Disabled Facilities Grants

Specifically for works to provide facilities and to carry out adaptations to dwellings, or to the common parts of buildings containing flats, for the benefit of disabled people. Disabled facilities grants are mandatory and are primarily aimed at facilitating access for the disabled person into and around his or her home, including access to, or in some cases provision of, essential amenities such as toilets and bathroom and kitchen facilities, and adapting the controls of any heating, lighting or power supplies in order to make them suitable for use by the disabled occupants.

People who apply for a grant will be visited by an Occupational Therapist from the County Borough Council's Social Services Department and a Grants Officer from Housing and Public Protection . They will discuss the adaptation and must agree that it is necessary and appropriate and reasonable and practicable before the claim is assessed. Any grant is then subject to a financial assessment.

If the adaptation is complicated it may be necessary for the Council's in-house agency to assist with drawing up plans.

Long Term Priorities

The 'Adaptation Working Group' which deals with all aspects of disabled adaptations for both the public and private sectors, meets quarterly to review expenditure, procedures and policies which are at present subject to an internal audit. The Group has developed and implemented 'Eligibility Criteria' for the provision of adaptations to people with disabilities. This important area of work has been the subject of close scrutiny over the past years and there have been significant improvements in the co-ordination of service delivery by all the Council Departments involved.

For information about adaptations for people with disabilities, contact:

Occupational Therapy Service
Wrexham County Borough Council
Adult Social Care Department
Crown Buildings
31 Chester Street
Wrexham
LL13 8ZE

Telephone: 01978 298070
Email: socialservices@wrexham.gov.uk

For information about grants available, contact:

Grants Section
Housing Services Department
Wrexham County Borough Council
Ruthin Road
Wrexham
LL13 7TU

Tel: 01978 315300
Fax: 01978 315580
Email: housing@wrexham.gov.uk