Has anyone ever appliedpli for a disabled faciliies grant from the council

[Charlie90]

Just wondering if you where successful and the time line of the application

[sospan]

Yep,

I the list in my area was over subscribed many months before the start of the financial year. Tried for a few years and just gave up

[Charlie90 in reply to sospan]

So not a great experience with it thenthen I think I’m just going to put in the application and hope for the best

[sospan in reply to Charlie90]

nothing to lose but the time to complete the application.

What you may find is that you have little choice with any of the work that you require doing. i.e. it will be their design and choice of materials you have to accept.

When I had my injury I was refurbishing my bathroom. I had all the materials on site all I needed was someone to finish the work. However, because of the councils "standards" they wouldn't lay the tiles, we had but would buy contract "lino" and have that fitted, neither would they fit our large shower base with a screen but they would fit a small one with a curtain and so on. Crazy waste of money

I would have just paid a builder but because I was self employed at the time, there was no income coming in and my wife just kept us going from our savings. Finishing the bath room was the last thing on her mind. Then of course when you have to exist on benefits for a while there is no funds for a builder

[AndrewT]

Dear Cwar90,

Yes, someone I used to know, from Headway did, and 'Got' it. Unfortunately he has since Died, and I have had NO further contact, with his Mother. The Work, gave him, an Accessible Upstairs room- along with an Access lift, from outside the building. I 'understand', that ALL the Plans, had to be Submitted- in full- some months before, the Work, began.

It MIGHT, be possible, to ask 'Other' Organisations, for 'Help'. I'm thinking the National Kidney Patients Association or, just maybe, a 'Disabled Peoples' organisation....Of some 'sort'.

I'd, maybe try, asking either your Local Council, the Library, or perhaps, the CAB. A 'Word' with the local Vicar, or Father, Rabbi or Iman (depending on your Religion) might be a good 'Starting Point' too.

Sorry, that I can't, offer you Anything more 'Solid' Cwar90.....Perhaps with a new Government- I'm NOT starting a Political Debate here, please People, It's just a Wish/ Hope...For the future.

Whatever Happens, good or bad, will you let us know please Cwar90?

AndrewT

[cat3]

My sister in law had an extra handrail for the stairs and grab rail for the shower fitted after my brother's mobility became a problem. When he became fully incapacitated a safety bed was provided for him downstairs and various toilet facilities. And it was all arranged by a hospital visitor from social services.

My god daughter recently arranged for similar fitments, plus a handrail up the steps to the front door for her father after he suffered a stroke, again through social services.

And when I was in rehab after my SAH, a lady from social services appeared one day asking did I need any home adjustments or a panic alarm but I declined the offers as the very idea of incapacity was too scary to contemplate. But she spoke to all patients who might need home adaptations on discharge.

[Hidden in reply to cat3]

I managed to get handrails and washing items. Presently battling with listed building consent as I have planning. If listed consent is not granted I will have to sell up as the entrance to my bathroom is dangerously narrow and with hand rails in case it is impossible to get down the steps I to the toilet. This has been going on for a year

[Charlie90]

Spoke to my ot this morning she’s going to do the application for me which is great takes the stress off me a little

[cat3 in reply to Charlie90]

Yours is a far more complex situation than most isn't it, so it's good to hear you've found support from someone with credentials ! Let us know how things pan out won't you m'dear ? x

[Charlie90 in reply to cat3]

I will definitely keep this post updated, my OT doing the online spplication over the next few day so we will wait and see

[Pairofboots]

I did, and was granted it, but I had to sell up before it was actioned thanks to HMRC and the DWP messing my money up. Had to sell as they left me no money. All because of a wrong decimal point.

[Alb64]

Think it all depends on your local council.When my husband came out of hospital we had a bath with shower over it in a small bathroom.This was fine while we were both able bodied but after his brain injury he got into the bath and couldn't remember how to get out.I had to stand on the bath side to wash his hair too.Someone came out to assess our difficulties then suggested turning bathroom into a wet room.They measured up then sent a builder out to show us options in flooring colours and tiles or panels.Took few weeks to sort it but only 4days for builder to complete.Much easier now to shower him.Good luck.x

[Hidden]

Hi there, I do believe each council is different. I did have a contribution but it was much less than I thought, mainly because I did the work myself.

I had to have handrails up the stairs and hallway, in the bath room and also a stair gate fitted, before my wife was able to visit home and eventualy come home from hospital.

the hospital were pushing to have it done asap in time for her to come home for xmas and the council told me to get three quotes and we would agree between us which to go for and they would fund it.

Happy days I thought... I tried 12 trades man over 2,weeks and each time as soon as I said it was for my disabled wife to come out of hospital they all refused to do the work as the couldn't guarentee their work would withstand excessive physical use. Of course in reality there would be no EXCESSIVE use but, there you go.

Being a mechanical engineer I felt confident enough to do the work myself and really I could see no other choice.

Im proud to say everything is still up and working . Stair gate and bathroom rails were straight forward online purchases but I had to make the stairway hand rails from scratch and monut them securely and correctly (they can safely withstand my weight 120kg) I had to purchase all the tools and equipment myself to do the work as well as work through the night and early hours for almost a week whilst visiting my wife and meeting OT and doctors in hospital during the day time. Not ideal but I felt it was all I could do at the time.

My wife did visit home a few times, but didn't return home fully for another 5months as the hospital eventually agreed she needed extensive rehab. At the time it wasn't clear this was ever going to be an option.

In the end the council did agree to pay a percentage of the cost... £2 in total, less than 1% of the entire material costs. I couldn't believe it, as the phone call cost me more to find it out!

I learnt very early on, we will do any thing for our loved ones and no matter what it takes to help them.

It can be unhealthy to have the same expectations that others will or should help out in the same way, in reality it isn't true, so to save yourself from getting to angry you've just got to do what you feel is right for yourself.

I can laugh about it now and I'm proud to have been able to do it. Hope this helps or at least gives you a laugh ☺

Regards

[Lynd]

£2 is an insult!

[Charlie90]

Application gone in asked for downstairs bathroom and permanent ramp to get in house and now we wait holding my breath