Response 3630401
Response to request for information
Reference
3630401
Response date
14 February 2025
Request
Please may you provide me with:
- Does the local authority offer Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) above the statutory maximum and, if yes, how is this delivered:
- Top ups (paid for by the local authority)?
- Loans?
- Other (please specify)
- What is the total number of Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) applications A) received and B) accepted by the local authority that have been above the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) statutory maximum amount over the following periods:
- April 2021 to March 2022
- April 2022 to March 2023
- April 2023 to March 2024?
- Are there any other means in which adaptations are funded by the local authority (if so please specify)?
- What was the local authority’s Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) budget for the periods:
- April 2021 to March 2022
- April 2022 to March 2023
- April 2023 to March 2024?
- What proportion of the local authority’s Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) budget was spent during the periods:
- April 2021 to March 2022
- April 2022 to March 2023
- April 2023 to March 2024
- What is the process for means-testing applicants for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) in your local authority?
- Are there any exemptions to the means test for people with rapidly progressive terminal conditions, such as MND in your local authority?
- Are there any circumstances in which the DFG mandatory means test is waived and, if so, what are those circumstances? (e.g. for adaptations under a certain cost or of a certain type)
- Has your local authority conducted any assessments (including an Impact Equality Assessment) or reviews on the appropriateness of means testing for individuals with rapidly progressive terminal conditions, such as MND or disability more widely?
- Do you currently have a fast-track application process in place to provide Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding more rapidly to applicants with urgent needs? If yes, what are the eligibility criteria to access this process?
- How many DFG applications were A) received under the fast-track process (if applicable) and B) how many of these were approved under the fast-track process during the period:
- April 2021 to March 2022
- April 2022 to March 2023
- April 2023 to March 2024
- Does your local authority maintain a record or register of accessible homes available for individuals with disabilities, including those living with progressive terminal conditions, such as MND
- If such a register exists, how is it updated and made available to individuals and families in need of accessible housing?
- If no record is maintained, are there any plans to develop a database or register of accessible homes in your local authority?
For the below questions use your definitions of small, medium and large adaptations.
- What was the average time taken (in days) complete the assessment of A) small, B) medium and C) large-sized adaptations under the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) during the period:
- April 2021 to March 2022
- April 2022 to March 2023
- April 2023 to March 2024?
- What was the average time taken (in days) from the approval of A) small, B) medium and C) large-sized Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to the completion of the installation during the period:
- April 2021 to March 2022
- April 2022 to March 2023
- April 2023 to March 2024
Response
- Does the local authority offer Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) above the statutory maximum and, if yes, how is this delivered:
- Top ups (paid for by the local authority)?
- Loans?
- Other (please specify)
No, at the present time we have suspended our discretionary grant because we do not have sufficient resources available to fund other referrals that have been passed to the Authority by the Occupational Therapy Service. Top ups and Loans are administered by Nottinghamshire County Council.
- What is the total number of Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) applications A) received and B) accepted by the local authority that have been above the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) statutory maximum amount over the following periods:
- April 2021 to March 2022 - 4
- April 2022 to March 2023 - 2
- April 2023 to March 2024 - 6
- Are there any other means in which adaptations are funded by the local authority (if so please specify)?
From the DFG budget we fund Handy Persons Adaptation Service (HPAS) and Integrated Community Equipment Loan Service (ICELS) which is delivered countywide by Nottinghamshire County Council.
- What was the local authority’s Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) budget for the periods:
- April 2021 to March 2022 - £756,856
- April 2022 to March 2023 - £756,856
- April 2023 to March 2024 - £822,899
- What proportion of the local authority’s Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) budget was spent during the periods:
- April 2021 to March 2022 - 100%
- April 2022 to March 2023 - 100%
- April 2023 to March 2024 - 100%
- What is the process for means-testing applicants for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) in your local authority?
In the majority of cases a Preliminary Test of Resources will be undertaken prior to the provision of an OT referral to provide the prospective applicant with an early indication of their likely contribution. Such preliminary tests will not be applied in urgent cases or where the OT is aware that the client is in receipt of a passport benefit. The recipient of a passport benefit will automatically be assessed as having a NIL contribution toward any grant award and will receive full grant. At present parents of disabled children and young persons are not subject to a test of resources. To approve a grant a valid application will require the appropriate evidence of financial resources in order that the Test of Resources can be undertaken. We use Ferret Renovator software to carry out the Test of Resources.
- Are there any exemptions to the means test for people with rapidly progressive terminal conditions, such as MND in your local authority? No
- Are there any circumstances in which the DFG mandatory means test is waived and, if so, what are those circumstances? (e.g. for adaptations under a certain cost or of a certain type)
Parents of disabled children and young persons are not subject to a means test. Where a landlord application is made the disabled person is not means tested.
- Has your local authority conducted any assessments (including an Impact Equality Assessment) or reviews on the appropriateness of means testing for individuals with rapidly progressive terminal conditions, such as MND or disability more widely?
No
- Do you currently have a fast-track application process in place to provide Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding more rapidly to applicants with urgent needs? If yes, what are the eligibility criteria to access this process?
Yes the requests are made by Occupational Therapy Team Managers at Nottingham county Council based on meeting Occupational Therapy guidance for fast tracks.
- How many DFG applications were A) received under the fast-track process (if applicable) and B) how many of these were approved under the fast-track process during the period:
- April 2021 to March 2022 - a. 2 b. 2
- April 2022 to March 2023 - a. 5 b. 5
- April 2023 to March 2024 - a. 1 b. 1
- Does your local authority maintain a record or register of accessible homes available for individuals with disabilities, including those living with progressive terminal conditions, such as MND.
We are a non-stock holding authority and do not currently have a register of accessible homes owned by registered providers in the borough.
- If such a register exists, how is it updated and made available to individuals and families in need of accessible housing?
Not applicable
- If no record is maintained, are there any plans to develop a database or register of accessible homes in your local authority?
We are currently looking into a accessible housing waiting list for our local authority area and a countywide register of accessible homes.
For the below questions use your definitions of small, medium and large adaptations.
- What was the average time taken (in days) complete the assessment of A) small, B) medium and C) large-sized adaptations under the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) during the period:
- April 2021 to March 2022
- April 2022 to March 2023
- April 2023 to March 2024?
We are unable to provide this information as the assessments are completed by the Occupational Therapy Teams at Nottinghamshire County Council.
- What was the average time taken (in days) from the approval of A) small, B) medium and C) large-sized Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to the completion of the installation during the period:
- April 2021 to March 2022
- April 2022 to March 2023
- April 2023 to March 2024
The information is not available by size of the adaptation.