Costs and funding

What helped me was asking for all the figures on one page. A simple breakdown can often show whether the difficulty is the means-tested contribution, work above the grant limit, a preferred extra, or a cost that nobody has agreed to fund. I learned that these are different problems and may have different answers.

I found it useful to keep a record of the pricing route; contractors or framework used; estimates received; eligible work costs; fees; assessed contribution; grant amount; funding gap; additional funding requested; funding decisions; private extras; price expiry date; and maintenance or servicing costs.

If nothing happens, what helped me was asking the council to name the exact gap and set out the options in writing. These might include changing or phasing the scheme, discretionary help, landlord funding, social care support or another source. I learned that if the proposed alternative would no longer meet the assessed need, it is important to say so clearly and ask for the relevant professionals to discuss it together.