Thousands more disabled people will be empowered to live independently, after the UK Government announced an additional £68m funding to support people to improve their homes.
Announced by Kelly Tolhurst, Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing, the fund will support councils to make the adaptations they need to live safely and independently in their own homes through the Disabled Facilities Grant.
This funding can be used towards the cost of home adaptations such as stair-lifts, level access showers, wet rooms, winches, grab rails and ramps – all of which can play a critical role in avoiding the need for hospital or care home admission.
Similarly, such measures can speed up discharge from hospital.
The new funding is in addition to a £505m funding pot paid to councils in May 2020, increasing the overall government investment in the Disabled Facilities Grant to £573m this year.
With Spending Review 2020 having committed an investment of £573m in the Disabled Facilities Grant for 2021 to 2022, it means the UK Government has now confirmed over £4bn funding for the grant since 2010.
The Disabled Facilities Grant forms part of the Better Care Fund, a comprehensive funding programme which brings together local government and health partners to jointly plan and pool budgets to support integrated care. Details of the £4bn Better Care Fund were recently confirmed, setting out how councils are able to use this funding to deliver effective care and support for people in their communities.
Minister Kelly Tolhurst said: ““I’m pleased that extra funding announced today, on the International Day of People with Disabilities, will see thousands more people benefit. This grant can be literally life changing and lengthening, helping more people to live independently in their own homes.
“Since 2012 over 280,000 home adaptions have been funded through the Disabled Facilities Grant Scheme helping many tens of thousands of people to live at home independently.”
Minister for Care Helen Whately added: “This grant will help hundreds of thousands of disabled people across England to live more independently in their own homes and improve their quality of life.
“I know this year has been incredibly difficult for disabled people in particular and I’m pleased that, on the International Day of People with Disabilities, we’re able to provide this additional funding.
“The Disabled Facilities Grant is a really important part of our ambition to reduce health inequalities and support more people to live healthy, independent lives for as long as possible.”
