Disabled Facilities Grant

EDM number 1317 in 1992-93, proposed by Gerry Steinberg on 03/02/1993.

That this House draws attention to the decision to consult over the proposed changes for disability and rehabilitation in the Department of the Environment review of the house renovation grant system, due to be published in February; is concerned that many disabled people go without essential adaptations to their homes because assessment arrangements take no account of household costs such as mortgage repayments and rent on the grounds these would further complicate an already necessarily complex system or of the extra costs of disability that will often use up savings; believes it unfair that entitlement to a grant is based on the income and capital of all household members with a legal interest in the property and stresses that a person providing care and accommodation for a friend or relative, who would otherwise be admitted into residential care at a greater cost to public funds, should not be expected to contribute towards the costs of an adaptation; further believes the current system fails to promote independent living in the community - a stated objective of the Government's commitment to community care; and calls for the Government to create a fair system for assessment.

This motion has been signed by a total of 98 MPs.