THOUSANDS of households are set for a massive cash boost to help fix up their homes, thanks to a fresh £50million government injection announced this week.
The extra funding means an estimated 5,000 more households can now bag free grants to make their lives easier and their homes safer.
This cash is designed to help older and disabled people stay independent, bringing the total pot for the 2025-26 tax year to £761million.
It is all part of the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), a lifeline for anyone struggling to get around their own house.
The average payout is around £10,000, but depending on where you live, you could claim much more.
In England, the maximum grant is £30,000, while residents in Wales can get up to £36,000.
Northern Ireland households can claim up to £25,000.
Common uses for the grants include installing stairlifts, widening doorways for wheelchair access, building downstairs bedrooms, or replacing bathubs with level-access showers to improve safety and independence for those who are disabled.
Eligibility criteria are broader than many applicants realise and extend beyond physical disabilities.
Households may qualify if a resident has learning disabilities, age-related needs, autism, or cognitive impairments such as dementia.
However, those with progressive conditions like motor neurone disease or terminal illnesses are also prioritised for support.
Adult applicants will usually face a financial assessment by their local council to determine how much they receive.
Officials review household income and any savings over £6,000 to calculate the contribution level, though many applicants on lower incomes or benefits will find the entire cost of the work is covered by the grant.
However, applications made for a disabled child under the age of 18 are generally not means-tested, meaning parents can access the full grant amount to adapt their home regardless of their household income or savings.
The application process is handled directly through local councils, who typically send an occupational therapist to assess exactly what modifications are necessary and appropriate.
Once an application is submitted, the council is legally required to provide a decision within six months.
Payments are then issued directly to the contractor in instalments as the work progresses, or as a lump sum upon completion of the project.
Local authorities are set to receive this additional £50million allocation in February 2026.
Residents who believe they may be eligible are urged to contact their local council’s housing or environmental health department to begin the assessment process.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
