Apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant

For all adaptations you will need to submit at least 1 quotation. We recommend you get as many quotations as possible. This is so that you can compare them and see what different contractors can offer.

Ask family and friends if they can recommend anyone to do the work. If you do not know any contractors you can use the Walsall Trader Register.

A valid quotation needs:

• to be on letter headed paper from the company, including their VAT number (if VAT registered), full address and contact details
• an authorised signature from a member of the company
• the date of quotation
• the period that the quotation remains valid (for example, 30 days)
• a drawing reference number (if a drawing is used)

Quotations must be itemised to show a price and quantity against each item of work. A statement saying (for example) the cost of a disabled washroom is £5,000 is not enough.

Find out how to find a builder or building contractor and get a quotation in our guide:

These documents will help you fill in your application:

Contact us to request an application form.

You must include the itemised quotations that you have got from contractors, as well as financial information.

You must include details of any benefits you receive. We look at:

• Universal Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Employment and Support Allowance (not contribution-based ESA)
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (not contribution-based JSA)
• Guarantee Pension Credit (not Savings Pension Credit alone)
• Working Tax Credit and/or Child Tax Credit (where your annual income for the purposes of the tax credits assessment was below £15,050)
• Housing Benefit

If you do not receive benefits, we need to know information about your:

• savings
• pensions (private and state)

We cannot make a decision about your grant application without this information.

Our Housing Standards and Improvement Team will decide on the essential work needed based on:

• your occupational therapy referral
• your property where the adaptations are proposed
• the council's adopted renewal assistance policy

The decision will be made in line with legislation and national best practice. We will compare quotations against our own schedule of rates to ensure our grant offer is value for money.

If the work costs between £2,500 and £30,000, we need to carry out a means test (also called a test of resources) using the financial information you provided on your application form.

The means test is carried out in the same way as housing benefit. We may ask for proof of details you’ve provided including bank statements and tax returns.

We work out what, if anything, you will need to pay for your adaptations. If the adaptations are for a child, you won't need to pay.

When we approve a Disabled Facility Grant (DFG) or similar, we'll let you know by writing to you. This will usually be an approval letter (either emailed or sent by post) or, for minor works, by e-mail or phone.

Find out more about how to pay for works if your application is successful.