The government is reviewing whether disabled people in England should be allowed to claim more than the current £30,000 cap under the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). The grant, which helps fund essential home adaptations like wet rooms and stairlifts, has not seen an increase in its upper limit since 2008. This review follows a legal challenge brought on behalf of a six-year-old boy with autism and additional needs, whose family requires £100,000 to extend their one-bedroom home in Tower Hamlets, far exceeding the existing cap.
The review, expected to be completed by spring, will assess the impact on disabled individuals unable to afford vital adaptations due to the £30,000 limit. In 2018, a previous report recommended the cap be raised in line with inflation, highlighting that the current amount often falls short of the actual costs. While some councils provide additional funds, the amounts vary significantly by area, leaving many families struggling to meet their needs.
The boy’s mother described their living situation as inadequate for her son’s specific requirements, urging that the review bring meaningful change for families like hers. Disability charities, including Leonard Cheshire, have echoed calls to raise the cap, emphasising the grant’s importance in ensuring disabled people can live with dignity and independence.
The Department of Health and Social Care reaffirmed its commitment to supporting disabled people, pointing to an £86 million increase in DFG funding next year, which aims to fund nearly 8,000 additional home adaptations. However, it remains uncertain whether the review will lead to a formal increase in the grant’s upper limit.
