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 88004)
and request an occupational therapy 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
|