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New Bathroom Suite - free ?

As a claimant of DLA - is there any process which will allow me to get a replacement bathroom suite, specifically - a replacement bath (one of those kidney shaped ones, with a shower screen and electric shower) at a discount or preferably free ?

My disability is in part - mobility, and I have problems climbing in to a "normal depth" bath to have a shower.....
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  • portly1
    portly1 Posts: 283 Forumite
    edited 20 September 2013 at 6:24PM
    50Twuncle wrote: »
    As a claimant of DLA - is there any process which will allow me to get a replacement bathroom suite, specifically - a replacement bath (one of those kidney shaped ones, with a shower screen and electric shower) at a discount or preferably free ?

    My disability is in part - mobility, and I have problems climbing in to a "normal depth" bath to have a shower.....

    Quite possibly yes. You would have to have an adult assessment carried out by Social Services first and if they agree that it is vital that this work should be carried out, there are grants available through your local council.

    The idea behind this is that if by having this work carried out it will enable you to stay in your own home and be independent then that is a good thing.

    It's not unusual either for this grant to be used to build an extension to the home to provide washing and toilet facilities on the ground floor - they even provide and build space for a wet room if that will help you better or have built a conservatory if that will help you out with extra space.

    There's plenty of money about just as long as you go about it the right way.

    Have you looked at the possibility of updating your heating/hot water provision. There are grants now available for all manner of heating projects including the fitting of a new central heating system/oil fired CH boiler/electric heating system. That grant is worth about £3200.
  • 50Twuncle
    50Twuncle Posts: 10,763 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    We had a new boiler (paid for ourselves) 7 years ago
    Is there any benefit that doesn't take in to account savngs?
    We are low wage earners but do have savings !!
  • shegar
    shegar Posts: 1,978 Forumite
    edited 20 September 2013 at 7:34PM
    Well if you have savings then you should be able to pay for the work yourself really...........Councils are under tremendous pressure from government to cut back on a lot of services , dont think you will find any council that will pay for your home improvements when you have savings of your own, but I could be wrong ......Alot depends on how much your savings are , I think you have to have under £23 k.................
    I expect another poster with more knowledge than me will be along soon..............
  • If you did qualify for a grant (and I agree with shegar, if you can afford to pay for it yourself you should do so), the council will provide the most cost effective solution. This would more than likely be a standalone shower.
  • Someone I knew was assessed and was waiting over 2 years for a new bathroom and they were on a priority list! In the end they moved to somewhere with a more suitable bathroom!
  • 50Twuncle wrote: »
    As a claimant of DLA - is there any process which will allow me to get a replacement bathroom suite, specifically - a replacement bath (one of those kidney shaped ones, with a shower screen and electric shower) at a discount or preferably free ?

    My disability is in part - mobility, and I have problems climbing in to a "normal depth" bath to have a shower.....

    My DH has been unable to climb into a bath for 15 years. He was assessed at the time, and given a bath lift, which is great. This has been replaced twice, and is checked annually. As I didn't need the facility, I used to just lift it out, prior to my bath.

    Now I have arthritis, I use this too, and it's invaluable. HTH

    xx
  • 50Twuncle wrote: »
    We had a new boiler (paid for ourselves) 7 years ago
    Is there any benefit that doesn't take in to account savngs?
    We are low wage earners but do have savings !!

    then use those savings to have the bath removed and a shower installed,wont cost a fortune :cool:
  • I would think that the best you can hope for is a bath lift and/or some adaptations (grab rails etc) to your existing suite. If you have over a certain amount in savings you will be expected to implement any significant changes yourself.

    If you live in a rented property - esp housing association it might be worth checking things out with them first.

    Also, if you have ever served in the forces it might be worth contacting rbl or ssafa as they can sometimes assist with things like this.
  • shegar
    shegar Posts: 1,978 Forumite
    I would think that the best you can hope for is a bath lift and/or some adaptations (grab rails etc) to your existing suite. If you have over a certain amount in savings you will be expected to implement any significant changes yourself.

    If you live in a rented property - esp housing association it might be worth checking things out with them first.

    Also, if you have ever served in the forces it might be worth contacting rbl or ssafa as they can sometimes assist with things like this.

    Yes SSAFA can , but they want to see all bank statements, rent book, income, etc , so if they see the OP as savings then you all know what they will say, charities are for people who dont have any savings to help their selves with...............................
  • 50Twuncle
    50Twuncle Posts: 10,763 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I only asked - it does look as if we will have to pay for it all ourselves..
    Thanks
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