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Adaptations to your home

Paul Howard, Operational Manager, Accessible Homes Team - October 2011
gatewaytocare@kirklees.gov.uk

Adaptations can be made to your home which promote your safety and enable you to live there more independently, whatever your disability.  For example, fitted handrails, ramps, hoists or lifts providing adaptations is a joint responsibility between Adult Services and Housing.

Paying for adaptations

Financial help is available for adaptations costing more than £1,000.  But the financial help we can offer will depend on the amount of income and savings you have.  This applies to privately owned, rented and council properties

If the adaptation you need will cost more than £10,000, we will give you the option of rehousing to a more appropriate Council owned property.

Qualifying for an adaptation

The conditions for approving requests for adaptation grants have been set out by the government:
  • the person must be disabled
  • the person must live in the area of the local authority, or be in the care of the local authority
  • the adaptations must be to the disabled person's only or main residence
  • the adaptations must be necessary, appropriate, reasonable and practicable
In addition to the above conditions, adaptation grants will only be awarded where Adult Services have completed an assessment which established that the adaptation is needed.

Alternatives to Adult Services and Housing provision

If you prefer, you can buy your own adaptation.
For example, where Adult Services have done an assessment but you do not meet the criteria for an adaptation.

Gateway to Care have all the information you need to make an informed choice.  They have information about different suppliers of stair lifts, ramps, accessible toilets, showers, baths, handrails, widened doors, lowered surfaces and sockets, and special handles.

If you would like to e-mail questions directly to a Gateway to Care use the Gateway to Care enquiry form.

Link to how to get the services you need to find out how to apply for this service

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