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© 2026. The Purpl Co Limited. All rights reserved.
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© 2026. The Purpl Co Limited. All rights reserved.
14 min read
Written by
Georgina, Founder of Purpl
Published on
December 23, 2024
Last reviewed: 24 September 2026
Applies to: England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with separate information for Scotland
Written by: Georgina, Founder of Purpl
Quick summary: A Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) can help pay for essential changes to your home if you are disabled and your home is no longer safe or practical for you. This could include a stairlift, wet room, ramp, wider doors or even a downstairs bedroom.
The maximum DFG is £30,000 in England and £36,000 in Wales. Northern Ireland operates its own scheme through the Housing Executive, where grant aid can reach £35,000 for people on a low income and may be increased to £70,000 in some cases. Scotland has a separate system for funding disability-related home adaptations.
You don’t have to own your home to ask for help, and a DFG does not affect the benefits you receive.
Most importantly, don’t start adaptation work before you have approval. You could lose your entitlement to funding if work begins too early.
Purpl helps disabled people save money. Join over 100,000 members and access discounts from hundreds of brands for £1 a month when paid annually.
See the latest Purpl disability discounts
| Question | Quick Answer |
| What is a DFG? | Financial help towards disability-related adaptations to your home. |
| How much can you get? | Up to £30,000 in England and £36,000 in Wales. Northern Ireland has its own rules and can provide up to £35,000 for people on a low income, rising to £70,000 in some cases. |
| Do you have to own your home? | No. Homeowners, tenants, and landlords may be able to apply. |
| Is it means tested? | Adult applications can be financially assessed. The exact rules vary depending on where you live. |
| What about disabled children? | In England and Wales, parental income is not taken into account for a DFG for a disabled child under 18. |
| Do you pay it back? | Usually not. In England, some homeowners receiving larger grants can have a temporary land charge registered against the property. |
Direct answer: A Disabled Facilities Grant is money towards essential changes to your home if you are disabled. It can help pay for adaptations that make it safer and easier to get into your home, move around it and use essential facilities.
In England and Wales, the council needs to be satisfied that the proposed work is necessary and appropriate for the disabled person’s needs and that it is reasonable and practical to carry it out in the property.
The official GOV.UK DFG guidance includes adaptations such as widened doors, ramps, stairlifts, level-access showers, downstairs bedrooms and adapted heating or lighting controls.
This isn’t a general home-improvement grant. The adaptation needs to address a disability-related barrier.
For example, you might be struggling to:
A DFG also does not affect the benefits you receive.
Purpl Insight: You don’t need to know exactly what adaptation you need before you ask for help. Explain what you are struggling to do safely in your home and let the assessor look at possible solutions.
Direct answer: The amount available depends on where you live. England and Wales have statutory DFG limits, Northern Ireland has its own DFG scheme and Scotland uses a different home-adaptation system.
| Nation | Funding | What you need to know |
| England | Up to £30,000 | Councils can sometimes provide additional discretionary help above the standard limit. |
| Wales | Up to £36,000 | Wales also has other adaptation funding through its ENABLE system. |
| Northern Ireland | Up to £35,000 for people on a low income, potentially £70,000 in some cases | Administered through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. |
| Scotland | Different system | Eligible private-sector adaptations can receive mandatory grant funding of at least 80%, or 100% in some circumstances. |
The GOV.UK DFG funding guidance confirms the £30,000 maximum in England and £36,000 in Wales.
Wales uses the DFG system but has made some changes to how smaller adaptations are funded.
The Welsh Government has removed the means test from small and medium Disabled Facilities Grants, making it easier to access common adaptations such as ramps, stairlifts and washing facilities.
Because the Welsh approach differs from England in some areas, check the current process with your local authority.
Northern Ireland operates its own DFG through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE).
Current NI Direct guidance says someone on a low income may receive grant aid of up to £35,000. In some circumstances, NIHE can increase this to a maximum of £70,000.
If you’re in Northern Ireland, your starting point is normally your local Health and Social Care Trust rather than the GOV.UK council application service.
Scotland does not operate Disabled Facilities Grants.
Instead, local authorities provide help with home adaptations through Scotland’s separate housing and Scheme of Assistance arrangements.
