A Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is a council grant in England that pays for home adaptations for a disabled person. It can help pay for a bathroom conversion, which may include a wet room, but only if an occupational therapist recommends the work and the council approves it. The maximum grant is £30,000, and for adults the amount depends on a means test of income and savings. As of October 2026, the councils I checked and the adult social care body ADASS still give £30,000 as the limit.

This guide covers England only. The rules are different in Wales and Scotland.

What a DFG is

A DFG is paid through your local council. It is meant to make a home safe and usable for someone who is disabled, so they can get in and out, wash, use the toilet and move around.

In East Devon, which includes Exmouth, the district council decides on applications and pays the grant. The county council’s adult social care team arranges the assessment that starts the process.

Who can apply

According to East Devon District Council, you may qualify if you are disabled or if someone who lives with you is. Homeowners, people living with a homeowner and renters can all apply. Awardees must agree to the grant’s binding terms and conditions.

The means test applies to adults. Grants for disabled children are not means tested.

What the grant can pay for

Devon County Council lists the following types of work:

converting a bathroom into a shower room
adapting toilet facilities
installing a stairlift
building ramps and widening doors
adapting a kitchen for a wheelchair user

Wet rooms are not named on that list, and neither is a level-access shower by name. Whether a wet room qualifies depends on what the occupational therapist recommends for that person’s needs. Ask them directly, and ask for the recommendation in writing.

How the process works

Call the county council. In Devon, call Care Direct on 0345 1551 007. For a disabled child, the number is 0330 024 5321. The team takes basic details and refers you to an occupational therapist.
Wait for the assessment. The occupational therapist talks through the difficulties at home with you and your family or carer. They consider simpler options first, such as equipment or changing how a task is done.
Agree the recommendations. If an adaptation is the right answer, the occupational therapist sends the recommendations to your district council. You sign and return the paperwork.
Wait for the council. The council contacts you and explains how to go ahead.
Do not start work early. Devon’s guidance says you must not start any work until you have formal approval from the council.

You can find your own council by postcode on GOV.UK’s page on applying for a disabled facilities grant .

The means test

For adults, the council looks at income, savings and investments. Central Bedfordshire Council explains that the first £6,000 of savings is ignored in the calculation, and only savings above that are counted. Devon’s guidance says the national test covers income and savings, and that some people on benefits do not need to contribute.

People who receive a qualifying benefit may not have to pay anything for works up to £30,000. East Devon District Council lists Universal Credit, Income Support and Pension Credit as examples. You must show recent evidence of the benefit. Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit can also qualify if your annual income for tax credit purposes is under £15,050.

How much you can get

The limit for a DFG in England is £30,000, and you may receive less. In November 2024 the government agreed to review the upper limit after a court case brought by a family whose adaptation was estimated at up to £100,000. In January 2026 the adult social care association ADASS asked the government to publish the review and reconsider the means test. I could not find a published outcome of that review as of October 2026, so check with your council before you assume the cap has changed.

If the cost is higher than the grant, or your own contribution would be unaffordable, Devon’s guidance says you may be able to get further help from your district council or the county council, subject to another means test.

Will you have to pay it back?

Possibly, if you sell the home soon after the work. Devon’s guidance says you must intend to stay in the home for five years, and that grants may have to be repaid if the property is sold within 10 years of completion. Ask the council how any repayment would be worked out in your case before you agree the work.

VAT on adaptations

HMRC’s construction VAT guidance lists some alterations to suit people with disabilities as zero-rated, and refers to a separate notice for the detail. Eligibility depends on the type of work and the circumstances, so ask your fitter and the council to confirm the VAT position before you agree a quote.

Practical checklist

Call Care Direct, or the children’s line if the disabled person is under 18, and ask for an occupational therapy assessment.
Ask the occupational therapist whether a wet room is recommended, and ask for the recommendation in writing.
Ask the council how the means test works in your case and what evidence you need.
Gather proof of income, savings, and any benefits you receive.
Ask the council whether you should get quotes before or after approval, and what they will accept.
Do not start any work until you have written approval.
Keep copies of every letter and quote.

Key points

A DFG in England can be worth up to £30,000, and the amount you get depends on a means test for adults.
Wet rooms are not named in Devon’s list of works, so the occupational therapist’s recommendation decides.
The first £6,000 of savings is ignored in the means test, according to Central Bedfordshire Council.
Work must not start until the council gives formal approval.
The grant may need to be repaid if the home is sold within 10 years.

Frequently asked questions

Can a DFG pay for a wet room? It can, if the occupational therapist recommends it and the council approves it. Wet rooms are not named in Devon’s list of covered works, so you need to confirm this for your own case.

How much is the disabled facilities grant in 2026? In England the maximum is £30,000, according to East Devon District Council and ADASS in January 2026. The grant can be lower depending on the means test.

Do renters qualify? Yes. East Devon District Council says renters can apply, as can homeowners and people living with a homeowner.

Do I have to pay anything towards the work? It depends on your income, savings and benefits. Children under 18 are not means tested, and people on certain benefits may not have to contribute for works up to £30,000.

Do I have to pay the grant back? You may have to repay some or all of it if you sell the home within 10 years of the work finishing.

How long does the process take? Devon’s guidance does not give a decision time, and I could not verify a statutory deadline for this. The wait for an occupational therapist visit can vary, so ask the council for an estimate when you first call.

Next steps

Start with one phone call to the county council adult social care team and ask for an occupational therapy assessment. Once you have the recommendations, you can talk to a bathroom fitter about the layout. Homes by Design designs and fits bathrooms in the Exmouth area and offers a free planning and design visit, so you can talk through the options before you apply. Your occupational therapist and council should confirm what is needed first.

This guide is general information for England and is not legal or financial advice. Speak to your council, your occupational therapist or a qualified adviser before you make decisions.

Disabled Facilities Grant for a Wet Room: UK Guide 2026