More families in Worcestershire with disabled children could be eligible for home improvements and adaptations thanks to changes in the law.

From April the Government is scrapping the means testing for families with disabled children which has previously excluded some from receiving a Disabled Facilities Grant.

The grants, allocated through local councils, are available to help with adapting homes to make life easier for disabled children and adults. This year the Government is awarding £1,367,000 to Worcestershire councils to allocate for adaptations and home extensions. This is a 20 per cent increase over the current year.

Wychavon will get £261,000, an 18 per cent increase, but it will spend around £520,000 making up the shortfall from its own budget.

Andrew Bilborough, Wychavon's senior property standards officer, said: "We have chosen to top up the Government's figure in this authority.

"The grants could be used for a blind person who needs lighting to be adapted, an elderly person who cannot get in and out of the bath or a child with behavioural problems.

"We might have to get a fence put up with electric gates. This saves a lot of money from having to send people into care," he said.

"The scrapping of means testing for families with disabled children is brilliant.

"There have been a lot of people with disabled children who could not get help.

"The rules have been skewed towards people who are on a particular income.

"This is going to cost us a bit more but it is a better system."

Applications are first made through a doctor or occupational therapist who makes an assessment to see if the case meets the Government's criteria before contacting the local council to discuss what can be done.