Means Testing & The DFG

For many people, the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is a vital source of funding that helps pay for essential home adaptations like stairlifts, ramps, or level-access showers. These changes can make the difference between living independently and feeling trapped in an unsafe environment. But for adults of working age, the process of applying is often complicated by one key factor: the means test.

How the means test works

The financial assessment (often called the “means test”) is designed to decide whether an applicant has to contribute towards the cost of the adaptation. So who's affected and how does it work?

Let's be clear about one thing at the start; the financial assessment does not apply to children under 18: Happily, applications on behalf of children and young adults under the age of 18 are not means-tested, so families are not asked to contribute.

Adults however (18+) will go through the test which looks at the income and savings of the whole household, not just the disabled person. If you live with a partner, their earnings, pensions, and savings are included in the calculation.

Disability-related benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) are excluded, but most other sources of income are counted. Savings above £6,000 are also factored in, with a portion assumed to be available each week.

The calculation then deducts fixed “basic living allowances,” which are nationally set figures representing what the government believes is enough for day-to-day living. Whatever is left is treated as “excess income” and assumed to be available for adaptations. The formula projects this over a 10-year period to decide how much the household should contribute.

Why it disadvantages working-age adults

This system has been widely criticised because it does not take into account real-life financial pressures. High rents, large mortgage payments and rising household bills are ignored by the formula. Instead, applicants are judged based on theoretical affordability rather than their actual situation.

For many working-age adults, this is where the challenge lies. A partner’s income, even if modest, is automatically included which often pushes households over the threshold for a full grant. The result is that many disabled adults are deemed ineligible, or only offered partial funding, even though their household budget is already stretched thin.

A real-world example

Take the case of Mr A, who requires a level-access wet room in order to bathe safely. He lives with his partner who works part-time. Their combined income is around £28,000 a year. After applying the allowances, the council calculates that they have an “excess income” of £40 per week.

Over 10 years, this equates to a required contribution of more than £20,000. If the wet-room costs £15,000, the couple will not receive any grant at all, as their calculated contribution is greater than the cost. In reality, however, most of their income goes on a mortgage, bills, and day-to-day expenses, leaving little left over for such a large adaptation.

The impact on independence

For working-age adults, the means test can feel like a double penalty. They may be too “wealthy” on paper to qualify for support, yet not wealthy enough in practice to pay privately. This can leave people little choice other than to incur large amounts of personal debt, or to simply abandon essential adaptations - having a direct impact on their independence, safety, and quality of life.

Moving forward

The DFG remains a vital scheme, but the way the means test works leaves too many people in a grey area - unable to access public funding yet struggling to self-fund. At Homes Reimagined, we believe it’s important to highlight these gaps and support people to find solutions, whether through guidance, creative adaptation planning, or exploring alternative funding options.

Everyone deserves the right to live safely and independently at home, regardless of income thresholds or household circumstances.