Grant assistance is available to adapt the homes or people with disabilities to enable or restore independent living.
Disabled facilities grants allow a range of essential adaptations. Typically, they fund:
- Stair lifts
- Replacing a bath with a flush floor shower commonly called a ‘wet room’
- Improving access into and around the home
Homeowners, private tenants and housing associations can apply. Please be aware that:
- Disabled facility grants are for adaptations that meet the needs of the applicant as recommended by an Occupational Therapist. They are not for repair or renovation works.
- We do not offer funding for works carried out before we have approved a grant application
Financial eligibility
The amount of grant available is based on the income and savings of the disabled person and their spouse. All grant applicants are subject to a means test unless the work is for a disabled child. You can find out if you might have to contribute towards the cost of the work using the AdaptMyHome calculator.
How to apply
To begin, you will need an assessment by an Occupational Therapist from Kent County Council. You do not need to be registered disabled, but the Occupational Therapist will decide if you have an eligible need following a visit to your property.
To request an assessment, contact Kent County Council’s Assessment and Enablement Team on 03000 41 61 61 and ask for the Occupational Therapist Duty Officer.
If the Occupational Therapist believe you have an eligible need, they will send a referral and provisional recommendations to us. We will then contact you to arrange an appointment to explain and begin the disabled facilities grants process.
All applicants for disabled facilities grants funding are means tested, with the exception of child cases and those in receipt of qualifying benefits. The test will calculate if you are required to make a contribution towards the cost of the proposed works.
Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy
This policy sets out the range of financial assistance we make available to improve the quality of homes for those most in need, together with the eligibility criteria and conditions that will be applied to each form of assistance. In addition, it includes the provision of disabled facilities grants. See PSH Assistance Policy.
For further advice, please contact our Private Sector Housing Team.