Welcome to Enabled People
information for disabled people in the UK
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Grants and Schemes
On maintenance: "There are often cheap repair and maintenance schemes for disabled people, but these seem to vary from council to council, so it is worth checking with your local Social Services department."
There are certain schemes for home improvements, but it's hard to find out about them! If you see a builder or similar offering improvements for disabled people for free, or at a discounted price, ask what scheme they are using. It may be that they are doing the work through a disabled person's grant, but that you could use it better in another way!
Warm Front Scheme provides heating and insulation improvements for up to £1500 for disabled people, or £2500 if you are over retirement age. They have very fixed ideas about what can be done under the scheme (for example, double glazing is not available) but it is still useful as it is effectively free! For example, I had my doors and windows insulated, loft fully insulated, a new (condensing style) boiler and a new radiator. You must either be the homeowner, or have the landlord's permission for the work to go ahead. Eligibilty criteria are described on their website and include people in receipt of
- Working Tax Credit (including a disability premium and with an income of less than £14,200)
- Income Support (which must include a disability premium)
- Housing Benefit (which must include a disability premium)
- Council Tax Benefit (which must include a disability premium)
- Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (which must include Constant Attendance Allowance)
- War Disablement Pension (which must include the mobility supplement or Constant Attendance Allowance)
Disabled Facilities Grants have very specific assessment criteria and are aimed at providing home improvements so that disabled people can stay in their own homes.
There are often cheap repair and maintenance schemes for disabled people, but these seem to vary from council to council, so it is worth checking with your local Social Services department to find out what is available in your own area. If you know of any, please let me know!
