Anyone applied for a grant for home alterations?

jennet1

My son has cerebral palsy and is unable to walk, he is now 5 and is gettin g heavy to carry upstairs for bed/bathroom. We want to convert our garage into a bedroom and bathroom, I've phoned the council and we are on the waiting list for an assessment. Has anyone else had one of these grants and was it a simple process? I feel as though I'm going to have to give the answers they need to hear to get anywhere. also we are wanting more room for a new baby and I dont want it to seem as though we are just after an extra bedroom because my son really cant manage in his small room for very much longer

Mojisola

My parents had their bathroom converted with a grant - bath taken out and walk-in shower installed. They were assessed by the OT from the local authority but the work was all overseen by the Anchor Trust - Staying Put department. It was very easy and straightforward. We wanted a few extras - more tiling, new sink and toilet - so we paid Anchor for these.

Explain your son's needs and your problems with carrying him upstairs. If they suggested installing a stairlift, would that solve the problems? They have to provide the cheapest solution so that the money goes around as many people as possible. Are there any other reasons why your son would need his rooms downstairs?

TaBunny

Hi I had a stairlift, disabled toilet/shower/wet room fitted and central heating and double glazing put in under the grant scheme. I'm in housing association I had to self refer to an OT at the local council and then waited about 8 months for the OT to come then it took around 18 months for the loan to be agreed they have to means test you to see if you will be asked to contribute towards the costs. I was on IS and DLA and I didn't have to contribute. I waited 2 years from outset of my claim for the grant until the work was done. During all that time I was having to be carried up and down stairs (no downstairs loo either) and I had to be lifted in and out the bath. So really push them and nag them to hurry up your assessment and then chase the grant people once a week or you may find you wait for ages. Good luck.

black_paw

im deaf and the social care worker for the deaf social services, came round to access my flat .and put in request for things to be paid by the council ...months later it said ok ..got whole fire alarm system put in , door ringers...phone ringers...alarm clock..tv help to hear ...was well pleased and free

TaBunny

Jamla wrote: »

im deaf and the social care worker for the deaf social services, came round to access my flat .and put in request for things to be paid by the council ...months later it said ok ..got whole fire alarm system put in , door ringers...phone ringers...alarm clock..tv help to hear ...was well pleased and free

Nice one about all your alarms and stuff Jamla glad to hear some good news on here for a change yay :j

munchings-n-crunchings

Hello Jennet1.

The grant you are after is called a Disabled Facilities Grant.
The first step, is to contact Social Services and request an assessment by an OT.
These are in short supply, so there are long delays in many parts.

As Mojisola has said, the OT will look at the cheapest solution to resolve your problem, which may not be the option you were hoping for.
You might find that you need to have idea's, without dictating, while certain options would not work. The OT's seem to keep quite a tight hold on the purse strings, and I think there would be more options bafore a garage conversion, however sensible it may seem to you.
From reading your post, I wold thought they are more likely going to suggest a stair lift, as that will increase his independance to the whole house.

I needed a heating system that my ds could operate, rather than the open fire we did have. The OT originally cam back with the idea of an oil filled radiator in his bedroom, but if I was away from home, that would mean he had to wash and prepare food in a cold house, so eventually we got to the gas central heating.

Regarding a financial contribution. If the OT makes an assessment, it goes back to the council for them to arrange a visit from the DFG team.
If they put the application in your son's name, it will not be means tested as he is a minor.

I hope this helps,

Regards

Munchie

TaBunny

LOL you explained it so much better than me munchie my head is useless at getting my point across sometimes

munchings-n-crunchings

Ha Ha TaBunny!

I have my good head on today!
I have to send it back tomorrow

Munchie

longhotbath

Hi Jennet1,
Your son sounds very similar to mine. We went for the garage conversion and extension to the back of it for a bedroom and bathroom. It was very straightforward - my son cannot weight bear so he would need hoisting. We chose a basic bath - so he could splash around, with a wall mounted changing table over the top. He is entitled to a £30k DFG and we would have to use our own money to top up any extra costs. Everything went through fine - the longest part was waiting to get to the top of the assessment list.
If you can - go to Naidex in Birmingham where they have lots of equipment on show, then go to the disabled living foundation for impartial advice on what would best suit your sons needs.

We decided in the end to move and then convert as we have no access for the builders other than through our front door !!!, but with the current market we may need to convert here instead.

Our OTs didnt look at the cheapest option, but what my son needed. We then got quotes with 3 builders and then the OTs went with the cheapest of the 3.
For anything other than basic tiling and flooring we would have paid the difference between basic and what we wanted - same with ramping.

Good luck!

jennet1

Thanks for all your answers I dont feel a stair lift would be suitable as he has involuntary jerking movements which I think would be dangerous going up stairs, Its interesting about a hoist as he does love to splash in the bath, but he does weightbear just has no balance and is not safe to stand with out support . i would hate for him not to be able to soak and splash in the bath. i guess i just have to wait now for the OT!

Penny-Pincher!!

We had our bathroom converted to a walk in shower/wet room and a stairlift fitted on a grant. They did offer to do an extension, but it would of only been for a single bedroom and we would have lost a huge chunk of our garden.

We had to fill in paperwork and it was approved within a week, but sometimes the council doesnt have any funds available and you have to wait till after April when the new tax year starts. I was very lucky as both adaptions were done within weeks.

They would have to offer a suitable adaption that would allow him enough room for his bed, equipment etc.

Good Luck

PP
xx