Disabled Facilities Grants: Are they Meeting the Assessed Needs of Children in Northern Ireland?

Emerging evidence from the literature suggests that the Disabled Facilities Grant means test may result in some families withdrawing from the grants process because they cannot afford to proceed with the essential housing adaptations recommended by occupational therapists for their children. A preliminary investigation was undertaken by occupational therapists in Northern Ireland to identify both the scale of this phenomenon and the issues relating to the monitoring of withdrawals. It found that families are withdrawing from the Disabled Facilities Grant system for both financial and non-financial reasons and that an interagency study with appropriate housing providers is required to assess fully the scale and outcome of unmet need.