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Am I eligible?
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You will qualify for grant aid if you are either registered or
registerable as disabled. If you think you may be, then you should
call Social Services on 0845 345 9133 to arrange an assessment by
an Occupational Therapist.
The Occupational Therapist who visits you to make an assessment
will refer your details to us. You will then be visited by a Grants
Officer, who will explain the grant scheme and carry out the
preliminary means test if necessary. You will be informed how
much,if any, you will have to contribute so that you can decide
whether or not you wish to proceed.
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Who can apply?
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Housing association tenants, private tenants, private homeowners
and tenants of Yarlington Homes can all apply for grant
aid.
If you are a tenant of a Yarlington Homes property, minor works,
such as the provision of handrails, may be carried out by the
Yarlington Homes housing maintenance service and in this case
you should contact your local Yarlington Homes office.
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How much grant money can I get?
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The maximum grant payment is £30,000. When you have submitted
your application we will determine what the reasonable cost of the
necessary works should be, which is known as the 'eligible
expense'. The amount of grant awarded will be the eligible expense
less your means-tested contribution, which is re-assessed from your
application form.
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Do I have to pay anything?
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Grants are means-tested and you might be asked to make a
contribution towards the cost of eligible works. You will be asked
to provide details of your financial situation and these figures
will be used to calculate your contribution, if any, towards the
cost of the works.
However, applicants receiving certain income-related
benefits :
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Benefit
- Working Tax Credit (with income below £15,050)
- Childrens Tax Credit (with income below £15,050)
- Income Support / Guaranteed Pension Credit
OR are guardians of a Disabled Child,
will not be required to make a contribution and
are exempt from means-testing.
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Can I start work before a grant is approved?
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No. We cannot give grants for any works which have not been
formally approved. Make sure that you have the scheme agreed
and formal approval before you start work.
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How long does it take to approve a grant?
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Simple schemes will normally take between eight and twelve weeks
from initial referral to process. More extensive schemes can take
longer, particularly if planning permission is required. However,
budgetary constraints are now leading to long delays before
approval of most grants.
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When and how is the grant paid?
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When the work has been done to your satisfaction, contact the
grant officer who will call and inspect the job. If the work is
satisfactory and accompanied by the correct certificates (e.g. for
electrical installations) then we will pay the agreed grant.
Payment can be sent directly to the applicant, their agent or the
contractor.
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What are the conditions to the grant?
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- If you are a tenant you will have to live in the property
for a minimum of five years following the completion
of the work. If you leave before then, you may be required to
pay back the grant.
- If your grant is to provide equipment (such as a stairlift)
which can be removed when it is no longer required, we ask for the
equipment to be given back so that it can be passed on to another
disabled person.
- We now have the power to reclaim part of any grant over
£5,000 paid to an owner-occupier, if the house is sold
within ten years. For
instance, we can reclaim £3,000 of an £8,000 grant (i.e.not
the first £5,000).The maximum amount we can claim in any
circumstances is £10,000. Before we reclaim,
however, we take into account the
following:
- Cases of financial hardship.
- If the applicant is re-locating to a new job.
- If the the applicant re-locating for physical or mental
health reasons.
- If the applicant is re-locating to help someone else
"disabled or infirm and in need of care".
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How do I apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant?
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You must first be assessed by an Occupational Therapist. They
will refer you to our Housing Standards Team, who will arrange for
an officer to visit you and carry out a preliminary means-test.
If you agree the contribution that you might be asked to pay,
then a scheme of works will be drawn up. You will be given a grant
application form to complete, which needs to be returned to us
along with two quotations for the agreed works.
All grants (except those for disabled children or for applicants
receiving certain income-related benefits) are means-tested.
If you have doubts whether your income and/or savings would rule
you out from receiving grant aid, then you are welcome
to download a preliminary grant
form, which you can complete and return it to us for a
quick and obligation-free assessment
If you need any help in applying, please contact
us.
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Useful Information:
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Disabled Facility Grants Leaflet
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Disabled Facility Grants Frequently Asked
Questions
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Housing Adaptions Options
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