Help for Disabled People

Rapid Response Adaptation Programme in Wales

The Rapid Response Adaptation Programme offers small-scale adaptations to help older and disabled people in Wales stay in their own homes or return from hospital as soon as they can. You may also be able to get help if you are not in hospital. You can get up to £350 worth of help.

You must be referred to the programme by a health professional. You cannot apply directly yourself. To get help, you have to be a home-owner or a tenant. You must usually be aged 60 or over, and/or have a physical disability, and:

• be in hospital; or  

• have recently been discharged from hospital; or  

• want to carry on living independently at home.

The work to your home should be finished within 15 days of the day you were referred to the programme.

For more information contact Care and Repair Cymru, which is running the service:

Larger Adaptations

Certain adaptations work for disabled people is zero-rated for VAT when it is carried out on your private home. It includes:

• building ramps and/or widening doorways and passages to make access easier for a disabled person;   

• installing a lift between floors to make access easier, including the maintenance, repair and restoration of decorations; and  

• work to bathrooms and toilets to make them easier to use by a disabled person and any items supplied in connection with this: for example, grab rails or a bath seat.

The supplier (that is, the person or firm carrying out the work) must be registered for VAT, and the disabled person must make a declaration claiming zero rating which the supplier keeps. For more information about zero rating contact your local Customs and Excise office. Its address and telephone number will be in your phone book.

Before you make any adaptations it is important to get expert advice. An occupational therapist can look at the difficulties you are having and suggest equipment and adaptations to meet your particular needs. You can ask your local social services department to arrange for an occupational therapist to visit. In addition, the Disabled Living Foundation and the Centre for Accessible Environments can both advise you on the sort of adaptations that might be possible. You can contact these organisations at the addresses below.

Paying for adaptations

Whether you are a home-owner, tenant or you live with your relatives, you may qualify for financial help with the cost of adapting your home. But remember, if you are applying for help from your local council to adapt your home, don't carry out any work until your grant application has been approved; if you do, your application will be turned down.

Disabled facilities grant

Every local council has a legal obligation to offer disabled facilities grants to people who need them. This grant is for essential adaptations which help you to move in and out of and around your home more easily and safely; and which give you access to your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living room.

The types of work you might have carried out with a disabled facilities grant include:

• installing a lift;

• providing a toilet and shower downstairs;

• installing a ramp and grab rails to the front door;

• moving and adapting light switches and heating controls to make them easier to use; and  

• widening doorways and installing ramps for wheelchair access.

Applications for disabled facilities grants are processed by the housing department at your local council. Contact the housing department (or grants office) and ask for an application form for a disabled facilities grant.