Discretionary Top-Up: Exceptional circumstances grant funding

Where applicants are not eligible for grant funding for the full cost of the works required, the CHIA will provide advice and support to consider alternatives including:

• considering moving to a property that meets your needs or is easier to adapt
• reviewing the design of the works
• applying for charitable funds

We will prioritise applicants where:

• the applicant is at significant risk until the adaptation is delivered
• failure to deliver the adaptations means a higher level of care is needed, which the Council would have to pay for
• a child or young person may have to be placed into residential care if an adaptation cannot be provided

For Homeowners

The Council has the discretion to award additional top-up grant funding, in exceptional circumstances, to people who have qualified for a mandatory DFG, and where deferred payment option is not enough to cover the shortfall (usually because there is insufficient equity in the house for a legal land charge to be secured against it).

For Housing Association tenants

Cumberland Council works with Housing Associations to support residents. We will ask your landlord to consider options including them paying a share of funding or helping you to move to a more suitable home. We may award some discretionary grant funding if no other options are reasonably possible.

All exceptional circumstances funding is at the discretion of the relevant Assistant Director, who will consider the relevant circumstances, and the Council’s ability to provide further funding.