New grant will assist independent living

New grant will assist independent living

14 February 2012 

New grant will assist independent living

The new ‘Reable’ grant scheme, agreed by Breckland Councillors today, will cut down waiting times and enable applicants to quickly receive the support they need to stay in their own homes.

Under the government’s long-established Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), applicants face a daunting process and a wait of up to 9 months before receiving a grant to make much-needed alterations in their homes.  Now Breckland has taken advantage of a new government ruling that allows councils to take a more flexible approach. By reducing paperwork and using information already available, Breckland’s new Reable scheme will slash waiting times for works up to £7,000.

Paul Claussen, Executive Member for Planning and Environmental Services said “When we reviewed applications received in previous years, it was apparent that most were for relatively small changes such as level access showers, grab rails or ramps. The DFG process is not appropriate for such simple requests, as applicants have to wait many months for straightforward jobs that could be completed in a just a few days. The Reable scheme provides a simpler, fast-track process that can quickly help improve the lives of those living with a disability. It will also be welcomed by residents who are unable to leave hospital until their home has been adapted to meet their requirements”.

People applying for works over £7,000 must still apply for the established DFG which uses a prescribed statutory process including means testing. For more information about the Reable grant scheme, contact Gordon Partridge on 01362 656870.