Adaptations grant to double in stages

The maximum grant disabled people can receive to adapt their homes is to double.

It follows a government review which proposed an immediate rise from £25,000 to £30,000 and then staged increases to £50,000.

The plans, in a consultation paper published last week, follow Bristol University’s review of the disabled facilities grant, which found that many adaptations cost significantly more than the current upper limit.

It also outlined pressures in the system such as rising demand from older people and severely disabled children, leading to long waiting lists for the grant. It also found the means-test was poorly targeted and the system of eligibility too complex.

Although the government accepted most of the proposals, it rejected others on cost grounds, including removing the means test for work costing less than £4,000.

The consultation closes on 13 April.