The funding will help thousands more older people and people with disabilities make necessary changes to their homes.
This weekend, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced an additional £50m in funding to help older people and people with disabilities live independently in their own homes.
According to the government, the money will be added to the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) and distributed to local authorities next month. This brings total DFG funding for 2025/26 to £761m.
The grant helps pay for adaptations to make homes safer and easier to live in, such as ramps, stairlifts and accessible bathrooms. It can also be used for assistive technologies, including automatic doors, lifts, ceiling track hoists and smart systems for lighting and heating.
Around 60,000 people currently receive help through the DFG each year, with the average grant worth about £10,000. The government said the extra funding could support around 5,000 more people.
Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said: ‘Thousands of disabled people will have their lives transformed thanks to the changes they’ll be able to make to their homes.
‘This additional funding for the DFG is part of our commitment to break down barriers at home, at work, and across our public services for disabled people.
‘From ministerial leads for disabilities in every department to investing £1bn a year in employment support by the end of the decade, disabled people are being given opportunities they have too often missed out on in the past.’
Councils have also welcomed the news, but claimed it would not serve longer-term pressures.
Cllr Steven Broadbent, Vice Chair of the County Councils Network, said: ‘This £50m investment for the DFG will help County Councils Network members to support more residents to live safely and independently in their own homes and will relieve some immediate pressure on waiting lists.
‘But this funding should be seen as a short-term boost rather than a long-term solution.’
Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor MBE, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Health and Wellbeing Committee, added: ‘Home adaptations funded through the Disabled Facilities Grant enable people to manage their health and wellbeing at home, preventing hospital admissions, reduce delayed discharges, support carers and avoid premature moves into residential care.
‘Councils are committed to supporting disabled adults and older people to live independently, safely and with dignity in their homes. The additional funding for the DFG is a vital mechanism in supporting councils to deliver this.’
The announcement comes ahead of the first recommendations for Baroness Casey’s Independent Commission, which is due to report later this year.
Image: Yomex Owo/UnSplash
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