Disabled Facilities Grants and care at home in Newcastle

By · Published 2025-11-13 · Last reviewed 2026-09-18

A woman takes her blood pressure with a home monitor at a wooden sideboard.
Photo: Tunstall Telehealthcare, CC BY 2.0

Newcastle residents can apply to Newcastle City Council for a Disabled Facilities Grant to adapt a home for a disabled or older person, for example with a stairlift, ramp or level-access shower. In England grants go up to £30,000, are means-tested for adults and must be decided within six months. Smaller aids and minor adaptations should be free after a council assessment.

If an older relative in Newcastle upon Tyne is struggling at home, a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) from Newcastle City Council can pay for adaptations such as a stairlift, ramp, level-access shower or downstairs bedroom. In England the grant is worth up to £30,000, is means-tested for adults, and the council must decide on an application within six months. Smaller aids and minor adaptations should be provided free after a council assessment, and care at home can be arranged alongside.

The grant rules are national, so the same principles apply across England. This guide is general information; the council can tell you about local procedures and waiting times.

What is a Disabled Facilities Grant?

A DFG is a council grant to help make a home suitable for a disabled person. GOV.UK's overview of Disabled Facilities Grants says it can help people with physical disabilities, age-related needs, dementia or other cognitive impairments, progressive conditions, terminal illness and mental health conditions, among others.

Work it can pay for includes:

A DFG does not affect any benefits the person receives.

Who can get one?

According to the eligibility rules, you or someone living in the property must be disabled and intend to live there for the grant period, usually five years (shorter in some cases, such as terminal illness). The applicant can be the owner, a tenant or a landlord.

The council must be satisfied that the work is:

The work should be completed within 12 months of approval.

How much could we get?

GOV.UK sets out what you could get:

Some councils may give more. For adults, the grant is means-tested, looking at household income and savings, so you may be asked to contribute. Disabled children under 18 can get a grant without their parents' income being taken into account.

The council may pay in instalments as work progresses, or in full when it is finished, either to you or directly to the contractor.

How do we apply in Newcastle?

  1. Contact Newcastle City Council's adult social care team and ask for an assessment of your relative's needs. An occupational therapist usually assesses what adaptations would help.
  2. Get the recommendations in writing. The council uses them to decide what work is necessary and appropriate.
  3. Submit the DFG application with the council's forms, proof of ownership or tenancy, and details of income and savings for the means test. You can start an application through GOV.UK, which directs you to your local council.
  4. Get quotes if asked. The council may ask you to use a qualified architect or surveyor, and the grant can go towards their fees.
  5. Wait for approval before any work starts. You might not get any grant if work begins before the council approves it.
  6. Arrange planning permission or building regulations approval separately if needed.

By law the council must tell you in writing whether the application is approved or refused as soon as reasonably practicable and no later than six months after the date of the application, and give reasons if it is refused.

What about smaller aids and adaptations?

You may not need a full grant. Under the Care and support statutory guidance, councils in England must provide aids, and minor adaptations costing £1,000 or less, free of charge when they are provided to meet or prevent needs after an assessment. That can include grab rails, raised toilet seats, bath boards and similar items.

What care at home is available in Newcastle?

Adaptations often work best alongside practical support. After a needs assessment, Newcastle City Council may arrange or fund:

Whether your relative pays for ongoing care depends on a financial assessment. For care at home, the value of the home they live in is not counted. Home care agencies in England must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), so check an agency's inspection report before choosing one.

If your relative's needs are mainly health needs, ask about NHS Continuing Healthcare, which can fund care at home in full.

Frequently asked questions

Does a Disabled Facilities Grant have to be paid back?

In general it is a grant, not a loan. For larger grants to owner-occupiers, councils in England can attach a condition requiring some repayment if the property is sold within a set period, so ask Newcastle City Council about its policy before you accept.

Can a tenant get a DFG?

Yes. Tenants can apply, including council and housing association tenants, and landlords can apply on a tenant's behalf. Talk to the landlord early about the planned work.

How long does it take?

The council must decide within six months of a valid application. Assessments and building work add time, so apply as early as possible and ask about waiting times.

Will savings stop us getting a grant?

They may reduce it. Adults' grants are means-tested on household income and savings, and you may need to contribute. The means test does not apply to disabled children.

What if my relative might soon need a care home?

The grant is intended for people who plan to stay in the property for the grant period. Talk honestly with the occupational therapist about likely future needs before major work.

Key takeaways