Stairlift Grants For The Elderly: All You Need To Know
Looking for stairlift grants but not sure where to start your research? In this article, we provide a simple summary of the main options.
There’s a lot of information available both online and offline, so it can be confusing trying to discover the different routes to mobility funding for the elderly.
Stairlifts are the perfect solution if you’re struggling to climb the stairs. Different models include straight, curved, slimline and even outdoor versions.
Financial support is available from the UK government, but there’s also a range of other sources to consider when applying for stairlift grants.
Here’s what you need to know:
Stairlift government assistance
The government provides a key source for stairlift grants, plus financial support for other changes to your home, if you’re disabled or have “age-related needs”.
These resources are called Disabled Facilities Grants. This resource isn’t just for stairlift grants, it’s for other accessibility-related facilities in your home.
For example, the government suggests a “level access shower” or “grab rails” that you may need in a disability-friendly bathroom.
If eligible, you can apply for up to:
- £30,000 in England
- £36,000 in Wales
- £25,000 in Northern Ireland
- Information for Scotland is available here
The grants are means-tested, usually depending on your household savings over £6,000 and income.
The money is either paid in instalments, or in full on completion. You need to show that you intend to live in the property that requires changes for the foreseeable future (often, five years or more).
How to claim for a stairlift grant
Disabled Facilities Grants are provided at a local government level, so you apply for them via your council.
The council must review your application and reach a decision within six months.
For further information about applying, you can also visit the website of the National Body for Disabled Facilities Grants and Home Improvement Agencies.
Called Foundations, it’s funded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities. Most of their support is provided free of charge.
Other stairlift grants in the UK
Other options are available and we’ve compiled a list with some of these below. Some grants are intended for specific demographics or circumstances, so each organisation has their own eligibility criteria.
Others give directly to charities rather than individuals, so you would need a referrer to apply on your behalf. The grant values listed below are mentioned on their websites and may not be specific to stairlift funding:
- Glasspool Charity Trust: Their average grant value was £352 in 2021/22
- Independence at Home: Their average grant value was £369 in 2021/22
- Barchester’s Charitable Foundation: Grants range from £100 to £600 or £2,000 for group applications
- The Edward Gostling Foundation (formerly The ACT Foundation): The average support to each of its 475 charity partners in the last 12 months was close to £33,000
- The Hedley Foundation: Grants to charities can reach £5,000 or more
- Margaret’s Fund: Examples of grants, for women only, range from £190 to £500
- SSAFA: Provides grants to those who have served in the armed forces
- RABI: Provides grants to farming families
The grants search section on the Turn2Us website highlights any other options that may be open to you.
More support beyond grants for stairlifts
Aside from stairlift grants, further financial support is available in the form of VAT relief.
VAT relief means that you would pay 0% of the tax included in the price of a stairlift.
If eligible, you need to make your stairlift provider aware of this at the beginning, then they can make the necessary arrangements to exclude VAT from invoices.
To qualify, HMRC stipulates that applicants must be “chronically sick or disabled” so it excludes “an elderly person who is not disabled”.
However, for the over 60s, it’s also possible to apply for a low 5% VAT rate on stairlifts. This provision is for mobility aids and again, it includes facilities such as grab rails, shower seats, walk-in baths and so on.
Summary: Stairlift grants for the elderly
We hope this guide has helped you learn about the wide range of options available for stairlift grants.
If you have a disability, take a look at the government website links provided above – these are the best starting points.
However, other potential stairlift grants for the elderly are out there and you could also apply for a lower rate of VAT on the purchase price.
Ability Bathe Bathrooms are specialist bathroom designers, operating in Devon, Cornwall and surrounds. We have all you need for state-of-the-art stairlift installation and accessible living later in life.
We can install new stairlifts in just 3 hours – for more information, get in touch with us today!
