirming the final amount of grant awarded.
With the letter will be any relevant certificates and guarantees we have held on your behalf. We will also ask you to complete a satisfaction survey.
Completing the satisfaction survey helps us to improve our service. We are grateful for your feedback.
Maintenance and repairs of equipment
Your grant will not cover ongoing routine repairs or maintenance of equipment, unless agreed as part of the initial award.
Ongoing maintenance and service charges are the applicant’s responsibility.
Failure to maintain equipment after an agreed period of inclusion
If you fail to reasonably maintain and service equipment after this time, we may decline any future application you make for the same works could.
Funding a shortfall
Sometimes works that have not been priced for become necessary during construction. We call these unforeseen works.
Providing that unforeseen works are confirmed as being necessary, we will add the cost to the grant amount.
We will inform you of this on completion of the works unless it has a financial impact on you.
We would inform you before completion of the works if either:
- the works increases the amount of money you need to contribute
- increases the amount of land charge that is to be placed on your property
When the grant does not cover the full cost of the work. You may be required to make a contribution. If you have a shortfall, you will need to find extra funding to cover this yourself. You could consider:
- a loan form a bank or building society
- help from a charity
- applying for Discretionary Disabled Facilities Assistance (you must be able to demonstrate that you have no other means of funding the shortfall to apply)
You can find more information on which charities may be able to assist you at turn2us.
Before we can make the grant payment, you will need to pay your contribution, if any, to the contractors. You should pay them once they have completed the work.