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Home: Q&A: Housing menu

Adaptations to your home

Housing - December 2008
housing.health@kirklees.gov.uk


How to contact us
By phone: 01484 223500
By email: housing.health@kirklees.gov.uk
In writing: Housing & Health Unit
6 Silver Court
Aspley
Huddersfield
HD5 9AG

What is an adaptation?
An adaptation is a change to your home that allows you or your carer greater safety or convenience.
Examples of adaptations are:
  • grab rails / hand rails
  • stair lifts
  • ramps
  • level access showers
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Who can apply for an adaptation?
Anyone living in Kirklees who has a permanent and substantial disability, or their carer, can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant to help pay for adaptations to their home.

What is a Disabled Facilities Grant?
If a disabled person has been assessed by Social Services and a mandatory adaptation has been recommended under the Grants Construction and Regeneration Act 1996, they are entitled to receive a Disabled Facilities Grant. The grant is administered by the Housing and Health Unit and is available to home owners, private tenants and council tenants.
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How can I apply for an adaptation?
Contact your nearest Social Services Information Point. Someone from Social Services will then contact you to arrange to carry out an assessment.

Will I have to pay towards the adaptation?
If the cost of the adaptation is over £1,000 we will assess whether you can pay something towards the cost. We call this assessment a means test. We will do a means test whether you are a council tenant, a private tenant or a home owner.
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Who will the means test apply to?
We will apply the means test to the disabled person and their partner, if they have one. We do not carry out a means test if the adaptation is for a child.

How does the means test work?
We look at your income, any savings you may have and the make up of your household. We then use this information to calculate the amount of money you have to live off, based on government living allowances. If you have more than this, we will work out how much you need to pay towards your adaptation.
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What happens next?
If you want to go ahead with the application we will arrange for a surveyor and possibly an occupational therapist to visit you at home to talk about the adaptation.

Where can I find information about adaptations to disabled people's homes?
If you would like further information, contact the Housing and Health Unit. We can also send you a copy of our leaflet 'Adaptations for your home', which tells you more about adaptations.
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