In this section you will find information on the following;
Am I eligible for assistance?
Financial assistance with eligible, assessed adaptations is available through the Scheme to homeowners, shared equity homeowners, and private tenants with or without a repairing responsibility, although tenants do need to get consent from their Landlord.
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What works are eligible for assistance?
- External works to improve safety and access to one door of the building:
- Fixed Ramps
- Works to provide a minimum acceptable width, surface or gradient for safe use of a path
- Low rise steps
- Handrails
- Works to allow/improve access within the building.
- Stair Lifts (curved and straight)
- Track Hoists
- Through Floor Lifts
- Widen doors and remove thresholds
- Necessary kitchen adaptations (eg lowering certain kitchen units for wheelchair use)
- Works to improve personal care/health needs.
- Wet floor shower area
- Closo-mat toilets
- Level access shower
- Hand/Grab rails
- Heating Change from Solid Fuel - An alternative system can be installed as appropriate in situations where:
- all occupants of the property are aged over 70
- occupant lives alone, is aged over 65 and is in receipt of Attendance Allowance
- occupant lives alone, is aged under 65 and receives the DLA High or Middle Care component, or the DLA High Mobility Component.
- Ground floor extensions where an accessible ground floor bath/shower/toilet cannot be provided within existing building footprint. This does not include additional living accommodation.
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What financial assistance could I get?
- Financial assistance for eligible adaptations is usually available in the form of an 80% minimum percentage grant.
- Applicants must be assessed by Highland Council Social Work Services Staff, or have been assessed by another relevant professional, and their application for financial assistance approved before an award can be made
- You should not start work before your grant has been approved – we cannot pay you retrospectively.
- In order to make the funding stretch as far as possible we always tailor our works to meet need – for example, we may consider rearranging the layout of your house rather than automatically building an extension or installing a stairlift.
- We would also not normally fund works in excess of a total cost of £20,000.
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How do I apply for assistance?
- Once you have been assessed by an Occupational Therapy Professional, their recommendations will automatically be referred to your local Care and Repair service
- They will contact you to arrange organising quotes and contractors, and will help you complete and submit your application form for financial assistance
- As discussed, eligible works qualify for an award of a minimum of 80% of the cost
- An assessment of the applicant’s financial circumstances will be carried out to find the remainder. This assessment is called a Test of Resources.
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Passported Assistance
Applicants in receipt of Income Support and the Guarantee Element of Pension Credit will automatically receive 100% financial assistance for approved works.
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The Test of Resources
- A Test of Resources is used to establish your contribution (if any), and takes into account the applicant’s income, their spouse or partner’s, any other part owner of the property and a proportion of the income of anyone else resident in the house unless they formally lodge with a tenancy agreement.
- Applicants would be expected in the first instance to make any contribution using income or savings they control, or using mainstream lending products
- Works in excess of £20,000 (the approval limit) will not normally be approved and will be sent for review by the Area Housing and Property Manager
- Awards are based on the availability of funding, the priority rating of the applicant/works, and the minimum specification required to meet the assessed need. The Highland Council is obliged to regulate grant conditions by registering any award with the Register of Sasines for which there is a £30 administrative fee. This means that we will place a charge on the title deed of the property in order to recover grant if a repayment event (ie the property changes hands) occurs within 10 years of the award. Follow this link to look in detail at the Grant Conditions
- The Highland Council takes steps to verify all evidence submitted and can refuse applications, and claw back awarded finance with interest if false representation is found to have been made.
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