First, you should get a care needs assessment from your local council. You can get these free of charge and you're entitled to one regardless of your income and savings.
Your local council will send a social care professional to come to see you to find out how you're managing everyday tasks and assess your needs. They'll then advise on what support you need, including equipment and home adaptations that would make things easier for you. If you're considered 'eligible', the council has a duty to help you.
Find out more about the care needs assessment
Following your care needs assessment, if the council recommend minor adaptations to your home costing £1,000 or less – such as installing grab rails, a dropped curb or outside lights – these will be provided and fitted free of charge.
Specialist disability equipment that they recommend will also be provided for free – for example, a hoist to help you get in and out of bed.
For help with the cost of larger adaptations, you may qualify for a Disabled Facilities Grant. This can be used to cover a wide range of adaptations, such as a stairlift or a walk-in shower.
Disabled Facilities Grants are means-tested and there's usually an upper limit on the amount you can get. You can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant even if the council decides you don't have eligible care needs, because they're based on separate criteria.
Disabled Facilities Grants are administered and paid by your local council’s housing department and can only be used for work that your local council has assessed you as needing.
You can get a Disabled Facilities Grant whether you own or rent your property, but tenants usually need their landlord's permission to carry out the adaptations.
Social landlords (council or housing association landlords) will sometimes pay for adaptations themselves, but you can still apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant and you should be treated the same as other applicants.
If you're not entitled to help with the cost of equipment or adaptations from your council, you may still be entitled to other sources of financial help.
Check whether you're entitled to other help
Make sure that you're claiming any benefits you're entitled to. Many people who need help with care will qualify for a disability benefit – either Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Attendance Allowance depending on your age. Neither benefit is means-tested so your income and savings won’t be taken into account.
Get a free benefits check
