Disabled Facilities Grant. Advice Please

Good afternoon,

I am still awaiting my DLA appeal tribunal date .... In the meantime I have been assessed by OT and they are willing to extend my bathroom and put a walk in level access shower, special toilet etc. It has been approved and I do not have to contribute financially unless I want to glam it up with my tiles and fittings.

Sounds great and I know I am very very lucky, but there is part of me that is dreading the upheaval and lack of privacy while the work is done. Also I have been thinking that I might just move and try to find somewhere where the work has been done for me. But the thought of a house move also fills me with dread. I am in a quandry as to whether to let it go ahead. Does anyone have experience of how much I presumably would have to repay if I did move. Don't know total price yet as it is awaiting costing. Someone thought I was tied for 5 or 6 years. Any advice appreciated. Thanks

As far as I am aware a disabled facilities grant does not have to be repaid if you move. After the work is done you should be eligible for a one band drop in your council tax rating. The grant does not have an effect on any benefits you are receiving or intend to apply for. Moving house is the most stressful experience you will ever experience. Finding an adapted house will be extremely difficult and probably have outdated fittings and problems you didn't expect until you actually use it. Having your present home converted gives you control over the decor etc and any problems will be resolved quickly and free of charge. The disruption will be minimal and relatively stress free. The work should be completed quickly and you can always have the occupational therapist etc deal with the builders.

Hi,
I have had a bathroom adapted myself and I am so glad I did, I have no hesitation in advising you to go ahead with yours. The work was done quite quickly and the disruption wasn't too bad at all. Try to remember you will only have to put up with a little disruption just once and you will be so pleased when you see the end result.

I was just wondering if you had any friends or family you could stay with while the work was done or if you had someone to spend some of the day with as this would mean you wouldn't be around the workmen all day.

Thanks for your words of encouragement ! xx I have done a bit more research this morning and have found offical googled pages that do say if you move within 6 years, unless it is directly due to your health, you can be asked to pay up to £10 max back. There was also mention of putting a charge on your house, as an extension would add to the value and if it was sold they could recoup the money paid. At the moment I just don't want to be committed to the property for many years and have the recoupment hanging over my head and complicating things if I die. So I will probably turn it down and maybe try to fund just the minimum myself to make it safer

I'd recommend you contact the place that has offered you this work to be done to see what they have to say about repayment, etc if you move. It would be a shame to not go ahead in case what you have read is wrong in your case. No harm in asking is there?!