Councils receive extra govt. funding to help disabled people live safely and independently

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The Disabled Facilities Grant funding can be used towards the costs of home adaptations such as stair-lifts, level access showers, wet rooms, winches, grab rails and ramps

Councils in the North West will benefit from £11million in funding to help disabled people make the adaptations they need to live safely and independently in their own homes. 

The Disabled Facilities Grant funding can be used towards the costs of home adaptations such as stair-lifts, level access showers, wet rooms, winches, grab rails and ramps. These can play a critical role in avoiding the need for hospital or care home admission, as well as helping to speed-up discharge from hospital. 

This funding is in addition to the £505 million paid to councils in May 2020, increasing the overall government investment in the Disabled Facilities Grant to £573 million this year. 

It is not yet known how much each council will receive from the Disabled Facilities Grant.

Councillor Iftikhar Ahmed, cabinet member for social care and ageing well, said: “We welcome any additional money to support our excellent and award-winning adult care home improvement agency team.

“This cash will help us to meet increasing needs for adaptations, complement our existing work,  which ensures hundreds of elderly and vulnerable residents a year to enhance their lives and remain independent at home.

“I know how much my constituents value the innovative adaptations work, that is carried out by a dedicated and committed team of council staff, and how life changing this work is.”

Minister for Care, Helen Whately added: “This grant will help hundreds of thousands of disabled people across the country to live more independently in their own homes and improve their quality of life.

“I know this year has been incredibly difficult for disabled people in particular and I’m pleased that, on the International Day of People with Disabilities, we’re able to provide this additional funding.

“The Disabled Facilities Grant is a really important part of our ambition to reduce health inequalities and support more people to live healthy, independent lives for as long as possible.”