Adaptations – making a home suitable for your disabled child

3 mins read

Wednesday 12 February 2025

Tags: counting the costs, housing, disabled facilities grant, adaptations


Many families with disabled children need adaptations to their home, whether they live in private rented, social housing or they own their property.

Contact’s Counting the Costs research found that almost a third of families with a disabled child live in a home that does not meet the needs of their child. Of those, 43% say it needs adaptations.

If you need to adapt your home to make it easier for you or your child to manage, you may be entitled to a Disabled Facilities Grant (or Home Improvement Grant if you live in Scotland). This can cover adaptations including building works, ramps, hoists, grab rails.

But according to our survey, 27% of families with a disabled child are not aware of the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). Of the families who did apply 43% found the process poor or very poor. And over half said the grant did not cover the full cost of the adaptations needed with the average shortfall being £7,391. There are also lengthy delays in the process.

Currently the maximum grant is £30,000 in England and £36,000 in Wales. The government did agree to review the upper limit of the grant following a court case involving a family with a disabled child. We are currently awaiting the outcome of the review.

Anna Bird, Chief Executive at Contact, said: “Poor housing has a devastating impact on disabled children and their families both physically and mentally. The Disabled Facilities Grant can ensure families are able to care for their child at home safely, and stops them spiralling into crisis. Our survey findings show that this system of support needs urgent attention.

“The upper limit has not risen since 2008, despite the cost of materials and building work rising dramatically in that time. This has led to families having to crowdfund or give up on their projects entirely. Delays to adaptations can worsen a child’s condition which will lead to more costly interventions in the long term.”

Claire Pemberton, mum to Emilia, who has a rare genetic condition called PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome, has been waiting two and a half years for a downstairs bedroom and bathroom. Emilia cannot climb the stairs alone without falling. And Claire has a spinal injury which means she cannot get Emilia into a stair lift. Despite this they have been waiting since 2022 for the necessary adaptations.

Through Contact’s Change Makers programme, Claire, who lives in Staffordshire, spoke to the BBC about their situation. She is hopeful that after a long wait, work is due to start in March. She said: “It will be life changing once the work is completed.”