If you want to apply for a grant to adapt your home
Information
Adapting your home may become necessary as you grow older. You may also need to adapt your home if you or a family member has a disability.
Common alterations to make a home suitable for someone with a disability or limited mobility include:
* Widening doorways and passageways
* Moving light switches, door handles, doorbells and entry phones to convenient heights
* Installing grab rails for support
* Adapting bathroom facilities (for example, raised toilet, level access shower, wall mounted basin)
* Locating bathroom or bedroom facilities at ground-floor level
* Installing ramps to avoid using steps
* Ensuring that external approaches such as paths or drives have a firm, level surface
* Installing a stairlift or elevator
* Specialised furniture, like adjustable beds or support chairs
* Setting up alert services for the deaf and hard of hearing
Planning to adapt your home
Before making changes to your home you can consult an Occupational Therapist (OT) who will assess your daily living needs and advise on adaptations to your home. You can contact an OT through the Community Care section of your Local Health Office. Alternatively, you may wish to hire and OT privately, as there may be a waiting list for the public OT service. The Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland (AOTI) publishes a list of OTs in private practice and if you get a grant for the adaptations you may be able to get back some of the costs of hiring the OT. If you need to add an extension you may need planning permission.
What to do next
Check that you qualify for the grant scheme
Can can apply for a grant if you live in any of the following:
* A home that you own
* A house that you are buying under the Tenant Purchase Scheme
* A private rented house, flat or apartment
* A home that is provided to you under a voluntary housing Capital Assistance and Rental Subsidy scheme
* A home in a communal residence
Then contact the Housing Department at your local council for an application form
Dublin City Council. Tel: 01 2222195
Fingal County Council. Tel: 01 8905000
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. Tel: 01 2054700
South Dublin County Council. Tel: 01 4149000
Kildare County Council. Tel: 045 980200
Meath County Council. Tel: 046 9097000
Wicklow County Council. Tel: 0404 20100
Then contact Classic Bathrooms on 01 4505411 for your free of charge survey and estimate.
Documents you will need to send with the completed application form
* A completed doctor's medical report
* A completed tax form
* Evidence of your household's income from all sources, including your spouse/partner
- If you are a PAYE worker: P60 or a Balancing Statement for the previous tax year
- If you are a self-employed person or farmer: An Income Tax Assessment form and a copy of accounts for the previous tax year
- If you are a social welfare recipient: A statement from Social Welfare of your weekly/annual payments
- If you are a state pensioner: A copy of your current pension book
How much money you will get
Your grant will be determined on the basis of your gross household income. This includes both you and your spouse/partner (if applicable). The table below shows the grants available based on different types of income:
| Gross Household Income | % of costs paid | Maximum Grant (for houses older than 12 months) | Maximum Grant (for houses younger than 12 months) |
|---|
| € | % | € | € |
| Up to 30,000 | 95% | 30,000 | 14,500 |
| 30,001 - 34,000 | 90% | 27,000 | 13,050 |
| 34,001 - 38,000 | 80% | 24,000 | 11,600 |
| 38,001 - 42,000 | 70% | 21,000 | 10,150 |
| 42,001 - 46,000 | 60% | 18,000 | 8,700 |
| 46,001 - 50,000 | 50% | 15,000 | 7,250 |
| 50,001 - 54,000 | 40% | 12,000 | 5,800 |
| 54,001 - 65,000 | 30% | 9,000 | 4,350 |
| Greater than 65,000 | No grant payable | N/A | N/A |
Get a Bigger Grant
When doing the calculations the council may apply the following deductions to your income, i.e. your income may appear as less than it really is. This means you could qualify for a bigger grant:
* Less €5,000 for each child 18 years or younger
* Less €5,000 for each child aged between 18 to 23 in full time education or on a FAS apprenticeship
* Less €5,000 if you are cared for by a relative on a full-time basis
* Less any income you receive from Child Benefit
* Less any income you recieve from Early Childcare Supplement
* Less any income you receive from Family Income Supplement
* Less any income you receive from Domiciliary Care Allow
* Less any income you receive from Respite Care Grant
* Less any income you receive from Carer's Benefit / Allowance (where the payment is made in respect of the persons for whom the application for grant aid is sought)