Home adaptation grants for disability, mobility and older people
Ireland has three main local-authority housing grant schemes covering substantial disability adaptations, smaller mobility works, and essential repairs for older people.
Choose the route that sounds closest
Housing Adaptation Grant for disabled people
May suit larger or more substantial changes needed because of a disability, such as an accessible bathroom, ramps, wider access, a stairlift or through-floor lift, a fixed-track hoist, major room adaptations or an extension where necessary.
Housing Adaptation GrantMobility Aids Grant
May suit smaller or more straightforward works needed because someone has difficulty moving around their home, such as grab rails, access ramps, an accessible shower, a stairlift, a fixed-track hoist or other qualifying minor adaptations.
Mobility Aids GrantHousing Aid for Older People
May suit essential repairs or improvements needed to keep an older person's home in suitable condition, such as qualifying roof repairs, electrical work, heating work or other essential repairs allowed by the scheme.
Housing Aid for Older PeopleWhich grant should I look at?
| Grant | Main purpose | Who it is aimed at | Typical work | Maximum current support | Income test | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing Adaptation Grant | Substantial changes needed because of disability. | May suit a disabled person, or a homeowner applying for a disabled household member. | Accessible bathroom, ramps, lifts, hoists, wheelchair access changes, extensions where necessary. | Up to EUR40,000 for homes over 12 months old; lower maximums apply for homes under 12 months old. | Means-tested up to EUR75,000 assessable income. | Your local authority. |
| Mobility Aids Grant | Basic works to address mobility problems. | May suit someone who needs limited adaptations to move around safely at home. | Grab rails, ramps, accessible shower, stairlift, fixed-track hoist and similar minor works. | Up to EUR8,000. | Means-tested, with support only where assessable income is up to EUR37,500. | Your local authority. |
| Housing Aid for Older People | Essential repairs or improvements to keep the home habitable. | People aged 66 or over living in poor housing conditions; under 66 only in hardship cases. | Roof repairs, essential structural work, rewiring, heating repairs or other necessary repairs. | Up to EUR10,700. | Means-tested up to EUR75,000 assessable income. | Your local authority. |
Disability grant or Mobility Aids Grant?
These are not simply two names for the same scheme. The Housing Adaptation Grant generally addresses larger or more substantial adaptation needs linked to a disability. It may be the route for an extension, major bathroom change, through-floor lift or significant access alterations.
The Mobility Aids Grant is intended for a more basic suite of works addressing mobility difficulties. It may be the clearer route for a grab rail, access ramp, accessible shower, stairlift or fixed-track hoist where the works are more limited.
How household income is assessed
The current grant framework uses household income, but the income figure used for the grant may be lower than the household's headline gross income because specific disregards and deductions can be applied.
| Situation | Whose income is assessed |
|---|---|
| Owner-occupied home | The registered property owner and spouse or partner, based on gross income for the previous tax year. Current-year assessment can apply in certain exceptional income-change cases. |
| Private rented home | The tenant and spouse or partner. The tenancy must be registered with the Residential Tenancies Board and landlord permission is needed for the works. |
| Approved Housing Body accommodation | The local authority assesses the application using the scheme rules and the AHB's agreement will normally be needed for works to the dwelling. |
| Communal or group residence | The accommodation can be considered where people live together in a group home with support. The local authority applies the scheme rules to the person and the property. |
Income disregards and deductions
| Item | Current treatment |
|---|---|
| DSP payments disregarded | Carer's Benefit or Carer's Allowance, Carer's Support Grant, Child Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance, Foster Care Allowance, Fuel Allowance, Household Benefits Package, Living Alone Increase and Working Family Payment are listed by local-authority application guidance as disregarded. |
| Dependants | EUR6,250 is deducted for each household member aged under 18, or aged 18 to 23 and in full-time third-level education. |
| Full-time relative carer | EUR6,250 is deducted where the person the grant is for is cared for by a relative on a full-time basis. |
| Housing costs | Up to EUR6,250 can be deducted for mortgage or rent costs for the home where the works will be done. |
| Residential care fees | Up to EUR12,500 can be deducted where the owner contributes to residential-care fees for a spouse or other owner of the home, after any relevant Revenue tax allowance is considered. |
| Homecare costs | Up to EUR12,500 can be deducted for homecare fees for the owner's own care, a spouse's care or another household member's care. This is reduced to up to EUR6,250 if the full-time relative carer deduction is also claimed. |
This is not a means-test calculator. Your local authority applies the official rules to your documents and circumstances.
One application form
The current national application form covers the Housing Adaptation Grant, Mobility Aids Grant and Housing Aid for Older People. Applicants can indicate more than one grant on the form where appropriate, but the local authority decides which scheme and works apply.
Apply through your local authority
These grants are administered by local authorities. Use the national information to understand the scheme, then get the current form and local submission details from the council for the area where the home is located.
Official sources
Before you apply
This guide is general information only. Confirm the current rules with your local authority or the official source before applying, starting work or signing a contract.