Plea for disabled (From York Press)

Plea for disabled

11:49am Saturday 11th February 2012 in Letters By Reader's letter

I was interested to read in The Press (February 4) that the council will be putting money into the disabled facilities grant.

As this is a mandatory grant for home adaptations that is often insufficient to meet assessed need, it hardly seems something to crow about.

Due to lobbying by the Homes Fit For Children campaign, of which I was co-chair, the grant is available to disabled people irrespective of age. It is, however, subject to assessment by an occupational therapist as to whether it is necessary and appropriate; and it also has to be reasonable and practical.

In addition, the maximum grant in England is £30,000 and it is means tested, apart from for families with disabled children under 19 years of age. Councils have discretionary powers to increase this amount if the cost of eligible works is more.

This policy area is complex and there is no doubt that available resources of all kinds are unlikely to match need. I recognise the difficulty the council has in balancing its budget. I simply hope we can avoid anyone becoming a political football in these straitened times.

Ginnie Shaw, St Olave’s Road, Bootham, York.