Grants to help with hospital discharge

Our hospital prevention and discharge grant provides support to residents being discharged from hospital to home or residents at risk of a hospital admission or readmission. It assists in cases where the return from hospital would be delayed due to a lack of suitable aids and adaptations or because the facilities at home are not suitable to meet a person’s needs.  

Maximum grant amount available £3,000.

Who can apply?

Applicants for an hospital prevention and discharge grant must be in hospital at the time of referral and awaiting discharge or are able to show that receiving an item/s or particular one-off service will help to prevent an admission into hospital. 

What this grant can fund

Works associated with the grant must be essential to enable the individual to reside in their own home. Examples of works that would be expected include:

• moving necessary furniture
• mowing overgrown lawns 
• tackling trip hazards 
• clearing a room to make it safe 
• deep cleaning a room to make it safe 
• necessary works to enable people with dementia to continue living safely at home
• necessary equipment (not provided by any other means or service) to enable the person to be discharged from hospital, e.g. tilting chairs/hospital bed, assistive technology etc
• any other works that are deemed necessary to enable the person to return home to a safe, warm and secure environment; within the scope of this policy (to be agreed by the Grants Manager/ Head of Service/Director of Housing) 

Confirmation of ownership/tenancy in the Borough will be required prior to discharge. In the case of tenants, only works or the provision of equipment that is not the responsibility of the landlord will be provided. 

For full information on the grant and conditions, please read the Housing Assistance Policy.

How to apply

To make an enquiry or to start the grant application process email: grantsandloans@lewisham.gov.ukor call our Private Sector Housing Agency on 020 8314 6622.

To find out if a disabled person is eligible for a visit and assessment by an Occupational Therapist, contact the Community Occupational Therapy service direct on telephone 020 8314 7777.

Before the Council can decide whether to approve or refuse a housing assistance application, the applicant must submit a valid application. A valid application will consist of completing and submitting the following documents:

Enquiries regarding all forms of assistance can be made by telephoning the Private Sector Housing Agency on 020 8314 6622 or by email:  grantsandloans@lewisham.gov.uk.

To find out if a disabled person is eligible for a visit and assessment by an Occupational Therapist, contact the Community Occupational Therapy service direct on telephone 020 8314 7777.

Before the Council can decide whether to approve or refuse a housing assistance application, the applicant must submit a 'valid application'. A valid application will consist of completing and submitting the following documents:

• an application form
• an owner-occupation certificate or tenants certificate
• proof of ownership from the owner or landlord
• proof of earnings or benefits
• if the applicant is a tenant, written confirmation from the owner that they agree to the work being carried out
• two quotations from legitimate building contractors
• details of any professional fees and/or other ancillary charges
• if the applicant has a long term serious illness, the Council may require a medical report from the applicant’s GP or consultant

Where necessary, the applicant may be required to submit further supporting documentation or information to help the Council reach a decision.