Scottish Government guidance states that eligible adaptations for homeowners and private tenants can receive mandatory funding of at least 80% of the approved cost, rising to 100% in certain circumstances.
Purpl Tip: Don’t assume the headline grant limit is the most help available. Ask what additional or local funding is available if an approved adaptation costs more.
Direct answer: You don’t have to own your home to get help. Homeowners, private tenants, landlords and some social housing tenants can all potentially access support with disability-related home adaptations.
In England, GOV.UK eligibility guidance says the person submitting a DFG application can be an:
The disabled person must normally intend to live in the property as their main home during the grant condition period, usually five years, although this can be shorter in some circumstances.
Yes. Private renting does not automatically rule you out, owneralthough permission may be needed from your landlord where the adaptation changes the property.
If you live in council or housing association accommodation, your landlord may use its own adaptations budget rather than the same route used by homeowners and private tenants.
Purpl Tip: Don’t assume your tenancy means you can’t get help. Contact your council, housing association or landlord and ask which adaptation route applies to your home.
Direct answer: A DFG can help pay for adaptations that make it safer or more practical for you to enter your home, move around it and use essential facilities such as the bathroom, bedroom and kitchen.
| What you’re struggling with | Adaptations that may help |
| Getting into or out of your home | Ramps, wider doors, or suitable external lifts |
| Getting around indoors | Stairlifts, through-floor lifts, wider doorways, or layout changes |
| Washing and using the toilet | Level-access showers, wet rooms, or adapted bathroom fittings |
| Getting to a bedroom or bathroom | Converting an existing room or, where needed, creating an extension |
| Preparing food | Accessible worktops, sinks, storage, and cooking facilities |
| Using your home safely | Accessible heating, lighting, and other controls |
GOV.UK gives examples of adaptations that DFGs can cover, including downstairs bedroom extensions where they are needed.
The exact solution will depend on your needs and what is practical in your home.
Good to know: If your home has extra space or facilities because of a disabled person’s needs, you may also qualify for a Council Tax reduction. Read our guide to Council Tax discounts and reductions for disabled households.
Purpl Insight: Focus on the barrier rather than one particular product. Saying “I can’t safely get upstairs to use my bathroom” gives an assessor more useful information than simply asking for a stairlift.
Direct Answer: In England, the council may look at your income, savings and household circumstances to work out whether you need to pay anything towards the adaptations.
This is sometimes called a financial assessment or means test.
It does not simply mean that having savings automatically stops you qualifying.
GOV.UK confirms that household savings above £6,000 can affect the amount of grant you receive.
The council looks at things such as:
For example, if an approved adaptation costs £15,000 and the council calculates that you need to contribute £2,000, the grant would normally be worked out after taking that contribution into account.
Some means-tested benefits can mean you do not have to go through the full financial calculation. This is sometimes called being “passported” through the means test.
In England, this can include benefits such as:
Because benefit rules and individual circumstances can be complicated, ask your council whether you are passported when you apply.
Purpl Tip: Don’t assume that working, having savings or not receiving a particular benefit means you won’t qualify. Let the council do the calculation first.
Direct answer: No. Receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) does not automatically qualify you for a full DFG, but you also do not need to receive PIP before you can ask for help adapting your home.
PIP and a DFG have different purposes.
PIP helps towards some of the extra costs associated with disability.
A DFG is specifically for approved adaptations to your home.
Someone can therefore qualify for a DFG without receiving PIP, and receiving PIP does not automatically mean they will receive the maximum grant.
Purpl Insight: If you don’t receive PIP, don’t assume this means you can’t get help adapting your home. They are separate forms of support.
Direct answer: In England and Wales, a DFG for a disabled child under 18 is not means tested on their parents’ income.
GOV.UK confirms that disabled children under 18 can receive a grant without their parents’ income being taken into account.
This can be especially important where a child needs expensive adaptations such as:
The adaptation still needs to meet the relevant needs and property requirements. Being exempt from the financial assessment does not mean every proposed piece of work will automatically be approved.
Purpl Insight: Don’t assume your household income means you won’t get help adapting your home for a disabled child. Ask for an assessment.
Direct answer: If approved adaptations cost more than the standard DFG limit, ask about council top-up funding and other financial help before assuming you must pay the whole difference yourself.
