A simple guide to stairlift grants in the UK

Making changes to a home so it stays liveable as we age or our mobility changes can be life-changing — but the costs add up quickly. Help is available, and for many UK households the most useful source of it is the Disabled Facilities Grant, or DFG.

DFGs are administered by your local council and can be used as home stairlift grants as well as for a wide range of other adaptations: level-access showers, door widening, lowered worktops, access ramps and more.

What is a Disabled Facilities Grant?

A DFG is a means-tested grant provided by your local council to help cover the cost of changes to your home that you need to make because of a disability or reduced mobility. The grant can be used for a wide range of alterations — stairlifts, adapted bathrooms, ramps, widened doorways, level thresholds, and so on.

A stairlift grant can cover some or all of the cost of having a stairlift fitted, depending on your household's finances and the alterations involved.

Who is eligible

A DFG is only available to households that include someone with a disability — this might be you, or someone who lives with you. You can also apply on behalf of a disabled tenant if you let out a property you own.

To qualify, you must intend to stay at the address for at least five years. If you move within that period, you may be required to repay the grant. For grants over £5,000, the period extends to ten years — and you could be expected to pay back up to £10,000.

The council will also need to agree that:

• The alterations you propose are necessary
• The work can practically be carried out at the property
• The proposed changes are suitable for your needs

How to apply for a DFG in 2026

To start, contact your local council. You'll be directed to the relevant department — usually housing or environmental health — who'll provide an application form. If you need help filling it in, your local Home Improvement Agency can help.

The application asks for:

1. Basic details — name, address, household composition
2. Why you need the stairlift — describe how your disability affects you on your worst days
3. Your finances — usual outgoings, income, bank statements, savings (the savings threshold is around £6,000)
4. The proposed alterations and estimated cost — usually you'll need two written estimates from different contractors

Most reputable stairlift companies (including us) will provide a free home survey and written estimate — that's the document you'll attach to your application.

If the stairlift is for a disabled person under 19, home stairlift grants aren't means-tested at all.

Occupational therapist assessment

If you haven't already received professional advice, you'll be referred to the social care department to be assessed by an occupational therapist. They'll confirm whether a stairlift is the right adaptation for your needs, and may suggest other adaptations that can be included in the same grant.

Once your application is submitted, an environmental health officer or building surveyor will visit your home to check the feasibility of the planned changes. The council uses everything together — your application, the OT's advice, and the survey — to make a decision.

Factors that affect the DFG decision

The council weighs four key questions when reviewing applications:

• Is the work necessary for your wellbeing? The DFG covers essential adaptations needed because of disability or limited mobility. Your application and the OT's opinion are the main inputs here.
• Is it the most appropriate solution? The proposed adaptations should be the best option for your needs. If the council believes a different option would suit you better, you may be asked to apply for that instead.
• Is it reasonable and practical? The proposed work must be suitable for your home — its age, condition, and layout are all considered.
• Do you need financial help to carry out this work? Your financial situation is taken into account (except for under-19s). High earners or households with more than around £6,000 in savings may receive a reduced grant — or none at all.

How long does it take?

Processing times depend on how busy your local department is and whether there's a waiting list. You should be told the expected timescale when you submit the application.

By law, you should receive a written response within six months of submitting your application. The response will state the council's decision and explain how and when the grant will be paid.

If you need adaptations urgently, mention it when you collect the application form. Your case may be prioritised, or you may be advised about other funding routes that can move faster. You must wait for the decision before any work begins.

How much can you get?

The grant size depends on the cost of the work — which is why the council asks for two estimates. The maximum DFG amount varies by region:

• England: up to £30,000
• Wales: up to £36,000
• Northern Ireland: up to £25,000
• Scotland: not a DFG — see below for the equivalent scheme

These limits are far higher than the cost of a stairlift — they're designed to cover extensive building work for households needing major adaptations. For a stairlift alone, the grant should comfortably cover the full cost of installation, subject to means-testing.

If your application is rejected or you receive only a partial grant, you may still be eligible for help from charities or other funding routes (we cover these in the resources section below).

Financial assistance in Scotland

If you live in Scotland, you can't apply for a DFG — but you may still be eligible for a housing grant or loan to cover adaptations. A housing grant covers essential work for a disabled person in the household.

The grant covers the full cost if anyone in the household receives:

• Income Support
• The guarantee credit portion of Pension Credit
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment Allowance

If no household member receives one of these benefits, the grant typically covers 80% of the cost.

When the grant is paid

The DFG is usually paid as a single payment after the work is complete. For larger grants covering extensive work, it may be paid in instalments as the work progresses. Your council may pay the contractor directly, or send a cheque to you to pass on. The exact payment method will be explained when your application is approved.

Complaints and appeals

If you believe the council's decision was incorrect, you can appeal. The council will be able to outline its complaints and appeals procedure. You can also escalate to the Local Government Ombudsman if you feel you haven't been treated fairly.

Useful resources

For more information, these are the official and charitable bodies worth knowing about:

• The Government's DFG guide — gov.uk/disabled-facilities-grants
• Find your local council — gov.uk/find-your-local-council
• Foundations (Home Improvement Agencies in England) — foundations.uk.com
• Care & Repair Cymru (Wales) — careandrepair.org.uk
• Care & Repair Scotland — careandrepairscotland.co.uk
• Northern Ireland Housing Executive — G.A.B.L.E and the Fold Housing Trust
• Age UK — ageuk.org.uk
• Turn2us (grant search) — turn2us.org.uk
• SSAFA (military families) — ssafa.org.uk