Campaigners celebrate abolition of means test for adaptation grant

Children’s charities have welcomed the government’s decision to scrap the means test for families in England applying for funds to adapt their homes to care for a disabled child.

The decision to abolish the means test for the disabled facilities grant from December will make it easier for families to apply for up to £25,000 for disability improvements to their home. It follows similar moves in Wales and Northern Ireland.

Announcing the change, housing minister Baroness Andrews said the current means test prevented some families from getting the help they needed in what were often difficult and distressing circumstances.

Clare Tickell, chief executive of children’s charity NCH, which has long-campaigned for the means test to be abolished, agreed that the decision would benefit those families who struggled the most to make ends meet.

“Scrapping the means test will greatly improve the quality of life for many families, enabling them to make necessary adaptation to their homes without running into high levels of debt.

“It will ensure they can live with dignity and independence in their own home.”