DISABLED people across the Barrow area look set to get more council support to modify their homes.

A Barrow Council grant awarded to disabled people to install adaptations  looks set to be increased from £5,000 to £7,500.

A decision will be made at a meeting of the council’s ruling Labour executive sitting at Barrow Town Hall on Wednesday, November 29.

The council offers a Disability Minor Works Grant to cover the costs, up to £5,000, of creating a wet room and installing a stairlift.

But the costs involved have risen since the grant was introduced so council officers have recommended the grant be increased.

Officers said it was “becoming increasingly difficult” to do such works for less than £5,000.  But works over £5,000 are not eligible for the minor works grant.

A report said: “There are often hidden costs which are not apparent. A curved stairlift has increased in cost and can come in at £4,800.

“It is anticipated that costs will rise again in April 2019, and that curved stairlifts may cost in excess of £5,000 and therefore no longer be eligible for the grant.”

Certain contractors are also quoting “near to or above £5,000 for wet rooms,” according to the report.

Any works over £5,000 require a change in grant to a “means tested” grant which involve people having their finances examined.

Sometimes people have to make a contribution from their own money towards any new adaptations.

The report added that there are anomalies with the policy which need to be addressed.

“If the cost of the work was £4,900, there would be no means test and no contribution from the client.

“If the cost was £5,300, and the client’s contribution was £2,000, this would be payable in full.

“The amount of grant would be £3,300. This seems hard to justify, and it would be more straightforward to introduce a policy that the first £7,500 of any grant will always be paid by the council.”

In previous years, the council has expressed concern by the lack of take-up of grants from disabled people.

But since the changes, 88 grants were approved between April and September this year, compared to 38 in the same period last year.