East Suffolk Council
Adaptations and independent living
We offer advice and support to all those living with a disability to enable them to live safely and independently at home.
The East Suffolk Independent Living Agency (ES-ILA) deals with all applications for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) in East Suffolk. To be eligible for a DFG you need to have had an assessment by an Occupational Therapist (OT).
If you think you need to have an OT assessment to help with living independently and you live in a council property, please contact Customer First or, if you own your home or rent from a housing association or private landlord, please visit the Independent Living Suffolk (ILS) website
What are the steps involved in applying for a DFG?
Please take a look at our customer journey illustration and newsletter, which provide you with all you need to know about the process. The customer journey provides a brief description of the stages involved in delivering adaptations, to enable you to live more independently and the newsletter provides further information on what we do and who we are.
Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants
Most adaptations will fall under the mandatory works which cover the following adaptations:
- Facilitating access into and around the dwelling.
- Making the dwelling safe.
- Facilitating access into the principal family room and to a bedroom.
- Facilitating access to a toilet and washing facilities and kitchen facilities.
- Improved heating and access to controls for power, heat, and light.
These grants will be subject to a test of financial resources to determine if the resident should contribute towards the funding of the works (unless already on a passported benefit e.g. Housing Benefit, Universal Credit or GPC along with others). Enquiries about means testing should be directed to our Independent Living Team.
Our discretionary Grant policy was amended by the Council’s Cabinet in January 2023.
The following discretionary grants replace the priority, fast track and supplementary grants previously available.
Discretionary Disabled Facilities Grant (DDFG)
A non-means tested grant with a maximum amount of £15,000
The FULL cost of the necessary adaptation works, up to this figure will be covered by the grant, irrespective of the applicants income and capital resources
We anticipate most of our clients will use this DDFG and only those with extensive works costing more than £15,000 will make an application for a mandatory grant (with a £30,000 maximum).
The DDFG can also be applied for when:
- a client needs to move because their home cannot be adapted
- to repair hazards in the home to reduce risks leading to fewer falls and accidents
- to carry out works to assist clients with dementia
- to install assistive technology to help a client remain in their own home
With no means test it simplifies and speeds up the process thus benefitting all and hopefully encouraging more people to go ahead with essential adaptations to their homes.
Repairs Adaptation Grant (RAG)
Funding for works between £500 to £5,000 to repair existing adaptations is now available.
A mandatory DFG cannot be used for such repairs but with this grant you can apply for funds to support essential repairs to through[1]floor lifts, stairlifts and wet[1]room floors using an RAG.
Again, it is NOT means-tested and clients can approach us direct for this grant - a referral from an Occupational Therapist is NOT needed!
Referrals
We can now accept referrals for adaptation works from other health professionals in addition to those from Occupational Therapists.
Full Agency Support
East Suffolk - Independent Living Agency (ES-ILA) will help you with all aspects of the grant application. You will be allocated a case officer, who will be your support throughout the process. Their role will include completing the application forms, preparing the schedule and plans, liaising with builders, Building Control and other statutory bodies through to completion of the relevant works. During this process if any unforeseen works are required, they will be actioned accordingly. The final sign off will only be requested once snagging issues (if any) are rectified. This will include organising payment(s) and ensuring guarantees and warranties are in place.
Advantages - peace of mind, experienced professional staff supporting you, knowledge of the grant forms and supporting evidence required, single Case Officer to keep communication simple and effective, funded in nearly all cases by the grant.
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Read all about it!.. in our newsletter
You can find out more about we do; meet the team; see examples of the types of work we deliver; hear from satisfied clients and much, much more.
Just click on the web-links provided to read each issue.
And if you have any comments or questions, we’d love to hear from you!
- Great News! New grants; Higher thresholds & Referrals now accepted from other professionals!
- More heart-warming quotes from satisfied residents
- DPS supplier spotlight: Matt Clarke, Westone Housing Ltd
- DFG Stats Attack and more……
- Can YOU help?
- Supplier Spotlight: James Alger, DD Alger & Sons Ltd
- Ease the Squeeze Solutions & Stepping Home
- Suffolk DFG – Didn’t we do well!
- And much more!.....
- Cost of Living / Warm Homes Healthy People
- Supplier Spotlight: Tom Kell, TAK Building Maintenance
- Client Feedback, Customer Satisfaction Survey, ‘Paws’ for Thought…and much more!
- Warm Homes Healthy People, Hoarding Support Service, 500 Suffolk Reasons
- Disabled Facilities Grants – Facts & Figures, Staffing News, Save money on heating bill, Client feedback
- Stepping Home Service, Staffing News, Covid Working, Walking 9 to 5 for Alzheimer’s Society
- Disabled Facilities Grants: Facts and Figures; Client feedback, Welcome new suppliers
- Disabled Facilities Grants On Line, Disabled Facilities Grants: Facts & Figures, Staffing News and Roles
- DFG Waiting List, Covid Working, Client feedback
March 2021 (First issue)
- Welcome... What is a Disabled Facilities Grant?.. How to apply for a Grant
- Occupational Therapy Assessments, Meet the Team, Covid working & Winter grant
- Don’t just take our word for it!.. Got any Questions?.. And our Contact Details