Government pledges more funding to support people with disabilities live independently

An extra £68 million will help thousands more disabled people to access grants to improve their homes so they can live independently, Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing Kelly Tolhurst announced on International Day of People with Disabilities (Thursday 3 December).

The Government says the additional funding for councils will help people make the adaptations they need to live safely and independently in their own homes.

The Disabled Facilities Grant funding can be used towards the costs of home adaptations such as stair-lifts, level access showers, wet rooms, winches, grab rails and ramps. These can play a critical role in avoiding the need for hospital or care home admission, as well as helping to speed-up discharge from hospital.

This funding is in addition to the £505 million paid to councils in May 2020, increasing the overall government investment in the Disabled Facilities Grant to £573 million this year.

The announcement is part of the Government’s programme to better integrate health and social care services.

Minister for Care, Helen Whately said: “This grant will help hundreds of thousands of disabled people across England to live more independently in their own homes and improve their quality of life.”