| Factsheets - Housing Grant | | | | |  | Disabled Person's Grant
A special grant is available from Local Authorities to carry out necessary works to meet the needs of a household member with a disability. The grant can be used where an extra room or structural change is required for the accommodation of a person with a disability. Work that qualifies can include:
1. widening doors,
2. provision of ramps,
3. lowering light switches and door handles and the modification of a bedroom or bathroom.
Work that does not qualify includes:
1. Replacement of windows
2. General house repairs
3. Work which will benefit the house (the work must benefit the person)
To be eligible under the scheme a person must have health difficulties such as a severe physical impairment, or severe mental illness.
The grant is worth up to 95% of the cost approved by the Local Authority
(to a maximum of 30,000 euro) and grant-aided work must be carried out
by contractors who have a current C2 Certificate or Tax Clearance
Certificate from the Revenue Commissioners. Prioritisation of eligibility for
the Housing Grant for People with a Disability will be on the basis of
medical and financial need with 95% of the approved cost of work
available to those with annual household incomes of less than 30,000
euro, tapering to 30% for those with annual household incomes of 54,001
to 65,000 euro.
NB Work must not commence until a decision is received from the local
authority. Where the house is owned by the local authority, the local
authority will meet the full cost of any work deemed necessary. Where the
house is less than a year old, or where a new house is being built
specifically to meet the needs of a person with a disability a grant of up to
14,500 euro is available. |
| | | | A Community Occupational Therapist will call to assess your needs. |
| | | | Top Up Grant
· Disabled Persons Grant Financial Hardship Scheme
· Means tested (amount relating to income)
· Application from your Health Board, Community Care Area
Note: This scheme has received considerable criticism due to delays in processing applications and the shortage of money available for the scheme. The scheme is currently being reviewed.
How to apply: Apply to your local authority. Further information on accessible housing is in the book 'Buildings for Everyone', available from: The National Disability Authority (NDA),
25 Clyde Road, Dublin 4. Tel: (01) 608 0400
Technical Advice can be obtained from Comhairle, North Great George's Street, Dublin 1.
Tel (01) 874750
Website: www.comhairle.ie
If you need advice about how to apply for this grant and to find out more about the requirements you can refer to:
1. The community occupational therapists located
in the community care services of your local
health board.
2. The housing section of your County Council or
Corporation.
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| | Other Grants | | | Special home improvement grants are also available to adapt houses for
people with disabilities from your local Area Health Board or Local Authority.
Mobility Aids Grand Scheme People on low incomes needing
equipment such as level access showers, grab rails etc can apply for the
Mobility Aids Grant which means their application will move through system
more quickly. The maximum grant available will be 6,000 euro. You can
employ an OT privately and recoup expenses up to 200 euro.
The capital assistance scheme Provides assistance to housing
associations, through the local authorities towards capital costs for
accommodation, generally for one or two bedroomed units, to meet special
housing needs such as those of the elderly, disabled, homeless or smaller
families.
Rent supplement A rent supplement is available from the Community
Welfare Officer for people in receipt of a disability payment who wish to live
in private rented accommodation. The allowance is means tested but the
120 euro which may be earned from rehabilitative employment is
disregarded for rent supplement.
Essential repairs grant The Essential Repairs Grant scheme is
administered by the local authorities. The scheme is directed primarily at
providing grant aid to elderly people living in poor housing conditions. It is
intended to facilitate having those conditions improved sufficiently to allow
people to remain in their homes for their lifetime and to prevent them
having to move to a different area or to be rehoused by the local authority.
The grant may cover 100% of the cost of the works.
Central heating grants introduced for the installation of central
heating in existing local authority rented dwellings, which lacked such
facilities. The scheme is administered locally and the planning and
execution of works is a matter for each local authority. Under the
programme a grant of 5,600 euro or up to 80% of the cost, whichever is
the lesser, is payable for each house. The balance of the cost is met by the
housing authority. In addition to central heating facilities the work may also
include related energy improvement and smoke detection measures.
Affordable housing scheme
The affordable housing scheme allows lower income house buyers to buy
newly constructed homes and apartments in areas where property prices
have created an affordability gap for lower income house buyers.
These properties are offered for sale to eligible first- time purchasers at
prices significantly less than their actual market value. The houses are
bought with a mortgage provided by the local authority.
Local Authority tenants and tenants of houses provided by voluntary
bodies do not need to satisfy the income test. You are unlikely to be
accepted for this scheme if your only income is a social welfare payment.
Households may be entitled to a mortgage subsidy depending on their
income in the previous tax year. If they are surrendering a tenant purchase
house, a local authority house or a house provided by a voluntary body,
they have the option of going for the mortgage subsidy or the Mortgage
Allowance Scheme.
For further information contact your Local Authority.
Disabled person’s new house grant
This is a grant available to people with disabilities or to the family of the
person with disabilities who are having their own house built to cover the
cost of making the new house accessible at construction stage to a
maximum of 14,500 euro. If you are building or renovating a house you
may be entitled to a refund of VAT on aids and appliances for use by a
disabled person. This includes bathroom fittings, walk in baths, lifting
seats, hoists etc. VAT refund is also available on aids and appliances
designed to assist a disabled person to overcome his/her disability in
performing daily functions or in exercise or education e.g a computer.
This grant is available to adapt a house to meet the accommodation needs
of a person with a disability within the first year of the house’s completion.
Where the costs are being met by the state, or by any public or local
authority, VAT relief will not be due. | | | | If you have any additional ideas for this page, please visit the Contact page and send us your suggestions. Thank you. |
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