If you have a disability an adaptation is an alteration or piece of equipment, which makes it easier and safer for you to stay in your home. Adaptations vary according to the needs of the person, and range from a simple grab rail to help with getting in and out of the bath, to adding extra space in the home.

Adaptations vary according to the needs of the person, they can range from a low level shower, to adding extra space to the home (but only when the extra space is needed to meet the needs of the member of your household who has a disability).

In many cases, the Council can help eligible householders with the cost of an adaptation, but only when the need has been agreed by an Occupational Therapist.

Adaptations to people’s homes aim to improve quality of life by supporting people to remain as independent as possible, minimising the effect on disabled people of their disabilities and contributing towards preventing or delaying the development of people’s needs for care and support.

Occupational Therapists and Enablement Officers employed by Flintshire Social Services are skilled in carrying out assessments and making recommendations about the type of changes that would support you, your family or carers to be involved in daily life.

All avenues will be explored which could lead to you achieving your outcomes, including possible changes to lifestyle, use of different techniques and/or equipment or moving to a more suitable home to meet your ongoing needs. Sometimes an adaptation is the best solution.

In some cases, recommendations may be for simple grab rails that give people piece of mind and confidence, and may be something that people are happy to fund themselves with the right advice and information.

An assessment can be discussed by contacting the;

• Single Point of Access team: 03000 858 858
• Address: Adult Social Services, Preswylfa, Hendy Road, Mold, Flintshire, CH71PZ
• Email: spoa@flintshire.gov.uk

A Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is a type of financial help used for adapting the home.  Some types of DFG are mandatory and are covered by legislation set out in the Housing Grants, Regeneration and Construction Act 1996. 

The Welsh Assembly Government has set a limit for a mandatory DFG of £36,000. This is the maximum amount of grant that can be awarded, but it may be reduced in circumstances where the applicant is expected to contribute towards the cost of the work.

You can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant if you are:

• A homeowner.
• A tenant renting from a private landlord.
• A resident of a park home.
• Living in a houseboat.

If you are in receipt of a passported benefit listed below or the application is for a child, you can receive a Disabled Facilities Grant of up to £36,000 and you will not be required to make a contribution to the cost of the work.

• Income Support
• Housing Benefit
• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
• Council Tax Benefit (excluding single persons discount)
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Pension Credit Guarantee
• Universal Credit
• Income Related Employment Support Allowance

If you are not in receipt of a passported benefit or your application is not for a child, you may be required to provide proof of your income/capital as well as a partners, if you have one. A calculation will be carried out based on this information and you will be advised how much your contribution to the work will be. This is called a Means Test.

If you own the property, all Disabled Facilities Grants that are classed as a large adaptation requires a Land Charge for £10,000 placing on the property and is repayable if the property is sold or transferred to another person within 10 years from the Certified Completion as per the DFG Policy.

A member of the Occupational Therapy team, employed by Flintshire Social Services is skilled in carrying out assessments and making recommendations on the type of adaptations that would support you, your family or carers to be involved in daily life.

In line with the Social Services and Wellbeing Act (Wales) 2014, as part of the assessment, other aspects will be discussed which could lead to achieving outcomes, including possible changes to lifestyle, use of different techniques and/or equipment or when works would be considerable and consideration will be given to the benefits of potentially moving to somewhere more suitable.

Based on your situation, a member of the Occupational Therapist team will consider whether you should make an application for a Disabled Facilities Grant. If so, an Adaptation Recommendation Form for a DFG (ARF for a DFG) will be completed by a member of the Occupational Therapist team during their visit confirming what adaptations will be required to the property, where feasible.

If you are in receipt of a passported benefit, or the application is for a child, you will be required to sign the ARF for a DFG during the visit to confirm you are happy to make the Disabled Facilities Grant application.

If you are not in receipt of a passported benefit, or the application is not for a child, a member of the Occupational Therapist team will ask if you if you are a single applicant and whether you have recently had a financial assessment with Social Services. If so, a member of the Occupational Therapist team will obtain the income and capital details for you from Social Services and provide these to us along with your ARF for a DFG.

If you have not recently carried out a financial assessment, a member of the Occupational Therapist team will provide you with a Means Test form for you to complete to confirm your income/capital and your partners if you have one. This information will be used to calculate whether or not you will be required to make a contribution towards the cost of the work.

If you privately rent the property, your landlord will need to complete a landlord consent form to agree to the adaptations on their property. A member of the Occupational Therapist team will provide you will this form.

The completed Means Test form, proof of all income/capital residency and landlord consent form if applicable needs to be returned within one month from the date a member of the Occupational Therapist team Therapist visits you:

• Email - Disabled.facilities.grants@flintshire.gov.uk
• Visit – Your local Connects Office
• Post – Disabled Facilities Grant Team, Flintshire County Council, County Offices, Chapel Street, Flint, CH6 5BD

If you need any further assistance, please call the Disabled Adaptations Team on 01352 703420.

Once we have carried out the means test we will telephone you to let you know if you need to make a contribution to the cost of the work. If you are happy to pay the contribution and wish to proceed with the application, we will send you a letter of confirmation along with a declaration you will be required to sign and return within 14 days from the date of the letter to:

• Email – Disabled.facilities.grants@flintshire.gov.uk
• Visit – Your local Connects Office
• Post – Disabled Facilities Grant Team, Flintshire County Council, County Offices, Chapel Street, Flint, CH6 5BD

If we do not receive the completed means test from along with relevant evidence and Landlord agreement form if applicable, your application will be withdrawn.