Other forms of assistance

In addition to providing mandatory DFG’s the Authority has the power to offer discretionary financial assistance by virtue of the Regulatory Reform (Housing Grant Assistance (England and Wales) Order 2002. Using these powers, Pembrokeshire County Council has agreed to offer discretionary assistance for private sector residential adaptations in specific circumstances.

Discretionary Disabled Adaptations Top-Up Assistance

Purpose/key outcomes

Please note: This funding is not grant aid, but financial assistance provided for the duration of the recipient’s occupancy of the property and becomes repayable on sale/transfer of the property.

To provide top-up funding for works of adaptation that have resulted in the maximum limit of the DFG being exceeded. This can also be used instead of a mandatory DFG for those not qualifying for mandatory DFG due to failing the means test (or not being able to afford their contribution), but ineligible for HILs.

This funding is available only in exceptional for discretionary top up funding up to a maximum of £15,000 where works are deemed essential to provide the necessary adaptations above the mandatory DFG limit. For this top-up funding, delegated powers are provided to the Head of Housing (or equivalent) to consider each case.

Eligibility criteria (applicant)

As for mandatory DFGs but also may include those failing means test but not able to service home improvement loan repayments.

Eligibility criteria (works)

As for mandatory DFGs, and on recommendation of the council’s Occupational Therapist and Head of Housing (or equivalent).

Conditions

The DFG Top Up Grant will be registered as a local land charge and is repayable in full on sale or transfer of title (or upon applicants move into long term care or sheltered accommodation). For joint applicants, the assistance will become repayable on the death of the surviving final borrower (or the final surviving borrower moves into long term care or sheltered accommodation).

Any discretionary top-up will only be considered having regard to the resources available to the Authority at that time. If it does not have sufficient resources, the Authority reserves the right not to approve the discretionary top-up.

Maximum

£15,000

Discretionary Relocation Grant

A relocation grant may be available to an applicant who owns or privately rents their property if adaptations to their current home through DFG are determined not to be feasible or reasonable and they are considering relocation to a property they intend to purchase.

Purpose/key outcomes

There is a presumption against the allocation of a Disabled Facilities Grant where the property is unsuitable in the long term to the applicant’s needs.

The Authority will also offer assistance towards the relocation of a disabled person in appropriate circumstances i.e. where a property’s adaptation costs are not reasonable or practicable, or else where adaptation of the existing property may not adequately meet the needs of the disabled person or their family/carer.

Applicants must be aged eighteen or over on the date the application is made, and, in the case of a disabled child, the parent(s) would make the application. Any application must be supported by a recommendation from Pembrokeshire County Council’s or Health OT service.

Pembrokeshire County Council and the referring OT must be satisfied that the proposed property meets the needs of the disabled person without further adaptation or are satisfied that only minor adaptations would be required with minimal cost.

Applicants must be relocating within Pembrokeshire.

Eligibility criteria (applicant)

For owner occupiers a Relocation Grant may be offered alongside a discretionary/mandatory DFG. The Relocation Grant will be subject to the same eligibility criteria, means test and post completion conditions as apply to the discretionary/mandatory DFG.

In determining the level of assistance consideration will be given to the feasibility and cost of adapting both the current and proposed property, and the market value of each of the properties.

Eligibility criteria (works)

The grant offered will not exceed the cost of adapting the current property.

For private sector tenants’ assistance with removal expenses will be considered in cases of hardship.

The grant can only be used to cover:

the costs related to moving house, for example:

estate agent's fees
solicitor's fees
removal costs
essential utility connection costs
deposit for a privately rented property

An assessment of the new property prior to a commitment to purchase being made will be carried out by the Occupational Therapist in order to determine if the disabled person’s daily living needs could be met at that property. In liaison with a Grants Inspector, a determination of the cost of any adaptations necessary at the new property will be made.

Conditions

A Local Land Charge to be placed on the purchased property as soon as possible after purchase of the property.

In the event of a disposal of the property, within 10 years of the payment of the grant award, the grant will be repayable in its entirety.

This grant will only be available once in respect of a person with a disability.

Applications must be submitted prior to relocation as grant assistance cannot be paid in retrospect.

Applicants will be required to complete the move within a 12-month period from the date of approval of their application.

The new property must be the disabled persons main residence and will only be awarded to the applicant on no more than one occasion.

The Relocation Grant scheme will be subjected to the same Test of Resources as the mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant unless the relocation is for disabled child in which case no test will be applied or where the applicant is in receipt of a passported benefit and confirmation of receipt has been received from the DWP.

If the disabled occupant moves from the new property within 5 years, the relocation grant must be paid back in full, similarly in the event of sale or disposal of the property within a period of 10 years following release of payment of the grant award, the grant will become repayable in its entirety.

This grant will only be available once in respect of the person with a disability

Maximum

The maximum grant assistance available is £10,000.

Pembrokeshire Housing Financial Assistance Policy