Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) (mandatory) We work closely with the Surrey County Council, Social Services Department, who also have responsibilities to meet the special needs of chronically sick and disabled people. In most cases an occupational therapist will assess the needs of the client and confirm that the works are "necessary and appropriate".

We also work closely with the Spelthorne Spelthorne Home Improvement Agency, a home improvement organisation who act as agents to a grant applicant, helping them to produce a complete application.

After inspecting we have to decide that proposed works are "reasonable and practicable" – for the needs of the applicant and the type of building etc.

Getting grant approval before starting work

If eligible works start before the grant application has been formally approved in writing the applicant will be disqualified from grant.

Eligible applicants

Any one who is registered disabled or eligible for registration as a disabled person.

All applicants are subject to a means test. The scheme is similar to the Housing Benefit's means test but some benefit payments can be disregarded from the grants means test.

Eligible work

• work to help access to and from a dwelling/building e.g. this could include: ramps to front and rear doors (only if reasonable and practicable); parking area in front garden including drive and dropped kerb.
• making a dwelling safe for disabled occupant e.g. where disabled client has behavioural problems; installation of toughened glass or guards to fires and stairs etc.
• helping access to the principal family room or bedroom e.g. widening doors, installation of stairlift/through floor lift
• helping access to a bath/shower room e.g. replace bath with shower, shower over bath, down stairs bath/shower room, adapted facilities etc.
• helping preparation and cooking of food by the disabled occupant e.g. modification of kitchen units for wheel chair use, etc.
• improving or providing suitable heating for the disabled occupant e.g. replace coal fire with electric or gas fire, relocate sockets or central heating.
• helping use of power, light or heat by the disabled occupant by altering access or controls, or by providing additional controls.
• helping access around the home to enable the disabled occupant to care for another person. e.g. widening doors, stairlifts etc.

Maximum grant £30,000.00

Applying for a grant

We work very closely with Surrey County Council and Spelthorne Home and Improvement Agency and therefore access to a DFG can be made through either authority, namely:-

Surrey County Council
Occupational Health Team
Staines & Stanwell Social Services Centre
Burges Way
Staines
TW18 1XD
Telephone 01784 499306.

Spelthorne Home Improvement Agency, c/o
A2Dominion
Spelthorne House
Thames Street
Staines
TW18 4TA
Telephone number 0845 408 6755/6731 (you do not have to be one of their tenants)
Spelthorne Environmental Health Services 01784 446251.

Examples of means test

The Disabled Facility Grant is means tested. To give some indication as to the sort of income level for people to qualify the following are some examples.

Any applicant who receives support will receive a 100% grant and will not be means tested.

Not all income is taken into account e.g. attendance allowance, Council Tax benefit, disability living allowance, housing benefit, mobility allowance are all disregarded.

The first £6,000 savings are disregarded.

• Eeample 1 A single person aged over 25, but less than 60 who is disabled can have a weekly income of up to £112 and still get a 100% grant (having disregarded the above allowances).
• example 2 A couple aged over 25, but less than 60 where one is disabled can have a joint weekly income of £202 and still get a 100% grant.
• example 3 A single person over 60 and disabled can have a weekly income of £165 and still get a 100% grant.

If your income is more than examples given you would have a contribution to make that is calculated from a formula. This means that the more your income is the greater any contribution would be. For more information regarding the means test contact Spelthorne Environmental Health Services, we could even arrange to carry out a provisional test to give you a much clearer picture as to how much grant you could get. All information will be treated confidentially.

Houseproud Renewal Loans

Spelthorne Council, in conjunction with many other local authorities and the Home Improvement Trust, a not-for-profit organisation, have developed the Houseproud Scheme

• the scheme is run by the Home Improvement Trust
• home owners take out a loan secured against the value of their home, repayable usually on sale of the property, the loan being: -

	1.	Capital and interest repayment (like a traditional mortgage), or
	2.	Interest only, or
	3.	Interest roll-up (where interest is compounded and no money is paid until the sale of the property)

• the scheme is targeted towards older homeowners who are equity rich but income poor and those households with a disabled resident of any age.
• there is a guarantee of no repossession
• applicants will be helped throughout the whole process.
• homeowners who are under 60 and who have a disabled person in their household will also be eligible.
• the cost of the works are likely to exceed £3000

In the following circumstances Spelthorne Council will contribute towards the loan set up costs: -

• the property must be fail to meet the Decent Homes Standard.
• the contribution will be £500, but only to the first 100 eligible applicants whose loans are approved in any financial year.
• if more than 100 loans are approved in any financial year, the applicant will be given the option to receive help in the next financial year or to add the fee to their Houseproud loan. (the Council will consider funding more than 100 loans in a year if the housing renewal budget is underspent)

Application procedure (takes typically three to four months)

• client contacts Home Improvement Trust (HIT) who will send an information pack and a video – Contact the Council for an introductory leaflet, which includes a Freepost tear out page - 01784 446251
• after considering this information, client indicates to HIT they wish to proceed for further details, a member of Council staff will visit to assess eligibility, discuss nature of work required/estimated costs. Also determines if client is eligible for any other form of help. Helps client in form filling as necessary including loan analysis form – sent to HIT.
• HIT arranges for client to receive written information from an independent financial advisor.
• client confirms they wish to proceed, HIT will send lenders application form which a member of Council staff will help to complete.
• completed form sent, together with requested documentation to HIT.
• lender considers application and if approves HIT will send “Offer in Principle” letter with copy to Spelthorne
• client signs “Offer in Principle” letter confirming they wish to proceed having taken independent legal advice.
• Spelthorne arranges estimates.  HIT instruct Valuation Officer to carry out valuation with copy to client and Spelthorne Home Improvement Agency
• valuation report received by HIT and sent to lender.
• if valuation is unsatisfactory the case will be reviewed.
• if valuation is satisfactory, the lender will make a mortgage offer to the client and instructs solicitor to act for lender. Condition that HIT authorises all payments. Legal prepare report on title and all documentation.
• lender sends funds to solicitor to be held in client account. HIT confirms in writing to the Spelthorne Home Improvement Agency that works can start and they complete HIT’s claim form and invoices following satisfactory completion.
• HIT authorises payment via solicitor.
• solicitor sends funds to lender.
• HIT send client copy of charge certificate.
• building insurance must remain in place throughout duration of loan.