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chud2000

Hi - new here & this is 1st post!
Our mother is coming to live with us as she is now registered disabled & needs care.We are going to have to build an extension on our house to accomodate her. Does anyone know of any financial assistance that is available? Information form council websites doesn't seem particularly helpful.
My husband and I both work, and although we have a pretty good income between us, it is gone every month with no spare. She has no savings & is 62.
Any recommendations would be grateful;)

jazabelle

I assume you are in a private home, and not a council, just because that changes the answer.

I think the best people to ask for help are the Private Sector Housing department in your local council. They will deal with the grants process and be able to tell you whether an extension would fall under it.

I believe it's called a Disabled Facilities Grant, and you can get up to 30 thousand, but it doesn't say whether an extension is included in it.

The application process is quite complicated, but there are organisations/charities that can help. Anchor Staying Put is one such and their website is here: http://www.anchorstayingput.org.uk/cust_index.html Their fee is then paid with the grant, so you don't pay on top. There is an agency locator on the website, and they will also have information about getting the DFGs and the process.

Another way of paying is an equity release loan. I guess it's a last resort - if you don't qualify for the Disabled Facilities Grant, they will allow you to put the cost of it against your house - so once you sell your house or die (sorry!) it gets paid off. Anchor or a similar charity will probably also have info on this.

Hope this helps.

jazabelle

I forgot to say that the Disabled Facilities Grant is means-tested.

Savvy_Sue

It might be worth contacting your local Social Services dept and asking for an assessment of her needs and your property. If she's going to have to move in before the extension is built, then they may fit grab rails and the like, if they would help short term.

kingfisherblue

A Disabled Facilities Grant can include an extension, but I'm not sure whether it can be for a bedroom (which is what I am assuming you need it for). We had a DFG a few years ago for a downstairs bathroom extension - walk in shower, loo and washbasin. The DFG will also pay for ramps if needed. I think it may depend on whether your mother is able to get up and down stairs or not, but I couldn't be certain. An Occupational Therapist from the council will be able to advise you on what your mother's needs are (in terms of a DFG) and what you can reasonable expect. They will also be able to tell you if it is your income or your mother's income that is means tested (I know the rules changed after our DFG was awarded, but I'm not sure what they are now).

Right, I have just looked on my local council website. I can't post a link, as I am new to MSE, but it is www dot sthelens dot gov dot uk. Type in 'Disabled Facilities Grant' into the search box and the first item to come up on the list is a short, but comprehensive guide. It says that it is the income of the disabled person and their spouse that is means tested, so it doesn't sound as if the income from you and your husband will be included. However, it does say that you have to be the owner or a tenant. It doesn't mention anything about a parent moving in.

If you do have an extension, you might be able to get a reduction in council tax if it includes bathroom facilities for a disabled person (in this case, your mother). This is subject to assessment and is only valid while the disabled person is living there.