Disabled Facilities Grant in Sheffield

Can Sheffield City Council Fund a Stairlift?

The Sheffield City Council page we checked does not list specific adaptations. GOV.UK lists stairlifts as an example of an adaptation a DFG can cover, and the council / assessor determines eligibility.

Examples the council gives:

• Widening doorways for wheelchair access
• Installing a level-access shower
• Adding a downstairs toilet
• Lowering kitchen worktops
• Changing heating or lighting controls
• Improving garden access

How to Apply in Sheffield

After an assessment confirms a major adaptation is needed, a DFG application is made. Support with the application is normally provided by a Housing Information Advisor.

1. 1Check whether equipment could help first
2. 2Occupational therapy assessment
3. 3Confirmation a major adaptation is needed
4. 4DFG application (with Housing Information Advisor support if needed)
5. 5Council decision
6. 6Work

Owners, tenants and landlords applying for a disabled tenant can all apply.

How the Assessment Works

Request a home adaptation assessment from the council's occupational therapy team. Sheffield states there is a waiting list, but urgent cases are prioritised.

Assessment service: Sheffield also notes you can contact a private occupational therapist for advice on what you need.

How Much Could You Get?

The statutory maximum for a DFG in England is £30,000. This is a maximum, not a guaranteed award — the amount depends on the applicant's circumstances.

Sheffield's adult social care procedure states the grant is means tested and takes into account the income and savings of the disabled person, their spouse and any other family member living in the same home.

Sheffield's Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy (amended January 2025) includes a Discretionary Disabled Facilities Top Up Grant, a Disabled Person's Home Appreciation Loan and an Accelerated Disabled Facilities Adaptations Grant. Check the policy for current conditions.

Other local assistance

• Accelerated Disabled Facilities Adaptations Grant: Named in Sheffield's housing assistance policy. Conditions are set in the policy — do not assume it covers a stairlift without checking.

What Happens After the Assessment?

GOV.UK states that a council must give a decision within six months after receiving a valid application.

Sheffield's procedure warns that if work starts before the DFG has been considered, the council may not approve the grant.

Understand the Stairlift You Might Need

While you wait for an assessment, it can help to know whether a stairlift will fit your stairs, the difference between straight and curved stairlifts, and typical stairlift costs.

Local guide: Stairlifts in Sheffield

What If You Don't Qualify for Funding?

If you are not eligible for grant funding, need a stairlift more quickly, or simply want to understand the private cost as well, you can request a no-obligation stairlift quotation. This is separate from the council and is not endorsed by Sheffield City Council.