England’s Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) budget has grown 246% in a decade, from £220 million in 2015/16 to £761 million in 2025/26, with £723 million confirmed for 2026/27. The DFG is the main public funding route for stairlifts and home adaptations across the UK. This page collects the national funding figures and the maximum grant available in each UK nation, with sources.
Key DFG funding figures
- England DFG budget: £761m (2025/26), £723m (2026/27 confirmed).
- Funding has grown 246% in ten years, from £220m (2015/16).
- 58,606 Disabled Facilities Grants were completed in England in 2023/24.
- Maximum grant: £30,000 (England), £36,000 (Wales), £35,000 (Northern Ireland).
These are national totals. For the figure that applies to your own household, the stairlift grant checker asks four questions and gives you the cap for your nation.
England DFG funding by year
| Year | England DFG budget |
|---|---|
| 2015/16 | £220 million |
| 2025/26 | £711 million (£761m incl. the £50m in-year uplift) |
| 2026/27 | £723 million (confirmed) |
Sources: 2015/16, written parliamentary answer. 2025/26 allocations, Housing LIN, plus the one-off £50 million, Housing LIN. 2026/27, Housing LIN.
National DFG funding is distributed to housing authorities in England through the Better Care Fund, using a needs-based formula. For 2026-27 the government replaced the allocation method, which had not been updated since 2011, and protected every council at its June 2025 level this year, at least 97.5% of it in 2027-28 and at least 95% in 2028-29. For council-level allocations and approval patterns, see our UK stairlift grant approval rates by council analysis.
For the same figures broken down by authority, see the Disabled Facilities Grant by council master table, which covers all 296 England housing authorities.
Maximum grant by UK nation
| Nation | Maximum grant | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| England | £30,000 | Means-tested for adults; not means-tested for children. |
| Wales | £36,000 | Administered by local authorities. |
| Northern Ireland | £35,000 | Administered by the NI Housing Executive, which can raise the award to £70,000 in some cases. |
| Scotland | No fixed cap | Funded through the Scheme of Assistance via local councils. |
Where our figures differ from a government summary page, the working is on our grant limits fact-check. It traces each maximum to the order that sets it and records the date we read it.
What the DFG covers for stairlifts
A DFG can cover some or all of the cost of a stairlift where an occupational therapist assesses it as necessary and appropriate. Most stairlift installations fall within the band the grant comfortably covers.
Sometimes the recommended lift costs more than the cap, which is more common for curved or outdoor lifts. Families may then meet the shortfall, sometimes with help from a charity grant. Full eligibility and the application process are in our stairlift grants guide.
A New Formula for Distributing DFG Funding
For the first time in over a decade, the way councils receive their share of DFG funding has changed. The previous allocation model had been in place since 2011 and no longer reflected where the greatest need actually exists.
After a public consultation, the government has brought in a modernised, needs-based formula with six data-driven components. The first three are the number of disabled adults in each area, the population of older non-disabled residents aged 65 and above, and local income deprivation scores.
The other three are the prevalence of disabled children, the proportion of homes outside a council’s own housing stock, and a regional building-cost index to account for geographic price differences.
The intention is to align funding more closely with actual local need. Areas with higher concentrations of older or disabled residents, greater deprivation, or more expensive building costs should receive a fairer share of the overall pot. Transitional protections are in place so that no council receives less funding than it did in June 2025, giving local authorities time to adjust.
If you’re a homeowner or tenant thinking about applying for DFG funding towards a stairlift, the practical impact depends on where you live.
If your local authority has historically been underfunded relative to demand, waiting times may improve and more applications could be approved. Councils in areas with ageing populations and high levels of disability are expected to benefit most.
On the other hand, some councils that previously received a larger share may see their allocation stabilise or gradually reduce over time.
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The £30,000 Grant Cap Stays Put
One area where the consultation did not deliver change is the maximum grant limit. Despite strong calls from local authorities, housing organisations, and disability groups to raise the cap, the government has kept it at £30,000 for now. Its February 2026 consultation response says it has reviewed the upper limit and is “currently considering the right approach for the future”. Propertymark, reporting on the consultation outcome (20 February 2026), puts the average high-value adaptation claim at around £46,000 for adults, while children’s adaptations average closer to £58,000, meaning many families still face a significant funding gap for complex work.
Some councils publish local housing assistance policies that allow them to top up grants beyond the £30,000 limit or waive means testing for lower-cost adaptations like grab rails. However, the financial capacity of councils to do this varies enormously.
For those seeking a stairlift specifically, the good news is that most standard installations fall well within the grant limit. Typical UK prices on our price index range from around £1,500 to £3,500 for a straight stairlift, and £4,000 to £7,000 or more for curved models. Even with survey costs and any building work, most stairlift installations can be fully covered by a DFG where the applicant qualifies.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Disabled Facilities Grant budget?
England’s DFG budget is £761m for 2025/26 and £723m confirmed for 2026/27. The 2025/26 figure is about 246% higher than the £220m of 2015/16.
What is the maximum Disabled Facilities Grant?
Up to £30,000 in England, £36,000 in Wales and £35,000 in Northern Ireland. Scotland funds adaptations through the Scheme of Assistance with no fixed cap.
How many Disabled Facilities Grants are awarded each year?
58,606 Disabled Facilities Grants were completed in England in 2023/24.
Sources
- Foundations, Disabled Facilities Grant annual allocations
- House of Commons Library, Disabled Facilities Grants for home adaptations
- GOV.UK, Disabled Facilities Grants
How to cite this page
Stairlift Guru, “UK Disabled Facilities Grant Funding Statistics”, stairliftguru.co.uk, 2026. stairliftguru.co.uk/stairlift-grants/uk-disabled-facilities-grant-funding-statistics. Free to cite with attribution and a link to this page and the primary sources above.
Related: Stairlift grants guide · Grant approval rates by council · UK stairlift statistics
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