ADASS calls for review of statutory disabled facilities grant framework

The call came after the Department of Health and Social Care earlier this month announced a further £50m in DFG funding, bringing the total for 2025 to 2026 to £761m.

ADASS CEO Sally Burlington said: “The Disabled Facilities Grant allows people to maximise their independence and try to stay in their own home for longer, and additional funding is of course positive news. But the reality is that its impact will be limited without also investing in occupational therapy support.

“Our members tell us that occupational therapy services who are administering the grant still face multiple challenges such as increasing demand, lengthy administration processes including unnecessarily lengthy paperwork, restrictions on what the money can be spent on, and limits to how much can be spent per person meaning local authorities can’t support people quickly enough with this grant.

“As a matter of urgency, we ask government to review the statutory disabled facilities grant framework, complete and publish its review of the £30,000 upper limit and means test criteria, and better resource occupational therapy to ensure the grant can go further to improve people’s health and wellbeing.”

Responding to the announcement of additional DFG funding, Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor, Chair of the LGA's Health and Wellbeing Committee, said: “Home adaptations funded through the Disabled Facilities Grant enable people to manage their health and wellbeing at home, preventing hospital admissions, reduce delayed discharges, support carers, and avoid premature moves into residential care. 

“Councils are committed to supporting disabled adults and older people to live independently, safely, and with dignity in their homes. The additional funding for the Disabled Facilities Grant is a vital mechanism in supporting councils to deliver this.”