Disabled Facilities Grant and new bathroom.

simon1966

margaretclare wrote: »

I think it may also depend on being assessed i.e. someone else's opinion. An OT or similar will come along and decide how disabled you are, and if they think you are not disabled enough, they'll make a report to that effect.

They also plan for how your disability will affect you in the years to come.
I know i had problems but didn't think i was as bad as i was, as i had been struggling. But it will make things safer for me having a level access shower.

Cyclamen

There is a financial assesment for Disabled Facilities Grants.

I have no idea what the 'rules' are but I had to show bank statements, some bills and so on...

The OT for me had to agree what was needed and they had to go with a 'future proof' option despite not having a progressive illness.

It has made a huge difference and despite looking a bit 'clinical' I am very pleased with my wet room

rockingbilly

I am amazed that you can still get money off the council to fund a new bathroom even owning your home into the bargain.
We have both a bathroom and a shower room upstairs with a WC downstairs.
We own our home.
A walk in shower would be brilliant instead of the normal shower cubical. Obviously we would want it to have the same quality of fittings as throughout the home plus quality Italian porcelain wall & floor tiles.
How on earth do I get the council to fund the work?

simon1966

rockingbilly wrote: »

I am amazed that you can still get money off the council to fund a new bathroom even owning your home into the bargain.
We have both a bathroom and a shower room upstairs with a WC downstairs.
We own our home.
A walk in shower would be brilliant instead of the normal shower cubical. Obviously we would want it to have the same quality of fittings as throughout the home plus quality Italian porcelain wall & floor tiles.
How on earth do I get the council to fund the work?

As Cyclamen said:There is a financial assesment for Disabled Facilities Grants.

I have no idea what the 'rules' are but I had to show bank statements, some bills and so on...

The OT for me had to agree what was needed and they had to go with a 'future proof' option despite not having a progressive illness.

You have to receiving Diabled Benefits and are assessed, they do not just give them out.

Cyclamen

Rockingbilly

First you need an OT to assess you as needing the adaptations.
Then you need a financial assessment to see how much the council expect you to pay. This goes on savings and income.

There is often a waiting list for disabled facilities grants and certainly in my area or for any of my disabled friends you don't get 'top of the range' fixtures and fittings.

Yes I own my own home, i used all my critical illness insurance to pay for it. I sadly am no longer able to work so a 'new adapted bathroom' was beyond my means but I couldn't get washed or get my wheelchair in bathroom with out one. The council did help me fund my wetroom and I assure you they were very thorough with their financial assessment. They are also really careful about getting the best deal from builders and making sure fittings were suitable to my needs but also reasonably priced.

There is a 'note' on my house deeds that means if I sell the home within 10 years I have to repay the council for all the adaptations. This seems fair to me.

I (well my parents) paid for additional tiling in my choice of tiles. Still not an expensive range but just made the room feel 'less hospital' so it didn't cost the council extra.

Having the wetroom has meant I need less support and social care reducing my 'burden' on council in the long run.

I can assure you I absolutely hated asking for help funding adaptations and imagine most disabled people feel the same.

rockingbilly

Cyclamen wrote: »

Rockingbilly

First you need an OT to assess you as needing the adaptations.
Then you need a financial assessment to see how much the council expect you to pay. This goes on savings and income.

There is often a waiting list for disabled facilities grants and certainly in my area or for any of my disabled friends you don't get 'top of the range' fixtures and fittings.

Yes I own my own home, i used all my critical illness insurance to pay for it. I sadly am no longer able to work so a 'new adapted bathroom' was beyond my means but I couldn't get washed or get my wheelchair in bathroom with out one. The council did help me fund my wetroom and I assure you they were very thorough with their financial assessment. They are also really careful about getting the best deal from builders and making sure fittings were suitable to my needs but also reasonably priced.

There is a 'note' on my house deeds that means if I sell the home within 10 years I have to repay the council for all the adaptations. This seems fair to me.

I (well my parents) paid for additional tiling in my choice of tiles. Still not an expensive range but just made the room feel 'less hospital' so it didn't cost the council extra.

Having the wetroom has meant I need less support and social care reducing my 'burden' on council in the long run.

