I'd like to know the rules, requirements, good practice for disability access into a property?
Options
7Elen
Community member Posts: 6 Listener
This discussion was created from comments split from: I'm Debbie and I work on Scope's helpline. I have a lead role in Benefits, Finance & Housing..
Comments
-
Hello Debbie
I am hoping you can point me in the right direction for DFG. I would like to know the rules and requirements, guidance and good practice for disability access into a property, around the property, access to bedroom and down stairs shower room. What if what is needed is over the money the council has, what can be done to solve the issues. Is there anyone who can help navigate this.
kind regards -
Hi Elen7,
Mandatory DFGs can be awarded for the following works:
1. Facilitating a disabled person’s access to:
a. The dwelling;
b. A room usable as the principal family room, or for sleeping in;
c. A WC, bath, shower, etc (or the provision of a room for these
facilities);
2. Facilitating the preparation of food by the disabled person;
3. Improving/providing a heating system to meet the disabled person’s
needs;
4. Facilitating the disabled person’s use of a source of power;
5. Facilitating access and movement around the home to enable the
disabled person to care for someone dependent upon him or her;
6. Making the dwelling safe for the disabled person and others residing
with him or her;
7. Facilitating access to and from a garden, or making a garden safe.
If the cost of the works is more than the maximum grant you could ask for a 'discretionary top up grant' from the local authority. However this is discretionary and they are hard to come by particularly when council budgets have been cut considerably. Do you own the property or do you rent it from the council or a housing association? If you're renting from the council they may consider that a move to a more suitable property would be best for you.
There is a helpful DFG Good Practice Guide which you can find in the following link. I hope that you find this useful.
http://careandrepair-england.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/DFG-Good-Practice-Guide-30th-Sept-13.pdf
It does sound as though you need some support with this. Are you aware of Disability First in Blackpool? http://www.disabilityfirst.org/advice-information/ I think it would be worth getting in touch with them to see if they can support you with this and any other problems you might be experiencing.
There is also Blackpool Costal Housing Care and Repair who can give advice about adaptations. http://www.bch.co.uk/Customers/Care-and-Repair/Care-and-Repair.aspx
I hope this helps. If there's anything else you need, do let me know.
Kind regards
Debbie
Brightness
Categories
- All Categories
- 13K Start here and say hello!
- 6.6K Coffee lounge
- 104 Games lounge
- 416 Cost of living
- 4.3K Disability rights and campaigning
- 1.9K Research and opportunities
- 199 Community updates
- 9.3K Talk about your situation
- 2.1K Children, parents, and families
- 1.6K Work and employment
- 776 Education
- 1.7K Housing and independent living
- 1.4K Aids, adaptations, and equipment
- 615 Dating, sex, and relationships
- 363 Exercise and accessible facilities
- 737 Transport and travel
- 31.5K Talk about money
- 4.3K Benefits and financial support
- 5.2K Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- 17K PIP, DLA, and AA
- 4.9K Universal Credit (UC)
- 6.3K Talk about your impairment
- 1.8K Cerebral palsy
- 868 Chronic pain and pain management
- 180 Physical and neurological impairments
- 1.1K Autism and neurodiversity
- 1.2K Mental health and wellbeing
- 319 Sensory impairments
- 824 Rare, invisible, and undiagnosed conditions