Government Initiates Review of £30,000 Cap on Disabled Facilities Grant

The government is re-evaluating whether the maximum amount disabled individuals in England can claim for home modifications should exceed £30,000. Following a legal challenge, ministers have consented to review the existing limit on the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). This grant covers the expenses for home alterations, including the installation of features like wet rooms or stairlifts. The maximum claim amount in England has remained unchanged since 2008, and a commitment to raise it, initially made in 2021, was set aside by the previous administration. In July, legal representatives for a six-year-old boy, diagnosed with autism and other specific requirements, submitted an application for a judicial review to the High Court. The child, whose identity is protected due to legal considerations, resides in a single-bedroom property in Tower Hamlets, London, which requires expansion to create an additional bedroom and accommodate his necessary equipment. The projected cost for these modifications is £100,000, significantly surpassing the current £30,000 ceiling. Labour ministers determined that the current government would not contest the legal challenge, opting instead to undertake a review, which is mandated for completion prior to spring. This review will encompass an evaluation of the consequences for disabled individuals who cannot implement necessary adaptations due to costs exceeding £30,000. Through the solicitors Irwin Mitchell, the boy’s mother released a statement asserting that their existing living situation “don’t allow us to meet our son’s specific needs”. She further stated: “Everyone is in agreement that this extension is vital but that was no comfort or solution when the grant available doesn’t cover even half the cost.” She expressed hope that “Hopefully this decision can now start to change people’s lives for the better and allow those with disabilities and their families to live with the dignity they deserve, and the chance to simply live a normal life.” Local councils possess the discretion to provide supplementary funding beyond the maximum limit, though the amounts provided differ across regions. It is not assured that this review will lead to an increase in the grant’s maximum limit in England. A previous review conducted in 2018 concluded that £30,000 frequently proved insufficient for adaptation costs and advised that the maximum sum be adjusted for inflation. Amy Little, who serves as Head of Advocacy at the disability charity Leonard Cheshire, commented: “Finding an accessible home is not easy, which is why the Disabled Facilities Grant is vital for so many disabled people. The upper limit must rise with inflation”. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care affirmed the government’s “committed to ensuring everyone lives a dignified life”. They further stated that the chancellor had pledged an additional £86m for the Disabled Facilities Grant next year, noting that “this will support almost 8,000 additional home adaptations, increasing the independence of those with care needs and reducing hospital admissions”.