I can assure you I absolutely hated asking for help funding adaptations and imagine most disabled people feel the same.

Thanks and very interesting.

My wife had a Social Services assessment a few years back that led them to install all sorts of equipment and aids. There was no mention of the shower room being changed.
Now I am in the same position, I cannot now use the shower and have to rely on my wife's bath lift chair if I want a bath.
I am waiting for them to come round to assess me but in the meantime and over the phone they questioned my needs and sent round a toilet frame, a bed riser and adapted the sofa to make it higher. They also went through what capital we had before saying that I am entitled to this equipment.
As it is now neither of us can use the shower and haven't for a year or so.
I suppose I will have to wait until they come round and see what they offer.

Cyclamen

RockingBilly

I was offered, tried an dused all the bath 'adaptation gadgets' at the start of getting poorly. I think they offer those first as many people want to keep their bath and its the cheaper option.

It sounds like discussing showering/bathing is something you might want to bring up when they assess you. You don't have to wait for them to 'offer' it's allright to say we have difficulties with bathing because and wondered if a wet room would be best for us. My OT at the time was adament its what I should have but I wanted to keep my bath so she went through the motions of loaning me allsorts of gadgets first. Turned out she was right, but it was good to check first.

Many soc services used to provide a set value of basic equipment on loan without charge irrespective of income. I think this has now changed.

I have raisers on my sofa and bed. They make a huge difference don't they. I started with the soc services ones which were rather like grey elephants legs but have saved and swapped them for wooden ones over time and returned the other equipment to store.

I hope it all goes well for you.. the right equipment makes the world of difference to me. I can do so much more and its great.

rockingbilly

Cyclamen wrote: »

RockingBilly

I was offered, tried an dused all the bath 'adaptation gadgets' at the start of getting poorly. I think they offer those first as many people want to keep their bath and its the cheaper option.

It sounds like discussing showering/bathing is something you might want to bring up when they assess you. You don't have to wait for them to 'offer' it's allright to say we have difficulties with bathing because and wondered if a wet room would be best for us. My OT at the time was adament its what I should have but I wanted to keep my bath so she went through the motions of loaning me allsorts of gadgets first. Turned out she was right, but it was good to check first.

Many soc services used to provide a set value of basic equipment on loan without charge irrespective of income. I think this has now changed.

I have raisers on my sofa and bed. They make a huge difference don't they. I started with the soc services ones which were rather like grey elephants legs but have saved and swapped them for wooden ones over time and returned the other equipment to store.

I hope it all goes well for you.. the right equipment makes the world of difference to me. I can do so much more and its great.

I can but agree with you. The equipment given is a godsend. It does seem that equipment is still loaned free of charge as the financial assessment was concerning having someone to come in 3/4 times a day to help out. We don't or need that level of help just yet.
Sometimes people don't realise how these bits of kit can make so much of a difference.
When my wife had her assessment there was some discussion about the bathroom but can't remember what it was. I do know that I wasn't too pleased with the thought of someone messing about with it having only recently them had the whole thing revamped after 13 years of using the old bath etc. It cost me a few thousand to get it just so for my wife. Even telling the DWP about the difficulties is really a waste of time as generally most claims for PIP are viewed by them as 'oh yeah 'ere we go again another sob story'.

Cyclamen

I wish you luck with it all and hope you get the help you need.. if that's a wetroom so be it.

Yes the gadgets and gizmos really help a LOT. There are lots of simple things I wouldn't be able to do without the equipment..so i'm glad you've had help.

PIP is a whole different thing and incredibly stressful, but sometimes it does work smoothly and as it should.

Good luck with it all.

rockingbilly

Cyclamen wrote: »

PIP is a whole different thing and incredibly stressful, but sometimes it does work smoothly and as it should.

Good luck with it all.

Thanks
I agree and getting stressed about it does no one any good.
Thankfully, I am able to look at the bigger picture and if I don't manage to get any award (which is what I believe will happen) it's not the end of the world.
All the stress and worry won't change what is the inevitable - what will happen will happen. I am already working on the basis of not getting the award by gifting my current DLA payments to my children/grandchildren.