Councils in Sussex are asking the Government for more money after a huge increase in demand for disabled grants.

Requests for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) in some parts of the county has increased by nearly 50%.

The dramatic increase has been put down to an ageing population and a greater determination of people with disabilities to continue living at home.

Nick Tapp, of the East Sussex Disabled Association, said: “It is true that there is an ageing population in Sussex and these people will naturally need greater access to such grants.

“But part of the reason has been a recent change in the law. Parents no longer have to be means-tested for a DFG and facilities for children tend to be the most expensive.

“There are also increasing numbers of people who want to remain in their communities and the fund helps them to do this.”

DFGs pay for home modifications such as ramp installations, lower work surfaces and widened doorways.

They are funded by central and local government but administered by unitary and district authorities.

In recent years Mid Sussex District Council has seen a rise of 47% - from £490,000 in 2006/7 to an estimated £720,000 in 2010/11.

Worthing Borough Council is asking for a 25% increase next year - from £600,000 to £739,000 - to meet rising demand.

Councillor Christopher Snowling, Mid Sussex District Council’s cabinet member for health and communities, said: “We are now facing a situation where we are without adequate resources to cope with demand.

“The council wants to help disabled people remain in their homes - if that is what they wish to do - but we do need increased funding from central government to do it.”

A Mid Sussex District Council spokeswoman added the extra funding was needed after its 2004 Housing Needs Survey showed residents asking for the ratio of disabled-friendly properties increased.

Lewes District Council has allocated £575,000 for the grant for this year - an increase of 4.5% since 2007/2008 A council spokeswoman said they would continue to request more money in the future to ensure it did not have any people on waiting lists.

Adur District Council (£350,000) is asking for a slight increase from last year while Brighton and Hove City Council (£660,000) remains the same.