This can happen with expensive adaptations such as extensions, through-floor lifts and extensive wheelchair-accessible alterations.
In England, councils have discretion to provide funding above the £30,000 mandatory DFG limit.
The official DFG delivery guidance for councils in England confirms that additional help can be offered through a council’s local Housing Assistance Policy.
Ask:
“What additional help is available if my approved adaptation costs more than the DFG limit?”
Home Improvement Agencies can help with adaptations, contractors, plans and navigating the DFG process.
You can find local services through Foundations, the national body for Home Improvement Agencies in England.
Some charities also provide help towards disability-related equipment or adaptations.
The Turn2us Grants Search can help you look for charitable funding based on your circumstances.
You can also read our guide to disability grants you can apply for in the UK for other potential sources of help.
Purpl also runs a Community Grant Fund to help members with disability-related costs. Applications open at selected times during the year, so it is worth checking whether the next funding round is open.
Find out more about the Purpl Community Grant Fund
Purpl Tip: If there is a funding shortfall, don’t agree to cover it yourself until you’ve asked what other help is available.
Direct answer: In England and Wales, you normally start with your local council. They may arrange for an Occupational Therapist or another trained assessor to look at what you’re struggling with at home.
If you live in England or Wales, you can use the official GOV.UK service to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant.
Enter your postcode and it will direct you to the correct local council.
If you’re in Northern Ireland, contact your local Health and Social Care Trust. NI Direct explains the Northern Ireland application process here.
If you’re in Scotland, contact your local council about equipment and home adaptations rather than applying for a DFG.
You don’t need to know the exact adaptation you need.
Instead of:
“I need a stairlift.”
It can be more helpful to explain:
“I can’t safely get upstairs anymore and my bedroom and bathroom are both on the first floor.”
The council may arrange for an Occupational Therapist or another trained assessor to look at what you need help with.
They may consider how you:
Depending on your circumstances, this may involve financial information, property details, plans, estimates and landlord or owner permission.
Don’t start the work simply because an OT has recommended it.
GOV.UK warns that you might not receive a DFG if work starts before your application is approved.
Purpl Tip: Keep copies of assessment reports, emails, plans and quotes, and note when the council confirms that your formal application has been received.
Direct answer: In England and Wales, the council must give you a decision on a valid DFG application within six months, but the whole process can take longer because assessments and planning may happen before the formal application is submitted.
The six-month period doesn’t necessarily begin when you first ask the council for help.
There can be time spent arranging:
The official GOV.UK application guidance explains that councils must give a decision within six months of receiving the application.
Tell the council what is happening because you don’t have the adaptation.
For example:
English DFG delivery guidance recognises that councils need ways to prioritise urgent cases, including hospital discharge.
Purpl Insight: Explain the consequence of waiting. “I can’t safely get to the toilet at night” tells the council far more than simply saying “I need this urgently.”
Direct answer: A DFG is a grant, not an ordinary loan, so you don’t normally make monthly repayments. However, in England, some homeowners receiving grants above £5,000 can have a temporary local land charge registered against their home.
Think of it as a note registered against your property.
It does not mean:
It only becomes potentially relevant if you sell or transfer the property during the period covered by the charge.
Under the English DFG rules, a council can choose to apply a land charge where an homeowner receives a grant of more than £5,000.
Only the amount above the first £5,000 can potentially be recovered, and the maximum covered by this rule is £10,000.
The condition can last for 10 years from the certified completion date of the adaptations.
| DFG received | Most you could potentially be asked to repay under this English rule |
| £4,000 | £0 |
| £5,000 | £0 |
| £7,000 | £2,000 |
| £10,000 | £5,000 |
| £15,000 | £10,000 |
| £20,000 | £10,000 |
| £30,000 | £10,000 |
So if you receive a £20,000 DFG, the maximum covered by this particular English land-charge rule is £10,000, not the whole £20,000.
No.
If you sell or transfer the home within the 10-year period, the council must consider whether asking you to repay some or all of the charge is reasonable.
The official English DFG delivery guidance says this includes considering circumstances such as:
For example, if your disability changes and your adapted home is no longer suitable, having a land charge does not automatically mean you will have to repay £10,000 when you move.
The council has to consider your individual circumstances.
