Adapting your home for
your disability
If you have difficulty living in your home and you
think you need an adaptation, you can either visit your Local
Service Centre or call Newham Council on 020 8430 2000 (extension
71105) and request an occupational therapy (LINK
)assessment.
You will be assessed by the Community Occupational Therapy service
who will, if appropriate, recommend either equipment or major
adaptations.
Typical adaptations might be a stairlift, a ramp, or a level
access shower.
If major adaptations are recommended then you will be referred to
the Home Improvement Agency (HIA) and contacted by one of our case
workers and/or our housing occupational therapist. They will visit
you with one of our surveyors to determine exactly how your
home can be adapted and to assist you in the process.
If I am a home owner, will I have to pay towards the
work?
People living in private housing need to apply for
a Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG).
A DFG is means tested, unless the applicant is under 18. You will
be asked to give details of your income and savings.
The majority of applicants qualify for the grant. If you do not,
then we can still help you to have the work done but you will have
to pay for some or all of it out of your own resources or through a
loan. By helping you to claim various benefits we may be able to
increase your entitlement to grant assistance.
Our advisory service is free. If you decide to carry out work with
our help, a fee, based on the cost of the work, will usually be
charged for our technical services.
In the case of a DFG, this will normally be paid out of the
grant.
Other housing tenures
Newham Homes and housing association tenants do not
have to contribute towards their adaptations.
Private tenants have to apply for grants (but unfortunately do not
qualify if they have only a short lease).
What else does the HIA
do?
-
Repairs although financial assistance is extremely
limited)
- Help from the
Handyvan scheme with small repairs, security works and falls
prevention