Red Tape Cut To Help Disabled Home Owners

31st March 2009

A nationwide scheme which helps disabled people carry out essential home adaptations has been enhanced.

Changes arising from the implementation of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 will trigger a simpler and fairer system of financial help.

For people assessed as needing essential adaptations, local authorities must give a grant of 80 per cent of the cost, or 100 per cent for people on the lowest incomes.

There are no longer any arbitrary limits on the amount of grant that can be provided.

Under the previous system, grant was only given towards the first 20,000 pounds of works to provide bathroom and toilet facilities for a disabled person, and there was a means test to assess entitlement beyond the 50 per cent minimum.

Disabled home owners having difficulty getting into or around their home should contact their local council's social work department to arrange an assessment of their needs.

Alex Neil, Minister for Housing and Communities, said: "These changes have been welcomed by disability organisations and local authorities alike.

"They signal the Scottish Government's commitment to enabling disabled people to live as independently as possible in their own home."

Richard Hamer, Director of External Affairs at Capability Scotland, said: "The new system is a significant step forward, providing a far simpler and more equitable route to financial assistance for disabled people and those that support them.

Moira Bayne, Director of Ownership Options, said: "We are very enthusiastic about the new help which is available to disabled people.

"We believe that many more people will be assisted to access appropriate housing."

A Scottish Government leaflet - Help with Adaptations to Your Home - explaining the new system of help can be found on the Scottish Government's website at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/266465/0079748.pdf

The duty to give grant applies to a wide range of adaptations, including:
replacing the bath with a walk in shower
constructing a ramp to help someone get into their home fitting lower work surfaces to make the kitchen easier to use.

Councils do not have to give a grant for house extensions (for example to provide a ground floor bedroom) but can do this if resources allow. They must provide some form of assistance.

The changes on help with adaptations are part of a wider suite of changes being introduced as part of the implementation of parts of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006.

The changes give local authorities modernised powers to tackle poor private sector housing and to provide non-financial and/or financial assistance to owners.