North Yorkshire Council has pledged to improve how it manages Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) applications after an investigation revealed a significant backlog of cases.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found that nearly 700 referrals for home adaptations were waiting for approval.
On average, applications were taking 262 days to process — well beyond the Government’s recommended maximum of 180 days.
Amerdeep Somal, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said delays meant residents were left ‘living under a cloud of uncertainty.’
She added: ‘I am pleased North Yorkshire Council has agreed this is not acceptable. I hope its action plan, and the focus councillors will now place on this issue, will ensure disabled people across the area have their applications decided more swiftly going forwards.’
The council has now committed to an action plan to reduce waiting times and ensure people with disabilities can access vital home adaptations more quickly.
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