Means test

The amount paid is based on a financial assessment of your average weekly income in relation to your outgoings - a means test. There is no means testing for families of disabled children under 19.

Means testing will: 

• Take into account savings above £6,000
• Ignore certain benefits, such as Disability Living Allowance and Income Support
• Assess your combined income if you have a partner
• Include capital in the assessment

A range of premiums and allowances are used for all essential outgoings, for example rent/mortgage and personal expenditure. Actual outgoings are not taken into consideration.

Depending on the outcome of this assessment the amount of financial assistance offered can vary from 0 to 100 per cent of the cost.

How the grant is worked out

• If your income is less than your assessed needs you will not normally need to contribute to the cost of the works
• If your income is more than your assessed needs, a proportion of your income will be used to calculate how much you could contribute towards the cost of the works
• If the assessed amount is less than the cost of the works, the difference between the two is paid as a Disabled Facilities Grant

Maximum grant available

The maximum amount of grant that a council is required to pay is:

• £25,000 in Northern Ireland
• £30,000 in England
• £36,000 in Wales

This amount is per application, less any assessed contribution from you. If the cost of the eligible works is more than this figure, the council can use discretionary powers to increase the amount.