The updated Housing Adaptation Grants bring transformative changes to support older adults and individuals with disabilities in creating safe, accessible homes. With increased grant limits, revised income thresholds, and a focus on making essential adaptations like stairlifts more affordable, these updates ensure more people can maintain independence in their own homes. To learn more about how these grants empower lives and the vital role of providers like Beechfield Stairlifts, check out our detailed blog post below.
Here are the key financial recommendations from the report on Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability:
Grant Limits and Income Thresholds
1. Increase Grant Limits:
• Revise the maximum grant amounts to better align with rising costs and inflation. For example:
• Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability: Increase to a maximum of €40,000 for homes built more than 12 months ago.
• Mobility Aids Grant: Maintain 100% coverage up to a maximum of €8,000.
• Housing Aid for Older People Grant: Increase to a maximum of €10,700.
2. Higher Percentage of Costs Covered:
• Raise the grant coverage for eligible applicants in the lowest income bracket from 95% to 100%.
3. Revised Income Thresholds:
• Adjust yearly household income bands to make grants more accessible:
• Up to €37,500: 100% of costs covered.
• €37,501 – €43,750: 85% of costs covered.
• €43,751 – €50,000: 75% of costs covered.
• €50,001 – €62,500: 50% of costs covered.
• €62,501 – €75,000: 30% of costs covered.
• Over €75,000: No grant payable.
Means Test Adjustments
4. Flexible Means Testing:
• Include additional deductions for caregiving expenses, mortgage or rent costs, children in the household, and nursing home fees.
• Allow assessment of in-year earnings in cases of significant income changes.
5. Support for Minor Applicants:
• For applicants who are minors, assess only the parents’ income or solely the child’s situation, excluding the full household income.
Local Authority and Exchequer Contributions
6. Increased State Contribution:
• Raise the Exchequer contribution to 85% and reduce local authority contributions to 15% (from the current 80/20 split).
7. Reduced Financial Burden on Applicants:
• Support staged payment processes to help applicants manage costs during construction or adaptation projects.
8. VAT Hardship Relief:
• Explore measures to remove the upfront VAT payment requirement for grant recipients, addressing affordability issues.
To download a copy of the report – Report on the Review of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, please click here.
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