These are the English land charge rules. Conditions can differ in Wales and Northern Ireland, while Scotland uses a separate adaptations system, so check the conditions attached to your own grant.
Purpl Tip: If you own your home, ask three questions before accepting the grant: Will you put a land charge on my property? How much will it be for? What happens if I need to move? Ask for the answers in writing.
Yes. Receiving PIP does not stop you getting a DFG. However, PIP itself does not automatically qualify you for the maximum grant or remove every financial assessment.
You also do not need to receive PIP before asking for help with home adaptations.
No. Homeowners, tenants and landlords can potentially apply for a DFG, although the process depends on who owns the property and where you live.
If you rent, you may need your landlord’s permission for structural changes.
Yes, potentially. A DFG can help pay for a level-access shower or wet room where it is assessed as necessary and appropriate for the disabled person’s needs.
Yes. Stairlifts are one of the adaptations specifically included in GOV.UK DFG guidance.
The council or assessor will still look at whether a stairlift is the most suitable way to meet your needs.
Yes, potentially. A DFG can help fund an extension where it is needed to provide essential facilities, such as an accessible downstairs bedroom or bathroom.
The council will consider whether the work is necessary, appropriate and practical for the property.
Yes. You can apply for another DFG if your needs change and you require further adaptations.
GOV.UK confirms that you can apply for another grant for the same property.
It depends. Some councils or Home Improvement Agencies arrange contractors and quotes themselves, while others may allow you to suggest a contractor who meets their requirements.
Check before appointing anyone or paying a deposit.
You can challenge the decision. Ask the council to explain why your application was refused and what review or complaints process is available.
In England, if you remain unhappy after using the council’s complaints process, you may be able to take the complaint to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
Usually, no. You should not start the adaptations before your grant is approved unless the funding authority has specifically agreed otherwise.
The official eligibility rules warn that you may not receive a grant if work begins before approval.
No. A Disabled Facilities Grant does not affect the benefits you receive.
You can check this in the official GOV.UK DFG guidance.
Not necessarily. In England, some owner-occupiers who receive a DFG of more than £5,000 can have a temporary local land charge placed on the property.
If you sell or transfer the home within the 10-year period, the council must consider whether asking you to repay some or all of the charge is reasonable. The maximum covered by this specific English rule is £10,000.
A Disabled Facilities Grant may cover an approved adaptation, but there can still be other costs involved in making your home work better for you.
Purpl helps disabled people save money, including on mobility equipment, independent-living products and home essentials.
Some offers that may be useful include:
| What you might need | Current Purpl saving |
|---|---|
| Stairlifts, bathroom aids, adjustable beds and mobility equipment | Millercare: up to 20% off for new customers, with savings also available for existing customers |
| Mobility scooters, powerchairs, rise and recline chairs and daily living aids | Eden Mobility: current Purpl offers include 20% off for new customers and savings on refurbished scooters and powerchairs |
| Crutches and walking sticks | Cool Crutches: 15% off for new customers and 5% off for existing customers |
| Homeware for an adapted room or home | Dunelm: Purpl members can currently save 5% online and in store |
| Wider mobility and independent living products | Browse all Purpl mobility aid savings |
Offers can change, so always check the live Purpl offer before buying.
A Disabled Facilities Grant can make a huge practical difference if your home is creating barriers because of disability.
The main things to remember are:
If your home isn’t working for you because of disability, it is worth asking what help is available rather than assuming you’ll have to fund the changes yourself.
Purpl helps disabled people save money with exclusive discounts from brands across everyday shopping, travel, days out, health, mobility and more.
Join Purpl and start saving: See current Purpl discounts
Georgina is the Founder of Purpl and lives with multiple sclerosis. She created Purpl to help disabled people save money and reduce some of the extra costs that can come with disability.
Alongside member discounts, Purpl also provides practical guides, community support and the Purpl Community Grant Fund.
Council Tax discounts and reductions for disabled households: check whether your disability, home adaptations or household circumstances could reduce your Council Tax.
Top disability grants you can apply for in the UK: other grants that may help with equipment, disability-related costs and support.
Purpl Community Grant Fund eligibility and rules: see who can apply and what the Fund can help with.
Purpl Disability Benefits & Support Handbook: find other disability benefits and financial support you may be entitled to.