Stairlifts · 19 September 2026
HSE stairlift grant: why it is your council that pays, and the form to use
Quick answer
There is no separate HSE stairlift grant. A stairlift in your own home is paid for by your county or city council, through the Mobility Aids Grant (up to €8,000, household income under €37,500) or the Housing Adaptation Grant (up to €40,000, household income up to €75,000). You apply on the council form, a doctor signs the medical section, and a stairlift always needs an occupational therapist’s report. Order nothing until the council approves in writing.
Why people look for an HSE stairlift grant
It is an easy mix-up. The need is medical, so the HSE feels like the right place to start. But the grants that pay for a stairlift in your own home are managed by your local authority, which is your county or city council. Citizens Information lists them together: the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and Housing Aid for Older People, all run by the council.
The two council grants that pay for a stairlift
| Mobility Aids Grant | Housing Adaptation Grant | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum grant | €8,000 | €40,000 |
| Household income | Under €37,500 | Up to €75,000 |
| Share of the cost | Can be 100% | 100% down to 30% as income rises |
| OT report for a stairlift | Yes | Yes |
Both grants list a stairlift as work they cover. Neither covers the VAT, but Revenue refunds the VAT on qualifying aids and appliances, and stairlifts are on its list. What a stairlift costs, and how the VAT refund works.
Income means the gross household income for the previous tax year. Some payments are left out of the sum, including Fuel Allowance, the Household Benefits Package, the Living Alone Allowance, Child Benefit and the Carer’s Support Grant. For the Housing Adaptation Grant, the share the council pays depends on that income:
| Gross household income (owner and spouse) | Share of approved cost paid | Maximum grant |
|---|---|---|
| Up to €37,500 | 100% | €40,000 |
| €37,501 to €43,750 | 85% | €34,000 |
| €43,751 to €50,000 | 75% | €30,000 |
| €50,001 to €62,500 | 50% | €20,000 |
| €62,501 to €75,000 | 30% | €12,000 |
| Over €75,000 | Not eligible | n/a |
If the house was built less than 12 months ago, the Housing Adaptation Grant maximum is halved, to €20,000.
How to apply, step by step
- Get the council form. Download it from your council’s website or ask the council to post one. One form covers the three council home grants, and it must be the updated version from 1 December 2024 or later. Where each council publishes its form.
- A doctor completes the medical section. The form has a section that a doctor must fill in and sign.
- Get the occupational therapist’s report. Both grants need one for a stairlift. The council can arrange the assessment, or you can use a private OT and get up to €300 of the cost back as part of the grant. What goes into the OT report.
- Send it in with proof of household income for the previous tax year and proof that the Local Property Tax is paid. Your tax affairs must be in order, and a Housing Adaptation Grant of more than €10,000 also needs tax clearance from Revenue.
- The council decides. It checks you qualify, sends a technician to look at the stairs, and writes to say whether you are approved and for how much. Then it asks for the quote, your contractor’s tax reference number and your bank details.
- Only then order the stairlift. The grant is not paid if work starts before approval. Work is expected to start within 6 months of approval, and the grant is paid when the job is finished.
Who is seen first
Councils rank Housing Adaptation Grant applications by medical urgency. Priority 1 is for people who are terminally ill or dependent on family or a carer, or who could come home from hospital or residential care once the home is adapted. Priority 2 is for people who are mobile but need help to reach the bedroom or bathroom. Priority 3 is for people who are independent but want to improve quality of life or future-proof the home.
Renting, or living in council housing
If you rent privately, you need your landlord’s permission for the work, and the tenancy must be registered with the Residential Tenancies Board. If you live in social housing, these grants do not apply. There is a similar scheme for council tenants, the Disabled Person’s Grant Scheme, and the council’s housing section can tell you more.
If the council says no
You can appeal in writing within 3 weeks of the decision, saying why. Someone who was not involved in the first assessment looks at it, and the answer can take up to 6 weeks. Appealing a refused stairlift grant.
If the form is the part that stops you
Everything above is enough to apply yourself, for free. If you would rather not do the paperwork alone, our grant kit, which lays out your council form, costs €49.99. It includes a prep sheet for the OT visit, a supporting statement, quote request emails, a checklist and timeline, and a chase letter and appeal letter. We never ask for your PPS number, income figures or documents. Questions first? Email hello@thegranthub.ie, free.
Common questions
Is there an HSE stairlift grant in Ireland?
No. A stairlift in your own home is paid for by your county or city council, through the Mobility Aids Grant (up to €8,000) or the Housing Adaptation Grant (up to €40,000). Both are managed by the local authority.
Where do I get the stairlift grant application form?
From your county or city council, on its website or by post. One form covers the Housing Adaptation Grant, the Mobility Aids Grant and Housing Aid for Older People. Use the updated form from 1 December 2024 or later.
Do I need an OT report for a stairlift grant?
Yes. Both the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Adaptation Grant need an occupational therapist’s report for a stairlift. The council can arrange it, or you can use a private OT and get up to €300 of the cost back as part of the grant.
How much will the council pay towards a stairlift?
Under the Mobility Aids Grant, up to €8,000 and up to 100% of the cost if household income is under €37,500. Under the Housing Adaptation Grant, between 30% and 100% of the approved cost up to €40,000, depending on income, for households up to €75,000.
Can I buy the stairlift first and claim the grant after?
No. The grant is not paid if work starts before the council approves it in writing.
Would you rather we did the paperwork?
Our €49.99 grant kit prepares your council application from a short questionnaire, with the OT prep sheet, supporting statement, quote emails and checklist. Everything on this page stays free.
See the stairlift grant kit →