Feedback sought on disabled home adaptation grants

Plymouth City Council is asking people for their opinions on its independent living assistance policy.

Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) are provided by the government to support people with disabilities to adapt their homes.

The council said it had helped support over 500 home adaptations in the last three years and in 2024, Plymouth was granted £3m to help deliver disability adaptions in the city.

The council said the consultation would help shape its policy and delivery methods.

It added that the funding helped people with disabilities "live safely and independently at home".

Plymouth resident Teresa said a recently-installed ramp had made a massive difference to her life.

She said: "I struggle to get up and down stairs so to have a ramp for me has been pretty life-changing.

"Up until they were put in I couldn't actually access the back of the property at all very well.

"It's really quite freeing and being able to support myself with the rails means although I go very slowly, I can still do it on my own."

Councillor Chris Penberthy said the DFGs made "a huge difference to people's lives".

He said: "The consultation is imperative to shaping our independent living assistance policy.

"It is important to hear from residents like Teresa who have had adaptations made in their home to support their life, and how this has made a difference for her, to help shape our services for the future."

The consultation will close on Friday 14 March.

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