For 2026-2027, the UK Government has confirmed £723 million for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to enable older and disabled people to live safely, independently, and comfortably at home.

DFGs enable vital home adaptations, including installing equipment like level-access showers, grab rails, stairlifts, ramps, homelifts, and ceiling track hoists, so that people can live in their own homes independently.

For BHTA members installing adaptation equipment, this DFG announcement is welcome, as it means there is more money available in local authorities to facilitate these life-changing installations and improve individuals’ quality of life.

Home adaptations also play a crucial role in supporting the NHS by preventing falls and other accidents in the home, speeding up hospital discharges, and reducing admissions, all of which ease pressure on the health service and help to shift care out of hospital and into the community.

According to the government, the DFG supported around 60,000 people last year.

Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, said: “We are putting more money into funding life-changing home adaptations so older and disabled people can live safely and independently.”

The 2026 to 2027 DFG allocations are:

• North East: £40,991,139
• North West: £124,356,177
• Yorkshire and the Humber: £69,779,658
• East Midlands: £51,658,126
• West Midlands: £89,602,528
• East of England: £66,019,956
• London: £95,935,564
• South East: £115,148,496
• South West: £69,508,356

The UK Government has announced an additional £50 million cash injection for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) for 2025-26, which will enable thousands more older and disabled people to live independently in their own homes.

This extra investment will be allocated to local authorities in February 2026 and brings total DFG funding for 2025-26 to £761 million.

For BHTA members installing essential adaptation equipment, this extra DFG cash injection will come as a welcome announcement, as it means there is more money available in local communities to facilitate these life-changing installations and improve individuals’ quality of life.

DFGs enable vital home adaptations such as stairlifts, ramps, accessible bathrooms and kitchens, and assistive technologies. This includes mobility and daily living aid equipment like grab rails, ceiling track hoists, homelifts, and wetrooms. It means that people can live at home safely, independently, and comfortably.

Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, said:“Everyone deserves to feel safe and independent in their own home. A stairlift or an accessible bathroom might seem like a small change, but for thousands of older and disabled people these adaptations can be life changing. They help people move around freely, stay close to family and friends, and live with dignity.

“This £50 million boost could support around 5,000 more people to make these vital changes to their homes so they can remain independent and comfortable rather than face a hospital stay or a move into residential care.

“Home adaptations also play a crucial role in easing pressure on our NHS – preventing falls, speeding up hospital discharges and reducing admissions. This investment is part of our commitment to shift more care out of hospital and into the community, where people want to be.”

The DFG supports around 60,000 older people and people with disabilities each year, with an average grant of around £10,000.

Home adaptations also play a crucial role in supporting the NHS by preventing falls and other accidents in the home, speeding up hospital discharges and reducing admissions – easing pressure on the health service and helping to shift care out of hospital and into the community.

The British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) is calling on the UK Government to deliver fair and sustained investment in the healthcare and assistive technology sectors ahead of the Autumn Budget, due to be announced on 26 November 2025.

Support for community equipment and independent living services

The BHTA is urging government to act on the findings of the recent All-Party Parliamentary Group for Access to Disability Equipment report. The report highlights systemic failures leaving thousands without the essential equipment they need. Targeted, long-term investment from the government in community equipment services would ensure that people receive timely support, while reducing pressure on hospitals and enabling more individuals to live independently at home.

Improve wheelchair provision through allocated funding

A recent BBC article exposed widespread delays in NHS wheelchair services, leaving many people waiting months or even years for appropriate equipment. BHTA and industry partners have called for increased funding for Personal Wheelchair Budgets, to ensure individuals can get access to the right chair for their needs.

BHTA members that provide wheelchair services to the NHS are constantly battling underfunding and increased service demand, which impacts their ability to deliver timely, high-quality care. Increased government funding would not only ease this pressure but also enhance the overall efficiency and sustainability of these vital services.

Scrap defibrillator tax

The BHTA continues to lead the national call to remove VAT on public access defibrillators through its Scrap the Heart Restart Tax campaign. This is a simple, cost-effective measure that would immediately make life-saving equipment more accessible in communities across the UK.

The issue is also gaining political momentum, following a recent debate in Parliament where MPs voiced strong support for removing the tax. The association welcomes this cross-party attention and urges the government to act swiftly to implement this crucial reform.

Increase home adaptation funding

The BHTA also calls for greater funding for home adaptations. Evidence from an Age UK report highlights that delays in home adaptations are forcing older people into residential care unnecessarily, demonstrating that timely adaptations help people remain safe and independent in their homes for longer. Increasing Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding would allow more people to access high-quality adaptation equipment suited to their needs – from stairlifts and homelifts to accessible bathing solutions and grab rails – reducing long-term costs for the NHS and social care systems.

David Stockdale, Chief Executive of the BHTA, commented: “We can’t build a fair and sustainable health system without investing in the organisations that make it possible.

“From ensuring access to life-saving defibrillators to funding the right wheelchair for every person in need, these aren’t luxuries – they’re essentials.

“The Autumn Budget is the government’s opportunity to show that it values ethical innovation, fair access, and the health of every individual.”