Can I get funding for a stairlift?

Stairlifts can be a big expense, especially if it is needed unexpectedly such as a sudden illness, injury or decline in mobility. Often our customers have a loved one in hospital who is unable to return home until the required equipment and adaptations have been completed to ensure the home is safe for them to live in.

We are often asked if there is any financial assistance or funding available to help with the cost of having a stairlift installed for themselves or for a family member. Thankfully there are options available to help assist you. We will cover what the DFG is, eligibility and how you can go about applying. If you are not eligible for the grant, we will discuss other options that may help you.

What is the Disabled Facilities Grant?

The DFG or Disabled Facilities Grant, is a grant offered by your local authority/council to provide help with the cost of adapting your home to provide better quality of life. It can be used to improve access into and around your home, improve access to a bathroom, as well as other adaptations (see our full guide for a full list). You must be disabled to be eligible for this grant, or applying on behalf of a disabled person, for example if you are a landlord with a disabled tenant.

How much can you receive?

If you are deemed eligible after assessment you could be awarded up to £30,000 towards adaptations, depending on what you require.

The amount you get awarded will also be based on your financial assessment which will consider your income, partners income (if applicable) and any savings you have. If you have savings, the first £6,000 will be excluded from the assessment.

Who is eligible for the grant?

Currently to be eligible you must be:

• A homeowner (owner occupier)
• A private tenant
• A landlord (with a disabled tenant)
• A local authority tenant
• A housing association tenant

How quickly can I get a DFG grant?

The downside to the DFG is that the wait is generally very long. You are required to have multiple assessments to determine the persons needs and capabilities and to survey the home, and assessments to determine the persons financial situation. Often these assessments alone can take up to a year due to long waiting lists and demand. After the assessments are complete there is then a process of getting quotes from several stairlift installers and electricians where required. All in all, the wait could be a maximum of 2 years from start to finish. A DFG may not be a good option for you if you are in dire need of a stairlift and are unable to cope without one in the meantime, but it could be a great option if you are able to manage for the time being but can demonstrate a clear need for the equipment. It may also be a good option if you are in desperate need but have somewhere else to stay until the DFG is processed and the stairlift can be fitted.

We have a full guide available that talks you through council funded Disabled Facilities Grants in detail, which can be found here.

What are my other options to finance a stairlift?

If a DFG grant isn’t suitable either due to ineligibility or the timescales being too long – there may be other options more suitable.

Some installers may allow you to pay a deposit only and pay the remainder via monthly repayments to help divide the costs – rather than a large upfront payment. They will likely use a finance company to accommodate this so you may be subject to a credit check and need to be approved for the loan.

If the stairlift installer in question does not offer this, there are many finance companies able to offer a loan, or you can speak to your bank to see what they can offer. It is always worth bearing in mind you will likely pay more overall for the stairlift if you choose this option as there will be fees added on for the loan unless you can secure a 0% APR loan.

Alternative to stairlift installation

If the funding options discussed aren’t suitable, a stairlift may not be the right option for you. If you are in council accommodation or social housing, it may be possible to request a relocation to a ground floor flat or apartment to make living easier. They may also have disabled access properties available with adapted facilities such as bathrooms, kitchens, wider hallways and doorways, and ramps for access.

If you would like a quote from a stairlift installer, or to find out if they can advise on their options to finance a stairlift please complete our form and we can get them to provide further information.