Can my mum get a grant or interest free loan to convert her bathroom?

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

A Disabled Facilities Grant is a local council grant. It helps towards the cost of adapting your home to enable you to continue to live there. A grant is paid when the council considers that changes are necessary to meet your needs, and that the work is reasonable and practical.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/HomeAndHousingOptions/YourHome/DG_4000642

Mindless_Clone

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

Just to clarify, the house is not going to be sold on the death of my parents because it's the only place my brothers would be able to afford to rent and the equity release, split between us would not leave the two of them enough to buy a 2 bedroomed house. I would, essentially have to give up my share. Besides that it's the house we were all born and brought up in and why should they give up the only home they're ever known?
So there's no point doing an equity release to pay for it, or taking out any kind of loan that nobody can afford to pay back. We need a solution that has a low impact on our finances - even if it's a low impact over a long term.

I would guess, from what's been said, a Disabled Facilities Grant would be the way to go, but does that mean on death of the person for whom the work was done, it would have to be paid back? My worry is if my mum dies before my dad, he will be lumbered with a massive bill he can't afford. Or would they allow it until the property transferred ownership? i.e. when both my parents die, we'd have to fund it? Just really asking for advice from those who have had this kind of grant. If that was the case, we'd have to see what the cost of the work is and, if necessary, find ways to somehow put some money aside to save for this so we're not faced with the whammy at once. Or is there an arrangement that would allow us to pay it back over time?
I'm not suggesting we deserve to benefit from the conversion for free, but I am trying to find a way we're not put into debt we can't afford ourselves now or in the future, having to pay for something my mum needs now. I guess it would all come down to repayment terms.

Thanks to the person who suggested my mum should be taken to a care home for washing. Unfortunately, that has not been even suggested. Actually I can't see my mum going for that. She's umm... rather stuck in her ways, shall we say! Also to consider is that the only way she can travel at the moment is in an ambulance. She has to have one come take her for hospital and doctor's appointments right now. She can't even get out the house at the moment because they've not fitted ramps yet.

I will look into the grant option and see where that takes us.

Thanks again.

Mojisola

Mindless_Clone wrote: »

Just to clarify, the house is not going to be sold on the death of my parents because it's the only place my brothers would be able to afford to rent and the equity release, split between us would not leave the two of them enough to buy a 2 bedroomed house. I would, essentially have to give up my share. Besides that it's the house we were all born and brought up in and why should they give up the only home they're ever known?

Just making the point that this may not be down to the family. If one parent dies and the other has to go into residential care, the value of the house will be counted as capital. The house will either have to be sold to pay for care or a charge will be put on it and the house will have to be sold on the second death to pay back the money.

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

I recently bought a house where the previous owner had received a grant to have a downstairs bedroom & wetroom built.

From what i've ascertained as long as you carry on living in the property for 5 years after the work has been done you don't need to pay it back as it's a grant rather than a loan.

However if you sell the property within that 5 years as the previous owner of my house did you have to pay the money back.

The maximum you can receive is £30,000 but it is means tested.

Good luck.

Ames

As I said, I don't know where the funding came from for mum's wet room, but we haven't been asked to pay for it, and she died before the work was even finished.

Savvy_Sue

Mojisola wrote: »

Just making the point that this may not be down to the family. If one parent dies and the other has to go into residential care, the value of the house will be counted as capital. The house will either have to be sold to pay for care or a charge will be put on it and the house will have to be sold on the second death to pay back the money.

Although I believe there would be an exemption if either of the OP's brothers was over 60, and I think that the fact that one of them is on DLA / requiring care may also trigger that exemption. I realise that the brothers may NOT be anywhere near 60, but as Mum is 78 it's not impossible.

OP, that's something you might want to investigate: Age UK and Counsel and Care have useful factsheets.

Mojisola

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Although I believe there would be an exemption if either of the OP's brothers was over 60, and I think that the fact that one of them is on DLA / requiring care may also trigger that exemption. I realise that the brothers may NOT be anywhere near 60, but as Mum is 78 it's not impossible.

OP, that's something you might want to investigate: Age UK and Counsel and Care have useful factsheets.

It is possible but it needs to be investigated now so that everyone understands their position. It's no good saying "but this is what we agreed within the family" when the law says something different.

escortg3

locate your local occupational health team, they will assist with your needs.

Mindless_Clone

Mojisola wrote: »

Just making the point that this may not be down to the family. If one parent dies and the other has to go into residential care, the value of the house will be counted as capital. The house will either have to be sold to pay for care or a charge will be put on it and the house will have to be sold on the second death to pay back the money.

I assume we will still have a choice whether my parents go into residential care though?
I can tell you that they will never ever go into residential care all the while one of us is capable of looking after them. I do think individuals have the right to decide to live out their days in their own home if they chose, and my parents would not want to go into residential care. You might as well put a pillow over their faces as suggest that to them. They are extremely lucky to have children who are able to - and would be prepared to - make the necessary sacrifices to look after them to allow them to stay at home. I realise how lucky we are to be able to do this as not everyone can. I am sure it breaks some people's hearts to have to use care homes for their family.


Thanks again everyone. No my brothers are not over 60... not for another 10 years anyway, but who knows how long my mum will live for, maybe they will be then.
I really appreciate all the positive support on here and I have lots of useful suggestions to take away.
As I say, I have no objections to paying back money if it's an affordable amount; I just don't want us to be hit with a whammy when the time comes and then be forced to sell when we don't want to.

Barneysmom

Try the council route, if you get no joy there has either of them been in the forces?
If so get in touch with SAAFA, they will help..

Just give them a ring (in fact I'd say these guys are better than the council)

http://www.ssafa.org.uk/